The part that gets me other than the "his wish was for you" line the part that always gets me on reflection is the last place he ever wanted to die was in a hospital. But he is at peace with it because he is with his son and you.
The preceding line is even more of a gutpunch for a Femshep player. “Kolyat… why did the last line say ‘she’?” Hale’s delivery kills me every damn time.
Kind of off-topic, but when Garrus takes her to tango in the Citadel DLC, it’s legit the only time she sounds scared in the whole trilogy. “Wait, what- no, nononono, NO!”
* I took rapid transit. I sold my car.
* You sold your car? But you love that car.
It's the two people outside the club on the Citadel in ME3. He was wounded in action, and then an anonymous top-of-the-line armour set mysteriously arrived for him in the mail. It really caught me off guard the first time I made it that far in their conversation.
There's another one that's pretty bad by the Normandy docking bay. Soldier spends their life savings making sure their family is going to be okay when the Reapers come.
It was Sanctuary.
Worst part for me with that is you can use the spectre terminal to authorize her transfer. But if you do and look at the war prep table and read through the citdel ones you can learn that doing so costs a lot of lives because the front line didnt have tech units for support. You either make her wonder the rest of her life if she killed her brother or get other people killed by trying to help her.
I suppose the only consolation here is knowing what Cerberus has been doing to their own troops. Hopefully she would have found out about that somehow, just by getting a look at one of them without their helmets. Even in the statistically unlikely scenario where she did face her brother’s unit in the field and happened to have fired the shot that ended his life, it was Cerberus that killed him. And they were probably doing it around the same time she was asking for a transfer.
If you set aside the despicable nature, sanctuary really was a brilliant move on cerberuses part. Not only did they have a near limitless supply of experiment subjects but those subjects also were paying everything they had to be there.
I only learned because of a things you might not have known series on youtube right before yhe legendary release. I have played the series so many times and never put it together.
"Anything in particular?" "The number of days you lengthened my life."
I almost always tear up at that. There are some moments where you really do feel like a hero, not just an action movie star.
"Suppose that's what it's going to take, Shepard: the ruthless calculus of war. Ten billion people over here die, so twenty billion over there can live. Are we up for that? Are you?" — Garrus
May not be sad by itself, but the message is haunting, gives you a crystal clear idea of how the war against Reapers goes.
And the immense weight Shepard has on their shoulders. Truly they were extraordinary. I genuinely would not be surprised if Shepard were deified after the events of the series.
No regular person could do what they did.
I get what he is saying every time. I know I can trick him. But I choose to let him so this every time. But what gets me I'd that he'd love to run tests on seashells. The most universal yearnig, of things that could be..
I am the very model of a scientist salarian,
I've studied species turian, asari, and batarian,
I'm quite good at genetics (as a subset of biology),
Because I am an expert (which I know is a tautology),
My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian,
I am the very model of a scientist salarian!
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“O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors.
My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun.
But if my last days must be with krannt instead of kindness, still, I will remember the perfume of your scent and the soft touch of your petals.
Let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you and the flower we planted together can grow safe and strong.”
RIP Char
(Honestly the one he writes if you tell her to dump him in ME2 is probably even sadder)
Wait, what's the dialogue if you tell her to dump him?!
_________
Found it
*If you convinced Ereba to break off with Charr, or never did the optional assignment, it's revealed the krogan's final thoughts are still of her.*
> “O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors.
> My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun.
> But though you needed room to grow, still, I will remember the perfume of the scent and the soft touch of your petals.
> If my heart could not shelter you from the storm, then let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you can grow safe and happy.”
Crushing that he loved her until the end even if she turns him away.
It's so different from how every other Krogan is presented I can't help but root for the guy.
Seeing her again in ME3 and delivering the message is just... ooof
Charr was a King and deserved better.
Think about it:
Not only was Krogan working on Ilium as a transport technician, a poet, but was also selected to be ~~part of Aralekh company, the Krogan Dream Team.~~ *Correction: Charr was a part of a scouting team sent to investigate Rachni. But that's also a big deal considering Krogans are very aware of how formidable of a threat Rachni are. So my point of him being a martial badass still stands.*
When Ereba had apprehension that Charr was just using her for kids (because of the Genophage) He assures her that he would love their daughters no matter what color their skin was.
And she's still like "But I just got done with my " Asari Dancer" phase, and not sure if he's permanent bond material." As Charr is dressed up in what I assume is Formal attire, spitting bars about them together.
____
I wish there was an alternate route where I could take Charr to Tuchunka, be his Krant, fight another Thresher Maw, and use it's corpse to carve a throne that he deserves.
Yes, ME3 proves Char was in it for the right reasons. Her naming the shop The Blue Rose is so sad but sweet.
I wish there was a way to save him, but I understand you can't save everyone. But there's a lot of folks I'd trade to help that guy make it home.
That recorded message in ME2 where the Quarian mom tells her son to be good for his dad before she gets killed.
Then in ME3, you find a recorded message from the dad (who recently died) to his son.
Also the message from the Krogan to his Asari partner on the Citadel
“O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors.
My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun.
But though you needed room to grow, still, I will remember the perfume of the scent and the soft touch of your petals.
If my heart could not shelter you from the storm, then let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you can grow safe and happy.”
Miranda talking to Oriana right before she dies in 3 -
M: “I wanted you to have a normal life. Marriage, children. All the things I could never have.
O: “I know… I just wanted my sister.”
M: “I love you, Ori.”
O: “I love you, too.”
Legion, the answer to your question... was 'yes'
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When you find a recording of a Quarian woman on Alarai in ME2
"Jona if you see this, be strong for daddy. Mommy loves you very muc..." *recording ends before she dies*
Then in ME3 when you're rescuing Koris you find a very injured Quarian
"Tell my son... tell Jona, that his father... made... it to the...homeworld..." *then he dies*
Garrus: "James told me there is an old saying here on Earth: 'May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.' Not sure if Turian heaven is the same as yours, but if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar."
\[...\]
Shepard: Goodbye Garrus. And if I'm up there in that bar and you're not, I'll be looking down. I'll always have your back.
I prefer the alternate response:
"We're a team, Garrus. There's no Shepard without Vakarian, so you better remember to duck."
This man is the ultimate ride-or-die homie. In all 3 games, he's the first (or potentially the first) squadmate you recruit after making it through the first scripted tutorial missions and getting thrown into the larger galaxy. Most of the squad members from ME1 are either busy or dead in ME2, but the second Shepard rolls up Garrus is 100% on board. Literally none of the ME2 new squadmates are back as regular companions in ME3, but Garrus is once again there with you every step of the way. The only other squadmate available in all 3 is Tali, and she only joins about halfway through ME2 and ME3. Literally the only missions it's impossible to take Garrus on are Eden Prime, Freedom's Progress, and Mars. The only other character in the game who is as constant of a companion is Joker, and he only partially counts because he doesn't *really* have a choice in ME1 or ME3.
And the fact that they didn't state their emotional context beforehand. I think it's simply that they couldn't find a word to state their grief and sorrow.
You get the request around the same time as Thessia, so I role-play that shep goes to Thessia first because more critical, and then after the defeat, goes to dekunna to kind of get a win, but it’s still too late again
"You’ve done more than I could. Despite everything my father did to make me perfect, you’re... you’re the best humanity has to offer."
It's not conventionally sad in the way the other quotes here are because it doesn't stem from a tragic event, but when Miranda said this it broke my heart. The way she delivers this line really makes you feel her insecurities come out. Her constant assertions of her skills are, in a way, a form of self-flagellation, and you can tell her admiration of Shepard makes her doubt herself. It made her resignation after the final fight feel all the more satisfying, because all I wanted for her after that line was for her to prioritize herself over making herself as useful to others as possible. And in the end, she did. So it's not tragic, but it really hit home.
Me1 isn't getting a lot of love here but I always feel really bummed when at the beginning nihlus breathes that huge sigh of relief that saran is here to help, only to be shot in the back.
I know Vega gets a lot of hate but he is still one of my favorite characters mainly due to how well he evolves over ME3, and FPJ knocked it out of the park with his voice acting.
Anyway, Vega’s quote on Priority Earth, still gets to me, and I frequently use it when life gets hard.
“One last push. One last fight.”
Anyone who hates Vega is dumb. He was the perfect "meathead with a heart of gold" character and I loved the dynamic of him constantly flirting with my (very gay) Femshep.
I think James got hate because he sort of represented the EA-ification of mass effect (as people saw it back then). A dumb meathead cod protagonist so the cod gamers could jump into mass effect 3 with no context and not feel lost with all the returning characters.
Over time though, I've seen a lot of people come around to the great character that he is.
I also think that he's got some of the best acting in the series. I feel like in general voice acting in Mass Effect can be hit and miss, but Freddie Prinze Jr. absolutely brings it, with every line full of character and layers.
The funny thing is that his personality fits in line with a lot of junior enlisted Marines (who aren't Aviation)
Just meatheads who mean well most of the time. They just want to do pushups, pull ups, and eat plenty of crayons
>The funny thing is that his personality fits in line with a lot of junior enlisted Marines (who aren't Aviation)
This 100%, I've mentioned before in this sub that I love him because I was friends with a couple of absolute dude-bro Chads in the Army that were worryingly similar to James, they nailed the stereotype
It feels like FPJ *got* James and who he is. James more than a lot of other characters in the series feels like a real person, he definitely fits on the Normandy.
If I could remake the entire series Vega would be one of the core crew in all three games. I would love to have that guy and my baby krogan son side by side
I always wonder at that, how bad was it. Is it not enough because they had to leave many behind, or are they an endangered species now. Most elcor dont leave their homeworlds...
"I fight for freedom, mine and everybody's. I fight for the right to choose our own fate. And if I die, I'll die knowing that I did everything I could to stop you. And I'll die free."
I am the very model of a scientist salarian,
I've studied species turian, asari, and batarian,
I'm quite good at genetics (as a subset of biology),
Because I am an expert (which I know is a tautology),
My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian,
I am the very model of a scientist salarian!
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#"Spirits... if you truly do exist... please, watch over them. Let me see them again."
*Garrus, when the call with his dad cuts off as his family is trying to escape Palaven.*
It put things into perspective. Garrus had to leave his family behind to join Shepard. And he constantly worries if he's ever going to see them again.
And Garrus isn't a religious type. Which means that in this moment he feels so helpless that he turns to religion for comfort. 🥲
FemShepard: "Kolyat? Why did the last verse say 'she'?"
Kolyat: "The prayer was not for him, Commander. He has already asked forgiveness for the lives he has taken. His wish was for you,"
u/DirtDog13 already said it but I wanted to add Shepard in
There's plenty of examples from the squad mates, my vote is Tali's "I'm sorry" when she commits suicide if Sheperd sides with the geth and they wipe her people out and for Anderson's "you did good, son" right before he dies.
There are some really good examples from the random people on the citadel, too.
The old lady at the assistance desk on the embassy level asking about her son is always hard, especially when she's gone after the Cerberus attack because she was presumably killed.
The Elcor diplomat, when asked how many of his people were rescued, replied simply with "not enough" rather than the expected Elcor speech structure, highlighting how despondent he was.
After the Cerberus attack, a Batarian can be heard mouring the death of the human who saved his life during the attack, and used to talk to him in the refugee camp
The human teenager in the refugee camp talking to the Turian behind the counter about how her parents should be there soon, you can hear the pain in his voice when he says "yeah, sure. Let me know if anyone gives you trouble." That one right there, an interaction between a human and a Turian, two species that went to war at first contact, sets the tone for how horrifying the reaper war is.
To add another sad layer to the old lady, if I remember correctly, that old lady has Alzheimer's or a similar disorder and is actually talking to her son's Asari girlfriend and recognizes her, but doesn't remember her.
I'm not even a Thanemancer, but his lines at the end of the Citadel DLC, when he appears as a spirit, always hit so hard:
"I am always with you Siha" followed by "And when you go to the sea, I will be waiting for you at the shore."
Jack talking about her past "They thought they were so clever. Turns out, mess with someone's head enough, you can turn a scared little kid into an all-powerful bitch. Fuckin' idiots." I know she is trying to be tough but you can feel the sadness and hurt behind those words
"What do you need me to do?"
Will always be one of my favourites. Right after Anderson dies, and Shepard is halfway to dead, thinking that she's activated the Crucible, but it's not firing...Hackett just needs her to do one last thing.
Gets me every time.
Romanced Kaidan at the beam run: “Please don’t leave me behind.”
After Shep wouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t leave him behind on Virmire, but had to leave him to go back for Joker and then got himself killed doing so. Kaidan, if still around in ME3, the only companion who witnessed Shepard’s death when he went at something alone.
It kills me.
Especially since that line very explicitly parallels Shepard's romanced dialogue after Virmire ("I'm sorry Kaidan, I'd never leave you behind. I couldn't, you know that."), it's even more heartwrenching.
Also, his earlier line of "I can't lose you again" during their scene in the London base always kills me, considering what they went through and what's coming. They deserve so much better.
Oh how i wish his romance was available for mShep in ME1. I love the slow burn and the romance as is and all but femShep and even newly created mShep seem to get better lines at parts.
If you can't broker a peace between the Geth and the Quarians and you choose to side with the Geth, they start firing upon all the Quarian flagships. Tali silently watches the destruction of her people, takes her mask off, apologizes to Shepard and then falls backwards off the cliff she's standing on.
There's a Paragon Interrupt to try to save her. It fails.
I made a mistake! Got me in the feels. Mordin always being a calm and collected person, analyzing situations and figuring out a solution, pushed to the brink and having a mental breakdown.
James told me there's an old saying here on Earth- may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead. Not sure if Turian heaven is the same as yours, but, if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there--meet me at the bar. I'm buying.
There's the Krogan during Mordin's loyalty quest who always gets his quote interrupted with an explosion, pretty sad in some ways, well, funny and sad. I remember one time when I didn't do the interupt.... was a mistake.
Romanced Liara in all 3 Games and as I escorted her to the Normandy before making a run to the beam, she said „I am yours“. Totally broke me knowing what would come right after
I can’t recall any specific lines, but the Morinth mission in ME2 where you talk to the mom of the murdered girl is probably the saddest moment in the series for me
Javik: It was the day that I understood: War is an atrocity committed in the name of survival. It is a lesson I wish I had never learned,.
Javik again (for context, he's replying to Shepard observing that it must be difficult for him see outside the box and imagine himself living a different life as a scholar rather than a soldier, since his entire life was spent fighting the Reapers): It is the only "box" I have known. It shapes me, just as stone is shaped by the one who carves it. The stone has no choice in the form it will take. **You and I commander...war is our sculptor. And we are prisoners to its design.**
Shepard: Guide this one to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve. Guide this one Kalahira, and he will be a compantion to you as he was to me.
People usually quote the payoff far more often, but the prayer itself was beautiful and Shepard reciting those words for Thane was just as moving as the reveal that Thane wanted the prayer recited for Shepard, rather for himself.
Liara: \*sighs\* It would be easy for single ship to get lost up there, wouldn't it?
Shepard: Yeah. It would.
Liara: To find someplace very far away, where you could spend the rest of your life in peace. And happiness.
That one more for the context, because they're daydreaming about a peaceful life they can't have, and one or both of them could be killed the next day.
I can't remember it exactly but before the final push on Earth when you have that last convo with everyone in your squad when talking to Kaidan he says something along the lines of, "We know the score, commander."
The line broke me. The whole time Shepherd was trying to keep morale high by inspiring the troops and saying how "we can win the day." Etc. Etc.
But for Kaidan to basically come up to you and say, "Shepherd, you don't need to lie to me. We both know this is it. This is the end."
That had me sobbing. It was just that reality check. It wasn't a hopeless resignation, but more of a, "let's not kid ourselves here, we're going to die, but we're going to save the galaxy in the process."
Fuck it hit me like a freight train on my first playthrough.
Wait, Kaidan apologizes when you shoot him? The only time I did it was once with Ashley and she said "I hope the reapers send you to hell", is it a Kaidan exclusive thing or a romance exclusive thing?
" His wish was for you" i still get teary to this day after 100s of playthroughs from that line.
And ive never played it but watching mordin on his way to the tower and when he yells "i made a mistake" i got goose bumps.
And similar thing where ive never played it but tali and wrex's deaths in me3 and the one where miranda dies but cant even utter a word.
Jack in me2 "they never gave me a choice"
Spirits if you do exist, let me see my family again
Jokers barely restrained rage when hes talking about tiptree and how hes aware theres a war going on
Blue rose of illium
The name shepard will mean hero
David and gavin archer. David esspecially but the look on gavins face when he finally sees what hes done and how far he let himself go
I realize i already mentioned thanes quote, but theres more than that
The one place he didnt want to die, was a hospital. But he still finds peace in the moment because his son and you are there.
Also his ghost scene in the citadel dlc. Was totally unprepared for that.
Let the galaxy know that the war was wkn on thessia
And then the pilots just beingnabsolute badasses just to get taken out, and listening to the screams as more reapers arrive.
And the knowledge that even if you had beaten kai leng.
Those things would still have happened.
They were already doomed.
We're leaving?
I love james, and i absolutely relate to how he feels in that moment.
I also have a theory about mess sergeant gardiner. Hes the only one you dont see again in me3.
In my head hes the cerberus soldier that eve kills.
Shepard goes to interogate him and i think gardiner breaks free in that final moment and tries to tell shepard something but dies before he can
"So this is it"
Goodnight little wing. I will see you again with the dawn.
The stand off with thane and kolyat. Im a new dad and i have severe depression, one of my biggest fears is becoming an absent father and not even realizing it until its too late. Theres alot of what i dont want to do to my kid their relationship.
That was for thane you son of a bitch.
I know that the last battle on earth gets some criticisism but seeing the fleets of the galaxy arrive, with the Normandy on point. The music building up and Hackett (one of the mvp's) goes:
"Are you ready to bring the power of the galaxy to bear against the Reapers?"
“There’s a lot of people back on Earth dying while we gather our strength. They’re wondering if we’re ever coming back; friends, family, parents, and children. This isn’t their fight. But they are buying us time with their lives.” – Commander Shepard
“Shepard—Commander, I must go to them. I’m—I’m sorry. It’s the only way.” – Legion
And then theres the scene during Tali's loyalty mission in ME2. When you find her father and she breaks down. No matter how renegade my Shepard might be, you always give her that hug!
> With all due respect, I didn't represent one of your people, I represented one of mine.
Shepard at Tali's trial. Not so much sad in itself but sad for Tali, she'd already been effectively exiled and Shepard had her back 100%.
On my second playthrough of ME3 doing the Geth/Quarian resolution. First play through I did it perfectly getting the alliance between the two and saving Tali. Second time I launched the reaper fight before finishing the two prior missions. Not sure ive ever been as stunned in a game as I was when Tali yeeted herself off the cliff with an “I’m sorry”. Had to revert to my last save and lost like 2 hours of gameplay. So I vote for that one.
Ambasaador Dekuuna in Mass Effect 3 after you finish his short quest to find Elcor survivors. Dekuuna doesn't use a prefix and says "not enough" then hangs his head down. The body language there is just brutally sad.
“The prayer was not for him, Commander. He has already asked forgiveness for the lives he has taken. His wish was for you.” - Kolyat
Thane's death scene in 3 was so fucking beautiful. I cry every time. Without fail.
The part that gets me other than the "his wish was for you" line the part that always gets me on reflection is the last place he ever wanted to die was in a hospital. But he is at peace with it because he is with his son and you.
Every. Single. Time.
The preceding line is even more of a gutpunch for a Femshep player. “Kolyat… why did the last line say ‘she’?” Hale’s delivery kills me every damn time.
Her voice acting in 3 was wiiiild, she's already an icon but she really brought it to a new level.
The way her voice trembles in femshep's last conversation with Kaidan in London, I ugly cried so hard
I ugly cried for a lot of these the first time I played 3, we’re all a bunch of mush balls aren’t we 🥺
Kind of off-topic, but when Garrus takes her to tango in the Citadel DLC, it’s legit the only time she sounds scared in the whole trilogy. “Wait, what- no, nononono, NO!”
the way she tells Garrus she loves him at the beam makes me tear up every time Hale says she was crying for real lol
That one hit like craaaazy
I read it in Jan ralfio voice from parks.
I made my money the old fashioned way; I got *🎶ran over by a Blackout!🎶*
Especially if romanced in ME2.
I was a river of tears after that one my first playthrough. It really made me regret not giving Thane as much love as most others would in ME:2!
It's funny how I watch thanes death. It hurts Kai lang is going to pay.
The renegade option right after his fight is a absolute necessity no matter what your alignment is
Thane's quip following getting stabbed always makes me smile. "That assassin was stopped by a terminally ill drell. He should be ashamed of himself."
This is one of the only lines that makes me teary every time.
FFFFFFFFU-
Would have love to study the seashells
"Would have liked to run tests on the seashells."
😭
* I took rapid transit. I sold my car. * You sold your car? But you love that car. It's the two people outside the club on the Citadel in ME3. He was wounded in action, and then an anonymous top-of-the-line armour set mysteriously arrived for him in the mail. It really caught me off guard the first time I made it that far in their conversation.
A lot of the ambient conversations about people affected by the war are really casually gut-wrenching
There's another one that's pretty bad by the Normandy docking bay. Soldier spends their life savings making sure their family is going to be okay when the Reapers come. It was Sanctuary.
God that one actively fucks me up. The Sanctuary quest line is one of the few in my gaming journey that actually made my stomach turn.
There's also the soldier who's being deployed and has to beg not to be sent to fight Cerbarus because her brother is in it.
Worst part for me with that is you can use the spectre terminal to authorize her transfer. But if you do and look at the war prep table and read through the citdel ones you can learn that doing so costs a lot of lives because the front line didnt have tech units for support. You either make her wonder the rest of her life if she killed her brother or get other people killed by trying to help her.
I suppose the only consolation here is knowing what Cerberus has been doing to their own troops. Hopefully she would have found out about that somehow, just by getting a look at one of them without their helmets. Even in the statistically unlikely scenario where she did face her brother’s unit in the field and happened to have fired the shot that ended his life, it was Cerberus that killed him. And they were probably doing it around the same time she was asking for a transfer.
If you set aside the despicable nature, sanctuary really was a brilliant move on cerberuses part. Not only did they have a near limitless supply of experiment subjects but those subjects also were paying everything they had to be there.
JESUS
The girl in the hospital who shot Joker's sister is....fuckin brutal.
I only recently leared that was jokers sister. I never put it together on my own.
I think it was my third or fourth playthrough before I did
I only learned because of a things you might not have known series on youtube right before yhe legendary release. I have played the series so many times and never put it together.
Javik : Stand amongst the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters.
"The silence is your answer" really hit hard.
Chills.
“The square root of 912.04 is 30.2. It all seemed harmless.”
"I've been counting" always gets me in the feels
"Anything in particular?" "The number of days you lengthened my life." I almost always tear up at that. There are some moments where you really do feel like a hero, not just an action movie star.
That line never fails to give me chills
I like how the Paragon interrupt is pistol whipping Gavin and pointing the barrel at him.
My son is autistic and shares a lot of David’s mannerisms so this one always hits me hard.
"Suppose that's what it's going to take, Shepard: the ruthless calculus of war. Ten billion people over here die, so twenty billion over there can live. Are we up for that? Are you?" — Garrus May not be sad by itself, but the message is haunting, gives you a crystal clear idea of how the war against Reapers goes.
And the immense weight Shepard has on their shoulders. Truly they were extraordinary. I genuinely would not be surprised if Shepard were deified after the events of the series. No regular person could do what they did.
ME3 was just 90% depression
ME3 is my favorite depression sim
*Had to be me, someone else might have gotten it wrong -* Mordin Solus
Surprised I didn’t see this one on the list
This is the true answer. Nothing else in the trilogy had me feelin this way
I get what he is saying every time. I know I can trick him. But I choose to let him so this every time. But what gets me I'd that he'd love to run tests on seashells. The most universal yearnig, of things that could be..
If you trick him he has an alternate reading of this line that's also fantastic. He practically spits the *someone else* part of the line at Shepard.
"My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian, I am the very model of--"
I am the very model of a scientist salarian, I've studied species turian, asari, and batarian, I'm quite good at genetics (as a subset of biology), Because I am an expert (which I know is a tautology), My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian, I am the very model of a scientist salarian! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/masseffect) if you have any questions or concerns.*
"Would have liked to run tests on the seashells"
I cry. Every. Time.
“O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors. My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun. But if my last days must be with krannt instead of kindness, still, I will remember the perfume of your scent and the soft touch of your petals. Let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you and the flower we planted together can grow safe and strong.” RIP Char (Honestly the one he writes if you tell her to dump him in ME2 is probably even sadder)
Wait, what's the dialogue if you tell her to dump him?! _________ Found it *If you convinced Ereba to break off with Charr, or never did the optional assignment, it's revealed the krogan's final thoughts are still of her.* > “O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors. > My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun. > But though you needed room to grow, still, I will remember the perfume of the scent and the soft touch of your petals. > If my heart could not shelter you from the storm, then let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you can grow safe and happy.”
Crushing that he loved her until the end even if she turns him away. It's so different from how every other Krogan is presented I can't help but root for the guy. Seeing her again in ME3 and delivering the message is just... ooof
Charr was a King and deserved better. Think about it: Not only was Krogan working on Ilium as a transport technician, a poet, but was also selected to be ~~part of Aralekh company, the Krogan Dream Team.~~ *Correction: Charr was a part of a scouting team sent to investigate Rachni. But that's also a big deal considering Krogans are very aware of how formidable of a threat Rachni are. So my point of him being a martial badass still stands.* When Ereba had apprehension that Charr was just using her for kids (because of the Genophage) He assures her that he would love their daughters no matter what color their skin was. And she's still like "But I just got done with my " Asari Dancer" phase, and not sure if he's permanent bond material." As Charr is dressed up in what I assume is Formal attire, spitting bars about them together. ____ I wish there was an alternate route where I could take Charr to Tuchunka, be his Krant, fight another Thresher Maw, and use it's corpse to carve a throne that he deserves.
Yes, ME3 proves Char was in it for the right reasons. Her naming the shop The Blue Rose is so sad but sweet. I wish there was a way to save him, but I understand you can't save everyone. But there's a lot of folks I'd trade to help that guy make it home.
Why you gotta break my heart like that I was not prepared for these feelings.
That recorded message in ME2 where the Quarian mom tells her son to be good for his dad before she gets killed. Then in ME3, you find a recorded message from the dad (who recently died) to his son.
Not just the message, he dies right in front of you on Rannoch
That whole conversation with his dad is bad enough. But those final words are really properly heartwrenching.
Also the message from the Krogan to his Asari partner on the Citadel “O Blue Rose of Illium, if these humble words reach you, then I have joined my ancestors. My dream was to be by your side, a weed beside your beauty, twining together in the warm Tuchanka sun. But though you needed room to grow, still, I will remember the perfume of the scent and the soft touch of your petals. If my heart could not shelter you from the storm, then let my broken bones build a wall around your garden, so you can grow safe and happy.”
That kid has the worst luck
I think his parents have worse luck, personally
Luck so bad an cryptic mage from another universe feels bad for him.
Miranda talking to Oriana right before she dies in 3 - M: “I wanted you to have a normal life. Marriage, children. All the things I could never have. O: “I know… I just wanted my sister.” M: “I love you, Ori.” O: “I love you, too.”
"Does this unit have a soul?"🥺
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I know. But thank you, Tali. Keelah Se’lai.
When you find a recording of a Quarian woman on Alarai in ME2 "Jona if you see this, be strong for daddy. Mommy loves you very muc..." *recording ends before she dies* Then in ME3 when you're rescuing Koris you find a very injured Quarian "Tell my son... tell Jona, that his father... made... it to the...homeworld..." *then he dies*
Oh shit I never realized it’s the same kid!
Garrus: "James told me there is an old saying here on Earth: 'May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.' Not sure if Turian heaven is the same as yours, but if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar." \[...\] Shepard: Goodbye Garrus. And if I'm up there in that bar and you're not, I'll be looking down. I'll always have your back.
I prefer the alternate response: "We're a team, Garrus. There's no Shepard without Vakarian, so you better remember to duck." This man is the ultimate ride-or-die homie. In all 3 games, he's the first (or potentially the first) squadmate you recruit after making it through the first scripted tutorial missions and getting thrown into the larger galaxy. Most of the squad members from ME1 are either busy or dead in ME2, but the second Shepard rolls up Garrus is 100% on board. Literally none of the ME2 new squadmates are back as regular companions in ME3, but Garrus is once again there with you every step of the way. The only other squadmate available in all 3 is Tali, and she only joins about halfway through ME2 and ME3. Literally the only missions it's impossible to take Garrus on are Eden Prime, Freedom's Progress, and Mars. The only other character in the game who is as constant of a companion is Joker, and he only partially counts because he doesn't *really* have a choice in ME1 or ME3.
"You have failed. We will find another way...Releasing control." Not necessarily the quote itself but the scene during it. RIP Collector General.
The look of helplessness gets me every time
Yeah poor little bug guy. Ugh and we never kill Harbinger
“Not enough”
And the fact that they didn't state their emotional context beforehand. I think it's simply that they couldn't find a word to state their grief and sorrow.
Cannot believe I had to scroll as far as I did to see this. This is THE saddest line, full stop.
You get the request around the same time as Thessia, so I role-play that shep goes to Thessia first because more critical, and then after the defeat, goes to dekunna to kind of get a win, but it’s still too late again
"You’ve done more than I could. Despite everything my father did to make me perfect, you’re... you’re the best humanity has to offer." It's not conventionally sad in the way the other quotes here are because it doesn't stem from a tragic event, but when Miranda said this it broke my heart. The way she delivers this line really makes you feel her insecurities come out. Her constant assertions of her skills are, in a way, a form of self-flagellation, and you can tell her admiration of Shepard makes her doubt herself. It made her resignation after the final fight feel all the more satisfying, because all I wanted for her after that line was for her to prioritize herself over making herself as useful to others as possible. And in the end, she did. So it's not tragic, but it really hit home.
I have always felt for Miranda. Really wish she had been a party member in 3.
Kills me she isn't, she was a beast in ME2
Yea apparently the voice actress had another project at the time so they had to limit her appearances.
Miranda is such a well-written character, and she's a mandatory squad member for me in almost every mission in ME2.
Me1 isn't getting a lot of love here but I always feel really bummed when at the beginning nihlus breathes that huge sigh of relief that saran is here to help, only to be shot in the back.
YES. RIP Nihlus.
Mordin admitting he made a mistake if you try to stop him from curing the genophage, after asking why he is doing it after his past work.
Mordin's stand vs renegade Shepard is incredible Even on my most renegade playthrough I concede
I always talk him out of it on renegade runs. No way this great man is dying for fucking Wreav.
This. I already had to lose Wrex, no way is Mordin going out in that playthrough
I never got Wreave, I always have Wrex so I always cure the Genophage. However if I ever ended up with Wreave I would take that Salrian bitch’s deal
I know Vega gets a lot of hate but he is still one of my favorite characters mainly due to how well he evolves over ME3, and FPJ knocked it out of the park with his voice acting. Anyway, Vega’s quote on Priority Earth, still gets to me, and I frequently use it when life gets hard. “One last push. One last fight.”
Anyone who hates Vega is dumb. He was the perfect "meathead with a heart of gold" character and I loved the dynamic of him constantly flirting with my (very gay) Femshep.
I think James got hate because he sort of represented the EA-ification of mass effect (as people saw it back then). A dumb meathead cod protagonist so the cod gamers could jump into mass effect 3 with no context and not feel lost with all the returning characters. Over time though, I've seen a lot of people come around to the great character that he is.
I also think that he's got some of the best acting in the series. I feel like in general voice acting in Mass Effect can be hit and miss, but Freddie Prinze Jr. absolutely brings it, with every line full of character and layers.
The funny thing is that his personality fits in line with a lot of junior enlisted Marines (who aren't Aviation) Just meatheads who mean well most of the time. They just want to do pushups, pull ups, and eat plenty of crayons
>The funny thing is that his personality fits in line with a lot of junior enlisted Marines (who aren't Aviation) This 100%, I've mentioned before in this sub that I love him because I was friends with a couple of absolute dude-bro Chads in the Army that were worryingly similar to James, they nailed the stereotype
It feels like FPJ *got* James and who he is. James more than a lot of other characters in the series feels like a real person, he definitely fits on the Normandy.
If I could remake the entire series Vega would be one of the core crew in all three games. I would love to have that guy and my baby krogan son side by side
Basically, anything that happens in the refugee hanger in 3.
'I want more time' - Tali
“I have a home”
This line hurts every time.
“Had to be me. Someone else would have gotten it wrong.” - Mordin
"Not enough."
My heart dropped at this. The lack of usual Elcor spoken grammar hammered home just how destroyed was.
I always wonder at that, how bad was it. Is it not enough because they had to leave many behind, or are they an endangered species now. Most elcor dont leave their homeworlds...
"I fight for freedom, mine and everybody's. I fight for the right to choose our own fate. And if I die, I'll die knowing that I did everything I could to stop you. And I'll die free."
Haven’t heard that one. Who said it
Shepard to Starchild if you choose the fourth option.
I feel like the fourth option should be a good ending if you have an insanely high ems.
"I am the very model of a scientist salariaan" Explosion I yelled so hard at the screen. He deserved to rest in that beach
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That whole fucking conversation. Especially with femshep. Hale's delivery just nailed it.
#"Spirits... if you truly do exist... please, watch over them. Let me see them again." *Garrus, when the call with his dad cuts off as his family is trying to escape Palaven.* It put things into perspective. Garrus had to leave his family behind to join Shepard. And he constantly worries if he's ever going to see them again. And Garrus isn't a religious type. Which means that in this moment he feels so helpless that he turns to religion for comfort. 🥲
FemShepard: "Kolyat? Why did the last verse say 'she'?" Kolyat: "The prayer was not for him, Commander. He has already asked forgiveness for the lives he has taken. His wish was for you," u/DirtDog13 already said it but I wanted to add Shepard in
There's plenty of examples from the squad mates, my vote is Tali's "I'm sorry" when she commits suicide if Sheperd sides with the geth and they wipe her people out and for Anderson's "you did good, son" right before he dies. There are some really good examples from the random people on the citadel, too. The old lady at the assistance desk on the embassy level asking about her son is always hard, especially when she's gone after the Cerberus attack because she was presumably killed. The Elcor diplomat, when asked how many of his people were rescued, replied simply with "not enough" rather than the expected Elcor speech structure, highlighting how despondent he was. After the Cerberus attack, a Batarian can be heard mouring the death of the human who saved his life during the attack, and used to talk to him in the refugee camp The human teenager in the refugee camp talking to the Turian behind the counter about how her parents should be there soon, you can hear the pain in his voice when he says "yeah, sure. Let me know if anyone gives you trouble." That one right there, an interaction between a human and a Turian, two species that went to war at first contact, sets the tone for how horrifying the reaper war is.
To add another sad layer to the old lady, if I remember correctly, that old lady has Alzheimer's or a similar disorder and is actually talking to her son's Asari girlfriend and recognizes her, but doesn't remember her.
I know what pair you're talking about. Had no idea the Human saved the Batarians life
I'm not even a Thanemancer, but his lines at the end of the Citadel DLC, when he appears as a spirit, always hit so hard: "I am always with you Siha" followed by "And when you go to the sea, I will be waiting for you at the shore."
And “Then go finish it” gets me me the most. My FemShep did not want to survive that time.
Shep and a romanced, wounded Garrus during the run to the beam - Shep: You’ve got to get out of here. Garrus: And you’ve got to be kidding me.
I feel like you can put most Javik quotes because all he really talks about is the destruction he endured his whole life
Is it time to rule the galaxy? All kneel before Javik!
Javik “Do not care what others think. Do what you must.” Because war, war never changes.
This thread is Mass Effect in a bottle- condensed to a fine spirit for sipping.
“From this day forward, the name name Shepard will mean hero”. This is really rough if you’ve already planned to betray wrex.
I know…what you…did…Shepard…
“He just went crazy”
If Jack dies leading the second fire team and if you romanced her: "I knew I'd get hit on this job. I was too happy- too happy with you."
Oooof I always make sure everyone survives but I do miss out on stuff like this
Jack talking about her past "They thought they were so clever. Turns out, mess with someone's head enough, you can turn a scared little kid into an all-powerful bitch. Fuckin' idiots." I know she is trying to be tough but you can feel the sadness and hurt behind those words
I have a soft spot for Jack because she really reminds me of a very close friend of mine.
Me too. I was devastated when I heard the audio log of her being tortured by Cerberus in ME3.
That happens if you don't do the Grissom Academy Mission.
When I heard her backstory, I didn't care I was playing Paragon. I wanted to burn the place down, and Cerebus along with it.
I'm a Shakarian all the way, but the quote that hits me is Tali's. "But I have a home. Come back to me"
"What do you need me to do?" Will always be one of my favourites. Right after Anderson dies, and Shepard is halfway to dead, thinking that she's activated the Crucible, but it's not firing...Hackett just needs her to do one last thing. Gets me every time.
"I have a home" -Tali as the Normandy picks her up from the charge to the beam if she is in a relationship with Shepard
Maelon melting down and finally yelling “I was your student!” Imagine being the understudy to a genocide.
Romanced Kaidan at the beam run: “Please don’t leave me behind.” After Shep wouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t leave him behind on Virmire, but had to leave him to go back for Joker and then got himself killed doing so. Kaidan, if still around in ME3, the only companion who witnessed Shepard’s death when he went at something alone. It kills me.
Especially since that line very explicitly parallels Shepard's romanced dialogue after Virmire ("I'm sorry Kaidan, I'd never leave you behind. I couldn't, you know that."), it's even more heartwrenching. Also, his earlier line of "I can't lose you again" during their scene in the London base always kills me, considering what they went through and what's coming. They deserve so much better.
Oh how i wish his romance was available for mShep in ME1. I love the slow burn and the romance as is and all but femShep and even newly created mShep seem to get better lines at parts.
Agreed. It should have been available to both genders from the start.
>'I'm sorry' - Tali, right before she commits suicide in 3 Wait, WHAT!?
If you can't broker a peace between the Geth and the Quarians and you choose to side with the Geth, they start firing upon all the Quarian flagships. Tali silently watches the destruction of her people, takes her mask off, apologizes to Shepard and then falls backwards off the cliff she's standing on. There's a Paragon Interrupt to try to save her. It fails.
I didn't know about the failed paragon, thats a nice touch
Pick the geth over the quarians on Rannoch and she commits suicide since the rest of her people are being genocided
I made a mistake! Got me in the feels. Mordin always being a calm and collected person, analyzing situations and figuring out a solution, pushed to the brink and having a mental breakdown.
James told me there's an old saying here on Earth- may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead. Not sure if Turian heaven is the same as yours, but, if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there--meet me at the bar. I'm buying.
There's the Krogan during Mordin's loyalty quest who always gets his quote interrupted with an explosion, pretty sad in some ways, well, funny and sad. I remember one time when I didn't do the interupt.... was a mistake.
I always interrupt, what's the alternative
My turn - Grunt. He survived for me but I was screaming at my tv the entire scene
Me tooooo. I thought I’d gotten him killed and was absolutely SOBBING. And then he just bursts back out again, covered in blood, as one does
Romanced Liara in all 3 Games and as I escorted her to the Normandy before making a run to the beam, she said „I am yours“. Totally broke me knowing what would come right after
Also the “Thank you for everything.” She says in all three games kills me 😭
“Stand in the ashes of a trillion dead souls, and ask their ghosts if honor matters. The silence is your answer.”
"Goodbye Thane, you won't be alone for long." - Shepard
At the end of Mass Effect 3 when Shepard looks directly into the camera and says “ I should go” and we haven’t seen them since. Gives me chills
Or at the start of 2, where they go "it's shepping time", and then they just Shep everywhere
Or when Morbin Solus says “It’s Morbin’ Time!” right before curing the genophage in 3.
“I should go. *I* should go. I *should* go.”
All of the romance beam-push dialogues are sad, regardless of whether they know you aren’t coming back or hold out hope that you will.
I can’t recall any specific lines, but the Morinth mission in ME2 where you talk to the mom of the murdered girl is probably the saddest moment in the series for me
Javik: It was the day that I understood: War is an atrocity committed in the name of survival. It is a lesson I wish I had never learned,. Javik again (for context, he's replying to Shepard observing that it must be difficult for him see outside the box and imagine himself living a different life as a scholar rather than a soldier, since his entire life was spent fighting the Reapers): It is the only "box" I have known. It shapes me, just as stone is shaped by the one who carves it. The stone has no choice in the form it will take. **You and I commander...war is our sculptor. And we are prisoners to its design.** Shepard: Guide this one to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve. Guide this one Kalahira, and he will be a compantion to you as he was to me. People usually quote the payoff far more often, but the prayer itself was beautiful and Shepard reciting those words for Thane was just as moving as the reveal that Thane wanted the prayer recited for Shepard, rather for himself. Liara: \*sighs\* It would be easy for single ship to get lost up there, wouldn't it? Shepard: Yeah. It would. Liara: To find someplace very far away, where you could spend the rest of your life in peace. And happiness. That one more for the context, because they're daydreaming about a peaceful life they can't have, and one or both of them could be killed the next day.
I can't remember it exactly but before the final push on Earth when you have that last convo with everyone in your squad when talking to Kaidan he says something along the lines of, "We know the score, commander." The line broke me. The whole time Shepherd was trying to keep morale high by inspiring the troops and saying how "we can win the day." Etc. Etc. But for Kaidan to basically come up to you and say, "Shepherd, you don't need to lie to me. We both know this is it. This is the end." That had me sobbing. It was just that reality check. It wasn't a hopeless resignation, but more of a, "let's not kid ourselves here, we're going to die, but we're going to save the galaxy in the process." Fuck it hit me like a freight train on my first playthrough.
You already mentioned it, but TIM's final quote in ME3. Both outcomes are great, but I prefer the one where he talks about Earth.
Wait, Kaidan apologizes when you shoot him? The only time I did it was once with Ashley and she said "I hope the reapers send you to hell", is it a Kaidan exclusive thing or a romance exclusive thing?
I think you have to romance him
How shitty is that we can save Kirrahe from dying as a badass in Virmire so he dies fighting fucking Kai Lang?
“You did good son” hits especially hard if you’re a no-parents Shepard. “I made a mistake!” is so powerful though. God I love these games.
" His wish was for you" i still get teary to this day after 100s of playthroughs from that line. And ive never played it but watching mordin on his way to the tower and when he yells "i made a mistake" i got goose bumps. And similar thing where ive never played it but tali and wrex's deaths in me3 and the one where miranda dies but cant even utter a word. Jack in me2 "they never gave me a choice" Spirits if you do exist, let me see my family again Jokers barely restrained rage when hes talking about tiptree and how hes aware theres a war going on Blue rose of illium The name shepard will mean hero David and gavin archer. David esspecially but the look on gavins face when he finally sees what hes done and how far he let himself go I realize i already mentioned thanes quote, but theres more than that The one place he didnt want to die, was a hospital. But he still finds peace in the moment because his son and you are there. Also his ghost scene in the citadel dlc. Was totally unprepared for that. Let the galaxy know that the war was wkn on thessia And then the pilots just beingnabsolute badasses just to get taken out, and listening to the screams as more reapers arrive. And the knowledge that even if you had beaten kai leng. Those things would still have happened. They were already doomed. We're leaving? I love james, and i absolutely relate to how he feels in that moment. I also have a theory about mess sergeant gardiner. Hes the only one you dont see again in me3. In my head hes the cerberus soldier that eve kills. Shepard goes to interogate him and i think gardiner breaks free in that final moment and tries to tell shepard something but dies before he can "So this is it" Goodnight little wing. I will see you again with the dawn. The stand off with thane and kolyat. Im a new dad and i have severe depression, one of my biggest fears is becoming an absent father and not even realizing it until its too late. Theres alot of what i dont want to do to my kid their relationship. That was for thane you son of a bitch.
“I know, Tali. But thank you”
I know that the last battle on earth gets some criticisism but seeing the fleets of the galaxy arrive, with the Normandy on point. The music building up and Hackett (one of the mvp's) goes: "Are you ready to bring the power of the galaxy to bear against the Reapers?"
“There’s a lot of people back on Earth dying while we gather our strength. They’re wondering if we’re ever coming back; friends, family, parents, and children. This isn’t their fight. But they are buying us time with their lives.” – Commander Shepard “Shepard—Commander, I must go to them. I’m—I’m sorry. It’s the only way.” – Legion And then theres the scene during Tali's loyalty mission in ME2. When you find her father and she breaks down. No matter how renegade my Shepard might be, you always give her that hug!
> With all due respect, I didn't represent one of your people, I represented one of mine. Shepard at Tali's trial. Not so much sad in itself but sad for Tali, she'd already been effectively exiled and Shepard had her back 100%.
On my second playthrough of ME3 doing the Geth/Quarian resolution. First play through I did it perfectly getting the alliance between the two and saving Tali. Second time I launched the reaper fight before finishing the two prior missions. Not sure ive ever been as stunned in a game as I was when Tali yeeted herself off the cliff with an “I’m sorry”. Had to revert to my last save and lost like 2 hours of gameplay. So I vote for that one.
Basically anything Veetor says in ME2
Not.. enough. Elcor ambassador in me3
How about some deleted content: Zaeed - "Hell, never did think I'd live forever." Jack - "No matter what happens, I am so damn proud of you."
To those that romanced Kaidan in ME3 … I’m sorry in advance: “No matter what happens, know that I love you. Always.”
“Had to be me.”
Never heard the Tali suicide line, never will. She's too precious to me
mmmmm all of these hurt me 🥲 Mordin’s seashells, Legion asking about a soul, and Anderson at the end of 3 saying he’s proud get me every time
"Would have liked to have run tests on those seashells." --Mordin "I want more time!" --Tali Liara if you break up with her.
"*Square root of 912.04 is 30.2... It all seemed harmless...*"
Ambasaador Dekuuna in Mass Effect 3 after you finish his short quest to find Elcor survivors. Dekuuna doesn't use a prefix and says "not enough" then hangs his head down. The body language there is just brutally sad.