The 10 Most Awesome "Mass Effect" Moments (So Far)

Image via Complex Original

With Mass Effect 3 finally here, we felt it would be a good time to reflect on the most awesome moments in the series. The trilogy's finale will almost certainly be chock full of awesomeness—it doesn't get much more epic than a full-on Reaper invasion.

As a series, Mass Effect is far from being a one-trick Space Cow. It's full of heartbreak, happiness, loneliness, love, anger, drama, and everything in between. And that's all well and good, but this isn't a list of the funniest moments, the saddest moments or the best easter eggs in the series.

This is a list of the moments when Shepard and Co. proved that they're the most badass squad of space misfits since Chewy and Han were navigating asteroid fields drunk and with their eyes closed.

Meeting Sovereign

Mass Effect 1

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We had assumed Saren was using the powerful, ancient ship Sovereign to level up his evildoing stat, not the other way around. But when the ship deigns to hold a condescending conversation with Shepard, the truth comes out: it's not just a Reaper ship—it is a Reaper.

This is the first real glimpse at what the Reapers are capable of. And unless Sovereign is bluffing, the galaxy is pretty screwed. "We impose order on the chaos of organic evolution," he says. "You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it." It feels really good to kill this thing later on.

Saying "I told you so" to the Earth Defense Committee

Mass Effect 3

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The demo may be all we've played of Mass Effect 3 so far, but boy did it whet our whistles for the annihilation of humanity at the hands of the omnipotent Reapers. And the destruction of the Earth Defense Committee just as they realize they're doomed is the savory appetizer.

Shepard never actually gets to say "I told you so," but if the Committee hadn't been killed the minute the Reapers entered the Earth's atmosphere they'd almost definitely admit that they should've listened all along. It's a morbid sort of satisfaction, granted.

Decking that bitch reporter

Mass Effect 1 & 2

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And here

We don't condone violence against journalists (that would be a little too self-loathing even for us), but even we've got to admit that that reporter had it coming. When Shepard agrees to an interview, she works her angle like a caliper, doing everything she can to get under Shepard's skin.

And then she has the nerve to do it again in Mass Effect 2. With Jessica Chobot making a well-publicized cameo as a journalist in Mass Effect 3, we can't help but wonder whether we'll get the opportunity to give her the old one-two as well.

Finding out what happened to the Protheans

Mass Effect 2

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The reconnaissance mission aboard the Collectors ship in Mass Effect 2 is a pain in the ass, but it's also crucial to the plot. Its spoils allow the gang to traverse the Omega 4 relay—and it leads to the discovery of the Protheans' true fate.

They've been mostly extinct for 50,000 years, after all, so it was quite a mystery. But it turns out the Reapers wiped up the survivors once they were done and turned them into cyborg slaves. Naturally, Mordin's got even more info later on. Mystery solved! Next we'd like to find out what happened to the Dwarves in The Elder Scrolls. Thanks!

Traveling through the Omega 4 relay

Mass Effect 2

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Countless ships have attempted to travel through the Omega 4 relay since its discovery, and not a single one has made it back, save those of the Collectors. Some think that Heaven itself is on the other side. Others believe it simply poops travellers out into the middle of a black hole.

The truth is much more practical—it leads to the Collectors' headquarters, and they're the only ones with the proper technology to get through it unscathed. The Normandy makes it through intact only to be accosted by the very Collector ship responsible for its destruction (and Shepard's death) two years prior. But if you've upgraded the Normandy's guns to their full potential, that son of a bitch is in for a sweet, sweet surprise.

Meeting the Shadow Broker

Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker

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The "Lair of the Shadow Broker" expansion for Mass Effect 2 was easily our favorite DLC for the whole series. It reunited Shepard with Liara T'Soni, many players' favorite lover from the first Mass Effect, and introduced a never-before-seen race of villainous insectoids: the Yahg.

Meeting the mysterious Shadow Broker only compounds the shroud of mystery surrounding him, as he rather unexpectedly appears to be a hulking, hairlipped horsefly. When Liara reveals the Yahg's true origin, he rages through his own desk so you can mow him down with gunfire. One thing's for sure: he was way more interesting than Mr. Universe. Too bad we couldn't kill him with a sword.

Destroying a Reaper

Mass Effect 1

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Saren is a huge dick throughout Mass Effect, from his betrayal in the very first mission to his reincarnation as an undead, Sovereign-controller avatar on the Citadel during the final boss fight. But his defeat leaves the Sovereign wide open to attack, and it's ultimately through Shepard's intervention that the fleet is able to destroy the Reaper.

Naturally, the Normandy fires the killing shot, buying the galaxy a little more time to prepare for the full scale Reaper invasion. Too bad they squander it, though it'll make Mass Effect 3 a lot more exciting.

That moment when Chuck fans realize that Miranda is Yvonne Strahovsky

Mass Effect 2

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We know very well that we were late to this party, but we hadn't personally begun watching Chuck until its final season was already underway. There was a silver lining, though: we were pleasantly surprised when we replayed Mass Effect 2 last year and realized that Miranda Lawson is voiced by and modeled after Chuck's Yvonne Strahovsky.

Then our surprise turned to glee when we realized that meant we could finally bang her, if not in a physical sense then at least in a virtual one. Because any straight, human male who watches that show can't help but wish he had a Sarah Walker of his own (unless that's just us and we're super weird).

Shepard's death

Mass Effect 2

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If there's one thing we definitely don't expect to happen within the first five minutes of the sophomore title in a video game trilogy, it's the main character dying. We're not used to seeing Shepard so helpless, and the scene's effect is both unnerving and ominous.

That's only slightly diminished by the fact that Cerberus ressurects him a full two years later. Shepard's death is an amazing plot point, and it's got the added bonus of allowing him to fully change gears without being too weighed down by the events of the first game. Well done, Bioware.

Saving everyone on the suicide mission

Mass Effect 2

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We've seldom experienced such a sense of impending doom in a video game as when we barreled through the Omega 4 relay toward the "suicide mission" at the end of Mass Effect 2. The survival of Shepard's squad and crew hinges on a staggering number of decisions and missions throughout the entire length of the game, and without a guide it can be difficult to emerge without losses.

But when you do manage to make it through while keeping all your companions alive, you'll feel like you've finally become the leader they deserve.

Did we miss any awesome moments from the series? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.