Mass Effect: How Suspension of Disbelief Dies (Worldbuilding, Lore, Theme, & Narrative Analysis)

Channel:

mickomoo

Subscribers:

480

Published on November 18, 2021 12:30:12 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eLj8dEjAT0

Game:

Mass Effect (2007)

Duration: 1:17:33

273 views

15

This is a waaayy late vid I wanted to release for N7. So... happy belated N7 I guess.

For better or worse, some portion of the Mass Effect fandom haven't made peace with the Extended Cut endings. Why is that? Take a journey with me as I try and explain some thematic and narrative incongruities that may have shattered these holdouts' suspension of disbelief.

Sections

0:00 Intro/joke

0:17 Why I made this

5:36 Overview & disclaimers

8:42 ME3 & Crunch

11:35 Praising ME

13:15 My disappointment w/ the ending

17:13 Outline of core arguments

24:23 Point 1: Worldbuilding

40:35 Point 2: Lore

45:16 True Meaning of Mass Effect (Joke)

45:29 Point 3: Theme

59:51 Point 3.5: Synthetic conflict as a theme

01:07:01 Why Refuse is the "true ending"

01:09:36 Point 4: Narrative

Links for more reading/viewing:

People Make Games Mass Effect Ending Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhtgjmkcht8

Shamus Young Mass Effect Retrospective: https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=27792

Mods Effect Playthrough (Modded Original Trilogy Playthrough): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJdVFFo1OnsvBYk0ywukeXRbjegJqpPMr

Risky Suicide Mission Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE_iXwYkZhk

Risky Suicide Mission Reaction (1st time): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK8N418HV98
Credits

Various sound effects:

Fesliyan Studios (Boos)

The Intro Show (Please Stand By)

Music tracks:

ArmageddoN7 by Big Giant Circles (Max Effect)

Suicide Mission Theme (ME2)

Uncharted Depths by Hy Bound (OverClocked Remix)

Mass Effect Theme (unreleased version)

Vigil's Theme (ME1)

Husks for Sale by Big Giant Circles (Max Effect)

Refinery (ME1)

Lazarus Project (ME2)

Ascension (B-sides from another Galaxy)

Charges of Treason

Prothean Site (ME2)

Quarantine Section (ME2)

Sound of the Galaxy by Mattias Häggström Gerdt (OverClocked Remix)

Nova Siberia by Big Giant Circles (OverClocked Remix)

Virmire Shakedown by Big Giant Circles (Max Effect)

Legon's Theme (Mass Effect 2 Sound Track)

Saren's Prayer by Mazedude (OverClocked Remix)

Of Stars and Dreams (B-sides From Another Galaxy)

Illos Drop (ME1)

Character Creation (ME3)

The Fleets Arrive (ME3)

Other Statistics