Edit-note: Before you say I should only consider pre-ending knowledge for what you can decide, please see my retort to that here http://social.biowar...776811#17776987 - because that choice is 10x simpler and still reverts to Synthesis for Paragon Shepard.
Let's compare and explain, before all of you start whining at me because Shepard is dead, and you can't let go, or because you don't understand/approve of "The Extended Cut".
The Intelligence was created to end the conflict between organic and synthetic life, it failed over and over - until it found "the reaper solution".
As stated by The Intelligence itself, it was created "by ones [Leviathans] who recognized that conflict would always arise between synthetics and organics. I [The Intelligence] was first created to oversee the relations between synthetic and organic life... to establish a connection. But our efforts always ended in conflict, so a new solution was required.", to which Shepard correctly asks, "The Reapers?".
I have on countless occassions seen people consider this a plothole, that The Intelligence overthrew its own creators, as it was made to avoid conflict between organics and synthetics, however - there was no conflict between them, it simply served the purpose it was created for, in a way which was an oversight on the Leviathans' part.
The reapers were inherently not intent on war or genocide, but rather the preservation of all organic and synthetic life (before their own self-destruction), their culture, and their knowledge - this is despite of how morbid their methods are. The Geth were also focused on preservation, although not of everything, but rather.. themselves - and they would fight for it.
Now let's discuss the endings and the outcomes of them:
The destroy ending:
First I want to mention a problem I have with a lot of people:
The cutscene for this shows Anderson, who has been shown as nothing but a warrior throughout the entire series, Anderson is not the epitome of "good", his choices do not define Shepard's. As the Illusive Man said (despite how evil he is), Anderson is "an old soldier, stuck in his ways", he could never accept his position on the council, nor did he want to deal with the political dilemmas - he felt at home on the battlefield - whereas we see Shepard being praised as both an esteemed soldier and diplomat/politician for his/her various feats throughout the galaxy.
So what does the destroy ending detail?
- Shepard lives, but only by going against everything he/she stood for (as Paragon Shepard). Shepard helped the Geth become "good guys", only to destroy them along with all other synthetic life - when he/she could choose Synthesis to save all synthetic life, and give the Reapers the same chance that he/she gave the Geth. This means Paragon Shepard would never have chosen this way, unless he/she breaks character from all of his previous actions.
- The Reapers, the Geth, EDI and all other synthetic life died, in addition to millions (if not billions) of organic beings across the universe (as it killed organics with synthetic implants as well) - Synthetics can and will be rebuilt. Organics will still seek to imrpove their own existence, and as The Intelligence correctly said, it will be done through synthetics. Whether this is achieved through implants (Please see: the Zha'Til), or external workforces such as the Geth, it will eventually lead to their own demise.
- Paragon Shepard said on a number of occassions that he/she would never sacrifice X billion people to save Y billion people, and as he/she values Synthetic life on the same level as Organic life... That would never be an option. That is however exactly what this ending does.
- Cerberus lives. Cerberus is an idea, not just an organization, not a man. Cerberus still has indoctrination technology and will undoubtedly continue working on it, perfecting it, (ab)using it. Paragon Shepard would possibly live to see it, or even fight it.
The control ending:
The cutscene for this choice shows The Illusive Man - of course Paragon Shepard is nothing like him, and this choice is not necessarily evil at all. Paragon Shepard giving his/her life to guide The Reapers, is a lot like Legion giving his to "guide" the Geth to a state of peace.
A few dilemmas arise from this ending, as a Paragon Shepard. Let's look at the facts:
- Shepard lives on through the Reapers, despite giving up his/her body to do so. All current Organic and Synthetic life is preserved.
- The Reapers now serve as the Galaxy's guardians - what happens when someone eventually stands up to the reapers, be it Cerberus or any other "evil" organization - when a reaper dies, it can never be rebuilt. Paragon Shepard would NEVER build new reapers due to the implication of building new ones, and he/she would never replenish his/her reaper armies. So even if only a few reaper deaths are witnessed every one million years (big number), their numbers would eventually dwindle and fade to the point where they would be defeated. Just imagine what kind of weapons that rogue organizations can develop to combat the reapers in a million years? This would require either a new form of reaper which then could fall outside of the control, or going back to indoctrinate organics.
The synthesis ending:
"Organics seek perfection through technology. Synthetics seek perfection through understanding. Organics will be perfected by integrating fully with synthetic technology. Synthetics, in turn, will finally have full understanding of organics. It is the ideal solution. Now that we know it is possible, it is inevitable we will reach synthesis."
I have seen a lot of people argue against this ending because The Intelligence said that they "have tried a simillar solution in the past. But it has always failed". This argument is completely and incredibly invalid and flawed, there is absolutely no bad writing in this either, as the Intelligence explains why it failed, in response to Shepard asking "why?". The Intelligence explains that it's "because the organics were not ready. It is not something that can be... forced.", and then saying "You are ready. And you may choose it." - There is nothing to argue with, unless we go outside Mass Effect story - The Intelligence knows what it's talking about.
Another concern I've seen was that everyone became "husks" - everyone is still the same, they have their own identities, they are just partly synthetic, they didn't change otherwise. Literally nothing esle changes. The Intelligence said so itself, they integrated fully with synthetic technology, just like synthetics learned to understand organics, they did not change otherwise, unlike the Zha who implanted themselves with symbiotic AIs, which eventually took control of their bodies, and entire race.
I saw someone perpetuate that there is no more individualism in this ending, I don't understand this notion - people did not become omnipotent from synthesis, they merely got more knowledge shared with them, Reaper tech, and that of past civilizations, to be specific (Mass Relays and the like too). It did not change people's general personality either.
So what happens with the synthesis ending:
- Shepard gives his life for galaxy-wide peace - something he/she has often implied he/she would do in a heartbeat, something he/she expects of more or less everyone.
- Organics and Synthetics are no longer destined to wage war on eachother. - Yes the Geth eventually turned good, and EDI is good too, but everyone knows new AI will pop up - that was the whole reason the Intelligence was created, to fix this inevitable conflict.
- Several hundred million years worth of harvesting knowledge and culture of other civilizations is shared by the Reapers.
- The galaxy basically enters a golden age, this is mostly the case for Paragon Shepard, had Renegade Shepard chosen this ending it wouldn't necessarily be true (considering all the mistrust and genocides).
- Synthesis achieved what every past organic civilization has tried to achieve through the creation of synthetic life, an ascension to uplift the races to something more than they are.
- Everyone's skin has a green synthetic texture and glowing eyes. If this is the only negative problem that you have against Synthesis, and if you let this keep you from choosing it, then you're not Paragon Shepard.
The refusal ending:
I generally like this ending, it's fun. Paragon Shepard could choose it, but I find it unlikely as he/she is in a very fatal state, and with the whole "this is our final push" ordeal happening in the back, it is an unlikely logical choice.
One note I have about it though, the Intelligence claims synthesis is inevitable, I don't understand why it didn't force that on the galaxy rather than continue the cycle - now that it knows "we're ready".
Modifié par DoYouReadThis, 12 janvier 2014 - 09:52 .
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