Granted however, that's not what I consider to be the kicker about Synthesis. The Reapers aren't so much a threat anymore since the Catalysts ultimate goal has been fulfilled.
The issue is whether or not we are all Reaper machinations now through the Reaper/Catalyst version of Synthesis. How do we know we aren't ultimately under its control?
From a meta perspective its unlikely Bioware would ever have it revealed in a sequel that the Reapers annihilated the post-Synthesis galaxy. But from an in-universe perspective there is no reason for Shepard to trust the Catalyst with the galaxy's fate. It even reveals that it tried something like Synthesis once before, but was unhappy with the results. The Synthesis ending requires Shepard to trust that the mass-murdering A.I. won't change it's mind again.
I'm just picturing the Catalyst having a conversation with elderly Shep:
"You know at first I thought I had finally reached nirvana with this cycle, but now I'm just not feelin' it. I don't know man, this whole cycle feels kind of lame to me now. Time to head back to the drawing board. Haters gonna hate. Reapers gonna reap."
I don't think that the Catalyst's comment that it 'tried a similar path' is really indicative that at one point that it achieved synthesis. For all we know, the Reapers themselves might actually be the progeny of that experiment (hence where the prior 'synthesis' comes into play).
The key issue is whether or not the implementation of synthesis prevents a future war between organic and synthetics from which synthetics are able to pulverize organic life everywhere into oblivion via their advancement. It's not even trying to achieve permanent peace between organics and synthetics. It's trying to ensure that synthetics don't wipe out organics when that peace is inevitably broken. And really, there are only 4 solutions I can think of for that issue;
1) Don't create advanced sapient synthetic life.
2) Enforce a peace via an appeal to force with the Reapers as arbiters/inquisitors over the developing organics and synthetics.
3) Enact a singularity event or synthesis where there is no longer a meaningful distinction/divide between organic and synthetic life.
4) Continue the harvest and cycle of the Reapers forever.
Granted however, that's not what I consider to be the kicker about Synthesis. The Reapers aren't so much a threat anymore since the Catalysts ultimate goal has been fulfilled.
The issue is whether or not we are all Reaper machinations now through the Reaper/Catalyst version of Synthesis. How do we know we aren't ultimately under its control?
The Catalyst's word.
For all we know Destroy itself could have done something similar. Like, maybe, it only destroyed the Reapers' physical shells while messing with everyone's minds via Crucible modified Indoctrination. Ultimately, we don't understand any of the Crucible's functions and are taking the word of something we just met.
The key issue is whether or not the implementation of synthesis prevents a future war between organic and synthetics from which synthetics are able to pulverize organic life everywhere into oblivion via their advancement. It's not even trying to achieve permanent peace between organics and synthetics. It's trying to ensure that synthetics don't wipe out organics when that peace is inevitably broken. And really, there are only 4 solutions I can think of for that issue;
I brought this very point up a few years ago - what happens when organic life appears again? Does the "enlightened" synthesized race conquer them, prevent them from building synthetics, assimilate them ... what?
I brought this very point up a few years ago - what happens when organic life appears again? Does the "enlightened" synthesized race conquer them, prevent them from building synthetics, assimilate them ... what?
I think post synthesis (as the Reapers present it), that issue is no longer relevant.
From a meta perspective its unlikely Bioware would ever have it revealed in a sequel that the Reapers annihilated the post-Synthesis galaxy. But from an in-universe perspective there is no reason for Shepard to trust the Catalyst with the galaxy's fate. It even reveals that it tried something like Synthesis once before, but was unhappy with the results. The Synthesis ending requires Shepard to trust that the mass-murdering A.I. won't change it's mind again.
I'm just picturing the Catalyst having a conversation with elderly Shep:
"You know at first I thought I had finally reached nirvana with this cycle, but now I'm just not feelin' it. I don't know man, this whole cycle feels kind of lame to me now. Time to head back to the drawing board. Haters gonna hate. Reapers gonna reap."
"All this green just isn't doing it for me, y'know? I mean, I like green, it's just that if everything had to be one colour I'd rather it were blue. Blue's my favourite."
I think post synthesis (as the Reapers present it), that issue is no longer relevant.
Why isn't it relevant? Only the organics and synthetics which existed at the time of the green beam were fused, correct? So in a few million years, when life emerges from some other primordial soup to evolve into another intelligent, exclusively organic race, or the galaxy is visited by organics from another galaxy, or another part of the Milky Way that was unaffected by the green beam, what happens? Certainly, there will be a conflict at some point
Some asari are not affected by Synthesis
The worst thing about the Synthesis ending, IMO, is that it is the only ending that leaves the Catalyst alive. Destroy destroys him and Control replaces him with Catalyst 2.0, a.k.a. the Sheplyst. Synthesis keeps the A.I. responsible for the extinction cycles functioning and in control of a fully intact Reaper fleet.
In terms of lasting peace and stability, the Control ending with a Paragon Shepard would provide the most benefit to the most individuals. With the near infinite knowledge and power of the Reapers, combined with her own intellect and compassion, Control Shepard would guide the galaxy into a era of prosperity and stability. If the krogan or rachni get out of control, the full force of the Reaper fleet would force-er, gently guide them back into line. If a new AI threat like the geth arise, Shepard could negotiate peace. Wars would be a thing of the past. With the Reaper fleets patrolling the spaceways, crime would nearly vanish. With the capability to create new mass relays, resource shortages would no longer be a problem.
Oddly, Destroy going the "happy ending" route for the plotlines would likely leave the galaxy in the worst state. Krogan would breed out of control - even with Wrex and Eve, there's nothing even close to a guarantee they would be able to change the essential nature of their species. The rachni are so completely alien, it's inconceivable there wouldn't be at least skirmishes with other species. After having a taste of geth assistance for a few weeks, the quarians would scramble to recreate them...and the temptation to make them more subservient might be overwhelming. Without a single threat to unify them, the galaxy might experience a few years or even decades of peace, followed by a return to the status quo.
Synthesis has too many outstanding questions to adequately say what will happen. Best case scenario, millennia of wisdom from countless civilizations provided by the Reapers combined with a new feeling of unity and interspecies understanding provides peace without a benevolent overlord. Worst case, you've got all the problems of destroy but with the unknown variables of the freed Reapers in the mix.
Why isn't it relevant? Only the organics and synthetics which existed at the time of the green beam were fused, correct? So in a few million years, when life emerges from some other primordial soup to evolve into another intelligent, exclusively organic race, or the galaxy is visited by organics from another galaxy, or another part of the Milky Way that was unaffected by the green beam, what happens? Certainly, there will be a conflict at some point
Incorrect.
Everywhere in the milky way has more or less been synthesized permanently. In a few million years, when life emerges from another soup, it will likely be pre-synthesized.
Outside of the galaxy is very highly unlikely, given the incredibly vast distances from one galaxy to another.
Incorrect.
Everywhere in the milky way has more or less been synthesized permanently. In a few million years, when life emerges from another soup, it will likely be pre-synthesized.
Outside of the galaxy is very highly unlikely, given the incredibly vast distances from one galaxy to another.
I'm not really disagreeing, it's more of a thought experiment. Synthesis alone establishes that "highly unlikely" is plausible. Let's assume that the synthesized Milky Way denizens find a wormhole to another galaxy (this is not out of the realm of possibility here), say Andromeda or Phoenix, whatever. Or vice versa, we get visitors from a distant galaxy. What happens when they encounter organics? Does their desire to "find a solution" kick in? Do they go to war? Do they stake a claim to the entire galaxy? Solar systems?
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