Core Assumptions
1. That romances in Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 will continue in some kind of capacity in Mass Effect as long as the prospective character has survived both games.
2. I will not assume that any character will obviously be a squad mate, though the likelihood is high that the returning Mass Effect 1 love interests will probably have much larger roles to the core story, up to and including roles as squad mates. I do this simply so we can focus on the outcome and resolution of the romance.
3. I will reiterate that I will not speak about what people feel should be the proper "romance" options for the gender and instead focus on what the current pairings are as of the launch of Mass Effect 2.
Humans
Ashley Williams (Male LI): I feel that her relationship if continued from Mass Effect 1 into Mass Effect 3 will probably be a fairly "straightforward" affair. She comes from a large military family and understands some of the pressures and travails that Shepard has to go through. Even with their frosty meeting on Horizon, her email denotes a close personal attachment. I think there is a marriage and possibly family with Ash, if Shepard survives the events of Mass Effect 3. Assuming Shepard survives the events of the finale, whatever they are.
As an aside I do want to add that I think Ash will be a possible LI for new Shepards who start with Mass Effect 3; evidence for this albeit slight is from Kelly Chambers when she asks about how Shepard feels about Ash even if he did not romance her in the first game. I would not be surprised if she was an option again in the third game regardless since her role will be much larger.
Kaidan Alenko (Female LI): Again this will be similar to Ashley, they fulfill the "same" role in Mass Effect 2, but have different motivations and overall different characters. I still think there may be a marriage and perhaps family in the future for the this romance, but the overall tone will be different. Like Ash he sends an email after Horizon describing his feelings and sets the stage for a reunion in the final chapter.
Again I think he will also be a potential romance similar to Ash in Mass Effect 3 for new Shepards, or even Shepards that were imported and want to start up a new relationship in the third act.
Jacob Taylor (Female LI): Jacob being introduced in the second act has the possibility of dying before the conclusion of the game. Like Ash he has a similar military upbringing and understanding of how the galaxy works and has seen a fair share of conflict having been on Eden Prime during the war. Unlike Ash he has no real close family and seems to have little ties to the world, and depending on his Loyalty mission plays out his father is either dead or in incarceration.
I could see the relationship in the third act strengthening if he survives and becoming something serious. I am not sure if marriage and kids are on the horizon but it does seem like he could grow into the idea and given his experiences with Shepard in the second act there is bound to be a close bond. Given his introduction in the second act and his possible death, I don't see him being an option for new Shepards in Mass Effect 3.
Miranda Lawson (Male LI): Miranda is a tough woman, but with a fragile side that shows through once her insecurities about her origins come to light. Like Jacob I don't think she will be an LI option for new Shepards in Mass Effect 3, but her story will definitely continue for import Shepards that kept her alive in the second act. I think a total culmination of her story will probably involve her father and sister, but that is purely speculation. Of the human choices she seems in my eyes the least likely to just want to settle down, not that I think marriage and kids is the natural progression but just that she seems the most motivated to continually prove herself and her abilities.
Given how Mass Effect 2 ends I could see Cerberus making the lives of Miranda and Shepard interesting, but that isn't a given. I could see her being fairly possessive as well if there was a confrontation of sorts; assuming that Shepard chose Miranda over a Mass Effect 1 romance.
Jack (Male LI): Jack is odd and complex and I really like her character in the second act. Given she can die in the suicide mission like the rest of the Mass Effect 2 romances I doubt she will be available as an option in Mass Effect 3 for new Shepards. She seems to really soften by the end of her true romance, and I really think that a close powerful bond is in the making if a player chooses to follow it to conclusion in the finale.
She seems so unconventional but I think she truly wants to be loved and find someone that will be there for her, and so I would not be surprised if the two form something of a family together. Of the romances hers seems to be a sort of romance plus salvation as if she was rescued from becoming something she never wanted to be. It will probably play with her survivor's guilt as well.
Non-Humans
Liara T'Soni (Both Gender LI): Liara is probably one of the more changed characters in the series. Her appearance in the second act is a very different image at least externally from her role in the first game. She is also unique in being available to both genders given her species. Another unique trait is that it is possible for her to have children with humans, although technically the children would be asari and not human/asari hybrids. Finally she is the only romance currently in the game that has no chance of dying in the first or second acts of the game. This alone insures that she will have a role in the third act, romance or not.
Given her "immunity" it stands to reason that she will probably be a possible romance for new Shepards in the conclusion, and for import Shepards if they so choose to start a romance in the third act. I think the big payoff though will be for those that have stuck with her since the first game, same goes for Ashley or Kaidan. But that is purely speculation but I think the tone of the romance will be different depending on when it began. Though I presume both paths will provide a satisfactory conclusion. For her romance especially if it is continued from the first game, I could see the two having a child and forming a more permanent bond assuming they survive the events of the finale.
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy (Male LI): Another fan favorite and option for non-human romance in the second act, it is revealed the attraction began in the first game but never acted upon. Like the rest of the non-humans there is little chance for her and Shepard to have "hybrid" children with the story as given. Another roadblock is her very weak immune system. But despite these "challenges" I don;t see a relationship with Tali as doomed to fail.
It could play a larger role in strengthening bonds between quarians and humans, at least politically. It could given how the events of her Loyalty mission and possible elements in Mass Effect 3 give the commander access to a powerful political entity in quarian society. Assuming she becomes an Admiral or perhaps an esteemed member of the Conclave. Admiral seems more likely. Of course the resolution of the geth and quarian conflict will play a large role in how this romance plays out especially if there is a chance to retake the homeworld. Akin to other Mass Effect 2 romances I don't think she will be an option in Mass Effect 3 for new Shepards given her potential for not surviving the suicide mission.
To be continued..
I will continue this with the rest and some closing anecdotes. I will include Kelly Chambers but she is a special case for which I will explain when I have more time in my next post. I look forward to feedback and discussion.
Modifié par Naltair, 14 février 2010 - 11:27 .
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What did she expect? Seriously, it felt like she was giving me a big "go away" signal.
