Misplaced Pages

#629370

103-460: Asari may refer to: Fiction [ edit ] Asari , a fictional race in the video game series Mass Effect Asari-chan , a Japanese manga series by Mayumi Muroyama Places [ edit ] Asari (crater) , on the dwarf planet Ceres Asari, Latvia , a neighbourhood of Jūrmala, Latvia Asari-Toru , a Rivers State, Nigeria People [ edit ] Junko Asari (born 1969),

206-490: A cathedral . The worship of the goddess Athame was originally the predominant mainstream religion before the asari achieved spaceflight. Siari is the most popular religion in contemporary asari society, which is grounded on pantheism and the belief that all life is fundamentally similar. The asari first appear in Mass Effect: Revelation , the franchise's inaugural media installment. The Citadel Council

309-520: A "Reaper task force" for the Turians, with the option to continue their relationship from 2 if he was Shepard's paramour. The character is also the star of the third issue of Mass Effect: Homeworlds . Garrus's blue-and-black armour colour scheme was kept consistent throughout the series, as was his visor, although grey was added in the third game to reflect his new rank. Garrus is voiced by Brandon Keener . A famous bounty hunter and mercenary, Wrex

412-417: A "refreshing change from the philosophizing and soul-searching of the rest of the crew." Thane is a mysterious drell assassin who is terminally ill from a disease known as Kepral's Syndrome, which is exclusive to drell due to their physiology. While a coldblooded killer, Thane possesses a conscience that struggles against his own profession. Shepard may recruit him on the asari -dominated world of Ilium for

515-669: A 600-year journey to the Andromeda galaxy, departing before the events of Mass Effect 3 . The ark carrying the humans, the Hyperion , arrives at the wrong drop point, far from the forward command centre of the Andromeda Initiative, the Nexus, and cut off from contact with both it and the other arks. The player-controlled Ryder later succeeds their father as the Hyperion's Pathfinder, and is tasked with leading their crew on

618-674: A Japanese marathon runner Masakatsu Asari ( 浅利 正勝 , born 1945) , Japanese ski jumper Mujahid Dokubo-Asari , jailed leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force Other uses [ edit ] Asari , the Japanese term for the saltwater clam species Venerupis philippinarum Asari , a Hindu caste usually grouped with the Vishwakarma Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

721-520: A collection of local warrior bands which are not sufficiently organized for large-scale military campaigns but nevertheless have individual members who are well-armed and exceptionally skilled in biotic abilities. An asari commando, who is dressed in a tight military style as opposed to the flowing clothing preferred by asari civilians, is more powerful than the best human biotic adept, whereas lack of biotic talent will exempt an asari individual from military service. The visual design of asari architecture

824-607: A conspiracy involving batarian terrorists. Jacob is encountered in Mass Effect 2 as an official member of Cerberus and Shepard's starting squad member, as well as a potential romantic option for a female Shepard. Unless the player imports a Mass Effect 2 saved game where Jacob does not survive the suicide mission, in Mass Effect 3 he returns as a supporting character who has defected from Cerberus, and attempts to protect other Cerberus defectors from reprisals by their former employer. The iconic look of all Cerberus clothing in

927-607: A different galaxy, Andromeda , and focuses on the Andromeda Initiative and the Ryder family. The spin-off games, Mass Effect Galaxy and Mass Effect Infiltrator , feature different protagonists. This article describes characters, which includes a diverse cast of alien , human and synthetic beings, that appear in video games set in the Mass Effect universe . This list only includes player characters, squad members, major antagonists, and other notable characters that appear in

1030-724: A member of the Justicars, a class of extrajudicial law enforcement officers and executioners operating almost exclusively within asari territory. Samara's subplot introduces the Ardat-Yakshi into series lore, and involves her hunt for her Ardat-Yakshi daughter Morinth . In the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC , Liara temporarily joins Shepard as a companion in Illium, where she avoids an attempt on her life by an asari Spectre who

1133-612: A playable character when the Collectors invade the Normandy to capture its crew in the absence of Shepard and the squad. He can develop a romantic relationship with EDI in Mass Effect 3 if encouraged. Joker is voiced by Seth Green . Jacob Taylor is the protagonist of Mass Effect Galaxy , a tie-in iOS game to Mass Effect 2 . He is a former Systems Alliance soldier who is recruited by Miranda Lawson in Galaxy to investigate

SECTION 10

#1732773243630

1236-520: A sense, taking on more human traits herself. During the Alliance raid on Cerberus Headquarters, a Cerberus report discovered in the base retroactively establishes EDI's original identity as a rogue VI which somehow achieved sentience and took over an Alliance training ground located on Earth's moon during an optional mission of the first Mass Effect game . If Shepard chooses to control the Reapers or

1339-412: A solid fighter and being an actual spaceship. GameRevolution included EDI in their list of "Women Who Rock Modern Gaming"; praise was focused on her unique contribution to the squad dynamic in Mass Effect 3 with her new body, her inexperience in interacting with humanity which often leads to humorous situations, as well as her integration into the game's main plot during the final act of the game. On

1442-569: A squad mate in Mass Effect 2 . In addition to these, the character also makes an appearance in the Mass Effect: Redemption comic series and in Mass Effect 3 (provided the player does not import a save where she dies). She is revealed to have been genetically designed by her father to be perfect and ran away from home to join Cerberus. Lawson is leader of Cerberus' Lazarus Cell, tasked with reviving Commander Shepard. Aboard

1545-522: A staff member of the Grissom Academy. Commander Shepard is the central protagonist of the original Mass Effect trilogy of video games. On an assignment to investigate a besieged human colony, Shepard is affected by a Prothean artifact that grants them insight on the Reapers, making them the key entity to help protect the species of the Milky Way from being wiped out by the Reapers. Shepard

1648-536: A whole society that actually encourages mating outside the tribe", noting he had personal experience dealing with the scornful experiences from society towards interracial relationships. In a 2020 article, Stacey Henley from VG247 observed that the Mass Effect series have since moved away from an initially crude and fetishistic portrayal of the species in the first game and asari characters began to gain more agency and prominence as nuanced characters in more recent installments. She disclosed that she relates strongly to

1751-526: Is a biological deviant known as an Ardat-Yakshi. Shepard meets Samara on Illium, where she is found investigating the Eclipse mercenary group who smuggled her daughter off-world. Samara will join Shepard for the suicide mission at the conclusion of the investigation; if Shepard chooses to participate in her quest, a decision has to be made between siding with Samara or Morinth at the climax of the story arc. If

1854-463: Is a potential romance option for a female Shepard throughout the entire trilogy, and for a male Shepard only in Mass Effect 3 . Kaidan is voiced by Raphael Sbarge . Ashley Madeline Williams is a human Alliance Marine, who becomes part of Shepard's squad during the first observed Reaper attack in the first Mass Effect . In a late-game choice on the planet Virmire, the player must choose whether to save Ashley or Kaidan Alenko ; this choice leads to

1957-534: Is a protagonist of Mass Effect: Revelation and its sequels, Ascension , Retribution , and Deception Sanders is secretly the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Jon Grissom, the first Alliance hero who led a space exploration task force to travel through the Charon mass relay. She is cited as one of the most important characters in the series, and the main heroine of Mass Effect spin-off fiction. She makes her first video game appearance in Mass Effect 3 as

2060-535: Is a result of modifications achieved with technology salvaged from the Reaper Sovereign . She is initially "shackled" with programming which inhibits her decision making, until it was later removed by Joker . In Mass Effect 3 , Shepard's team recovers a Cerberus infiltration unit named Eva to be analyzed after an incident at the Mars research station. EDI assists in doing so, and in the process, struggles with

2163-499: Is a salarian scientist who possesses a hyperactive and eccentric personality, a rapid and stilted manner of speaking, and a flawless autobiographical and eidetic memory which is a typical salarians trait. He is a key member in the science team that researched the remodification of the Krogan Genophage, an action that he initially considered the best possible solution to a once growing problem, as he believes in acting in

SECTION 20

#1732773243630

2266-598: Is among the last of the Krogan Battle Masters ; rare individuals who can combine biotic abilities with advanced weaponry and tactics. He joins the crew of the SSV Normandy in the first Mass Effect to hunt down rogue Spectre Saren Arterius, but is later drawn into a stand-off with Commander Shepard in Virmire when he discovers that Saren's scientists have uncovered a cure for the genophage. Depending on

2369-409: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Asari (Mass Effect) The asari are depicted as beings with a feminine appearance by non-asari standards, a pansexual - panromantic orientation, and the capability of reproducing with any species. Asari can live for over a thousand years and go through three stages of life, which is analogous to

2472-529: Is inspired by the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava . The smooth curves and horizontal lines of Nos Astra, the capital of the asari-influenced world Illium reinforce the signature Mass Effect style. A typical building in Thessia is characterized by large, swooping curves, while the Temple of Athame where Commander Shepard uncovers a secret artifact in Mass Effect 3 has upward-swooping lines like

2575-604: Is introduced in Revelation and is presented as the governing body and ultimate authority in Citadel space: the councilors pass judgement for violations of Council law, settle disputes between interstellar governments, and occasionally provide direct intervention in the form of special operations by delegating to its special forces personnel, the Spectres, which count asari commandoes among their number. A representative from

2678-491: Is later encountered in the planet Noveria as a boss , supported by a squad of asari commandoes. One of her subordinates, Shiala, is encountered on the planet Feros where she had been absorbed by the Thorian , an ancient sentient plant-like creature capable of mind control abilities and creating clone copies of Shiala to use as its avatars; her once-blue skin had turned a shade of green as a lasting result of being integrated into

2781-541: Is later named the first human Spectre by the Citadel Council, and given command of the SSV Normandy and its crew to complete their mission. The character's given name, gender, background, and appearance are determined by the player on starting a new game, with both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 allowing the player to import saves from previous games to carry over that version of Shepard. Depending on

2884-931: Is markedly different due to the presence of Element Zero, which causes a violet-blue coloration at a molecular scale. The asari have been variously described as all-female and mono-gendered, or hermaphroditic and sexually ambiguous. Most asari choose to use feminine third-person, singular personal pronouns as an efficient means of conversing with gender binary species on terms they could understand. The asari are evolutionarily conditioned to be pansexual and panromantic, biologically capable of procreating with any sentient life form, and can reproduce with any known sex, gender or species—their offspring are always asari, regardless of their "father's" genetic species, which has led to in-universe claims of asari promiscuity. Instead of trading cellular material directly like other biological organisms, asari reproduce by "melding": linking their nervous systems with their partner's and utilizing

2987-430: Is meant to be both "alluring and sexy" while keeping a sense of "class and style", akin to a " Hollywood red carpet feel". Different silhouettes of clothing were made by the design team trying to find looks that a woman would wear, which would appear both futuristic but not "too far", while also keeping with the kind of clothes that would be worn in more aquatic environments. To help create visual variation for many of

3090-577: Is meant to recruit Okeer, a krogan warlord and radical scientist who has been developing a small army of krogan to weather the Genophage. When Shepard arrives to recruit him, Okeer is working for the Blue Suns mercenary group, but was betrayed by the latter. Though Shepard and crew defeat the Blue Suns leader, it is too late to save Okeer, who leaves Shepard with a tank containing his "legacy", his "perfect krogan". If and when Shepard decides to awaken him,

3193-408: Is much pressure for Tali to excel. In the first game, she is on her Pilgrimage, before handing Shepard incriminating evidence about Saren and joining their crew. In the second game, now Tali'Zorah vas Neema and later Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, where she joins Shepard on a suicide mission to rescue human colonists from the Collectors, and she is a potential romance option for a male Shepard. If she survives

Asari - Misplaced Pages Continue

3296-527: Is present. Shepard may also assist Aria T'Loak with retaking Omega station from Cerberus forces in the Omega DLC . In Mass Effect: Andromeda , the asari are one of the Milky Way species participating in the Andromeda Initiative, a civilian project which sends settlers on board "ark ships" on a one-way trip to the Andromeda Galaxy prior to the events of Mass Effect 3 . Two asari characters join

3399-490: Is primarily based on a series of third-person role-playing shooter video games which currently consists of four mainline instalments and two spin-off mobile games. The first three Mass Effect games takes place in the Milky Way Galaxy during the 22nd century and revolves around a space navy soldier named Commander Shepard . The fourth Mass Effect game is a standalone sequel to the original trilogy but set in

3502-516: Is revealed to be a Prothean beacon containing a VI called Vendetta, whereas information discovered in the temple indicated that Athame is in fact a guise crafted by the Protheans, with the implication that they have intervened in asari development during antiquity and may be responsible for the asari's natural ability to develop biotics, a notion emphasized by the Prothean squad mate Javik if he

3605-438: Is rich with Element Zero, a fictional material which, when subjected to an electric current, releases dark energy. Within series lore, Element Zero is so abundant on Thessia that the water and soil contain large amounts of it, thus life on Thessia has adapted and evolved to its presence, including the asari's natural affinity for biotic abilities. While the asari mostly closely resemble humans in terms of biology, their blood color

3708-537: Is saved by Shepard, who is simultaneously gathering information on a concept known as "the Catalyst", from a coup attempt at the Citadel by the human supremacist paramilitary group Cerberus. The asari councilor later provides Shepard with a lead about a classified artifact secretly housed at the Temple of Athame in Thessia, which may have connections to the Catalyst as well as the completion of the Crucible. The artifact

3811-531: Is secretly an agent of the Shadow Broker . She assumes the role of the Shadow Broker after locating and killing the incumbent . In Mass Effect 3 , Liara reunites with Shepard at a Mars research facility, where she has discovered plans for the Crucible, a Prothean superweapon theorized to be capable of defeating the Reapers. Numerous asari worlds are invaded by the Reapers during the progression of

3914-439: Is smaller and does not fully cover his entire skull due to his age. Early designs for Grunt's armor varied widely, which eventually settled into a polished and sleek look, almost like a "show-room finish" on a brand new car. A confrontation scene in Mass Effect 2 between Grunt and Mordin over the latter's role in strengthening the Genophage was planned but ultimately cut during development. Initially in Mass Effect 2 , Shepard

4017-470: Is tasked to escort Shepard to an Alliance defense committee hearing, however the hearing is interrupted when the Reapers attack Earth. James and Ashley or Kaidan, depending on who survived Virmire, retrieve the Normandy SR-2 and pick Shepard up from Earth. James is the main focus of the anime film, Mass Effect: Paragon Lost . James is voiced by Freddie Prinze, Jr. in all media. Kahlee Sanders

4120-449: Is the protagonist of Mass Effect Infiltrator , a third-person shooter tie-in video game to Mass Effect 3 developed for mobile devices. He is a cybernetically modified Cerberus operative who discovers that his employer is up to something nefarious, goes rogue and embarks on a mission to save his friend from Cerberus. Randall is voiced by Jay Anthony Franke . Pathfinder Ryder is the main protagonist of Mass Effect: Andromeda ,

4223-432: Is voiced by Kimberly Brooks . Garrus Vakarian is a male turian who serves as a squad mate in all three of the games. Garrus is initially a C-Sec officer who joins up with Shepard to escape from all the "red tape" in his job but becomes a vigilante under the alias Archangel on Omega in Mass Effect 2 before his squad is killed. Garrus is a potential romance option for a female Shepard in 2 . In Mass Effect 3 , he leads

Asari - Misplaced Pages Continue

4326-429: Is voiced by Ash Sroka, also credited as "Liz Sroka". Liara T'Soni is an asari scientist , that joins Shepard's squad in the first game and appears in 2 as a non-player character (available as a temporary squad member in Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker ) and as a full squad member in 3 . She is one of the experts on Prothean history and technology. Liara is a potential romance option for Shepard throughout

4429-533: Is wispy and intimidating as a result of being stretched taller by the Reapers' conversion process. Asari can live for over a thousand years, and go through three developmental psychology stages of life: the Maiden stage , where they explore the world out of curiosity and restlessness, with many trying their hand at dancing in bars or working as mercenaries during this time; the Matron stage , where they begin to feel

4532-736: The Normandy SR-2's artificial intelligence and speaks with an aurally feminine voice. Her name stands for "Enhanced Defense Intelligence", and is visually represented on the Normandy by a holographic blue sphere. For Mass Effect 3 , the developers wanted to give EDI a body that is "sexy, chrome, and robotic", akin to the Maria character, also known as the Maschinenmensch, from Metropolis . EDI's facial and body design went through multiple iterations, which includes an eyeless visage, and partially completed 3-D models which differ from

4635-406: The Mass Effect franchise observed annually. The asari has been the subject of varied critical commentary; most critics recognize the asari's potential as a form of social commentary as well as a critical exploration of gender identities, but differed on opinion with regards to the effectiveness of their depiction within the series. Bob Mackey from 1UP highlighted the paradox of their role within

4738-474: The Normandy SR-2, she is Shepard's second-in-command and Executive Officer, and files mission reports directly to the Illusive Man. Miranda is a potential romance option for the male Shepard in Mass Effect 2 , with the option to continue the romance in Mass Effect 3 . Miranda Lawson is voiced by and modeled after actress Yvonne Strahovski . EDI is an AI entity who first appears in Mass Effect 2 as

4841-550: The Triple Goddess archetype in Neopagan religious and spiritual traditions. Asari culture is depicted as being egalitarian , xenophilic , pro- diversification , pro- multiculturalism and anti- eugenics . The asari appear in most Mass Effect games and media: several are major characters, such as Liara T'Soni , Matriarch Benezia , Samara , Aria T'Loak , Lexi T'Perro and Pelessaria "Peebee" B'Sayle . In addition,

4944-460: The anthropocentric views of the game's writers when attempting to come up with a "diverse" world. She noted that in the Mass Effect series, female identifying aliens tend to align with depictions of human cisgender women in other popular media or do not appear at all until much later in the series due to the writers' "limited view of possibilities in alien races". In an article published by Glixel , Amanda Hudgins analyzed Lucas' presentation on

5047-420: The "fatal lure of sterile, narcissistic enjoyments" as well as problematic assumptions about the lives of queer-identifying individuals. List of Mass Effect characters#Lexi T'Perro The Mass Effect series, a military science fiction media franchise developed by Canadian video game developer BioWare and owned by American publisher Electronic Arts , features an extensive cast of characters. It

5150-476: The Asari Republics which are similar in concept to the polis of Ancient Greece . Policy is decided through the ebb and flow of public opinion within sprawling but well-organized electronic democratic institutions, with the opinions of local Matriarchs being treated with deference and the closest analogue to an executive decision-making body. The military strength of each Asari Republic is essentially

5253-414: The Citadel Council, they serve as its "mediators and centrists". The asari have the largest economy of all the Milky Way species; their economic power and diplomatic reputation allowing them to wield persuasive influence throughout the galaxy. In spite of their galactic-wide influence, the asari do not have a single organized world government; politically, Thessia is composed of loose confederacies known as

SECTION 50

#1732773243630

5356-553: The EDI's appearance in terms of body shape, the split between solid and transparent surfaces, and finer points of her two-tone appearance. After some discussion about how robotic would the extent of her appearance be, the team decided that the body she would come to possess is an infiltration unit, which once had skin over its metal frame and is capable of the same facial effects as a living human being to avoid being easily spotted. Mass Effect 2 establishes that EDI's highly advanced nature

5459-532: The Terminus Systems and the Asari Republics, as one of its primary settings. Numerous asari characters appear either as allies or enemies. Two notable asari who first appear in Mass Effect 2 include Aria T'Loak, the de facto ruler of the space station Omega, an important hub in the Terminus Systems, and the owner of the Afterlife nightclub; and Samara , a potential companion of Commander Shepard and

5562-449: The Thorian's physiology. Benezia's daughter, Liara T'Soni , is located on the world of Therum by Commander Shepard, where she joins the crew of the SSV Normandy afterwards as a party member and plays a pivotal role in discovering the location of Ilos, a lost Prothean world which contains an artifact sought by Saren. Mass Effect 2 introduces Illium, a colony world operated by asari corporate interests which serves as an entrepôt between

5665-462: The alien faces, art director Derek Watts came up with the idea of different face paints and tattoos, which were added to many of the races. Like many other races, asari too use facepaints, which helped with diversifying the characters. The asari's anthropomorphic faces, derived from face scans of professional models as well as manual tweaks performed by team members, helped made asari characters distinct from each other. The asari homeworld, Thessia,

5768-414: The asari are playable characters in the multiplayer modes for Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda . The asari have been recognized as an important aspect of the universe of Mass Effect and are popular among fans as subjects for expressions of fan labor , though they have received a wide range of positive and negative critical responses from their various appearances. As the initial step in

5871-529: The asari as a popular choice for fan art as well as cosplay at gaming and science fiction conventions since the franchise's inception. GameSpot uploaded a video in April 2012 which analyzed the plausibility of life in other parts of the universe, and if complex extraterrestrial life exists, the probability of convergent evolution which the Mass Effect series has adopted for the conception of most of its alien races. The asari's physiology and gender status

5974-506: The asari as one of three areas where Mass Effect 2 was sexist, citing how they were always eye candy and questioning the appearance of Samara and Matriarch Benezia, and concluded that BioWare's work in diversifying the race seemed "wasted". Mumu Lin from the Daily Californian criticized the overall depictions of the asari in the original trilogy as "straight male fantasy" as opposed to realistic writing, claiming that this shows

6077-495: The asari as she experiences gender dysphoria and identifies as transgender, and that she finds comfort in BioWare's overall depiction of the species in Mass Effect media. The asari is considered to be synonymous with the Mass Effect franchise. Susana Polo from Polygon described as the asari as "possibly the most infamous alien race to appear in the Mass Effect series". Digital Spy opined that "almost everyone could name

6180-501: The asari at the GDC 2018 Game Narrative Summit in March 2018. Hudgins remarked that the asari life cycle is about "community and self-actualization"; noting that the species are a conscious reaction to a sexist 1960s science fiction trope, she argued that it would be in the developer's best interest to continue its subversive portrayal of the asari as seen in the most recent games as it increases

6283-403: The asari could have been subject of vigorous discussion by anyone with an interest in analyzing the "subtleties of gender, sex, and nonheteronormativity", and yet they are "most commonly coded as embodiments of traditional femininity" within the series and by the fandom as a whole, which supersedes their potential as signifiers of a genderless sexuality. Ryan Winterhalte from 1UP.com alleged that

SECTION 60

#1732773243630

6386-632: The asari is always a member of the Council along with the salarians and the turians. In the video games, asari characters are encountered either as non-player characters or enemy units in innumerable missions and scenarios. Several asari character variants are playable in the multiplayer modes of Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda . Asari characters are featured prominently in several Mass Effect media including novels, comics and an animated film , either as main or supporting characters. Asari characters are first encountered in Mass Effect following

6489-411: The asari were made, but were discarded for their lack of attractiveness from a human perspective. Due to budget concerns, BioWare realized they would be unable to make both male and female versions for each of the races, which led to the creation of an all-female one. Rhodes recalled that a drawing for a male asari individual was concepted by a team member, but it has since been lost. Rhodes noted that

6592-473: The best interests of the galaxy. The character returns in Mass Effect 3 , providing he survives the suicide mission in Mass Effect 2 ; otherwise, another salarian scientist named Padok Wiks fulfills Mordin's role within the narrative. Mordin is encountered on the salarian homeworld, Sur'Kesh, when Shepard is sent there to aid in the evacuation of a fertile female krogan codenamed Eve, the only survivor of his student Maelon's experiments. If Maelon's research data

6695-527: The chance to accept a monastic life of supervised asceticism upon diagnosis in order to overcome the psychological needs of their condition, but some are addicted to the "ecstasy" that advances with each fatal union. In Mass Effect 3 the Ardat-Yakshi serve as a basis for the Banshee, synthetic-organic creatures described in designer notes as "the Reaper version of an asari Matriarch". The Banshee's silhouette

6798-481: The choice of gender, Shepard is voiced by either Mark Meer or Jennifer Hale . The default male version's face and body is based on the likeness of fashion model Mark Vanderloo . Jeff Moreau, better known by his nickname "Joker", is the pilot of the Normandy . Joker is a skilled pilot who has osteogenesis imperfecta . His nickname alludes to his tendency to behave as a sarcastic foil to other individuals he interact with. In Mass Effect 2 , Joker briefly becomes

6901-542: The command ship The Tempest , successfully settling the Heleus Cluster, and improving life aboard the Nexus, a galactic hub for the colonizer races from the Milky Way. Scott and Sara Ryder are voiced by Tom Taylorson and Fryda Wolff , respectively. Andromeda was known for its technical issues, particularly for the awkward facial animations of some of its characters; notably, the default face for Sara Ryder received negative reception from fans prior to and after

7004-592: The crew of the Andromeda Initiative Survey Ship Tempest : Dr. Lexi T'Perro, a medical doctor who arrived in the Andromeda Galaxy on board the human Ark ship, and Pelessaria "Peebee" B'Sayle, who accompanies the human Pathfinder as a squad mate or companion. The asari are featured as a themed skin for Anthem player characters, released on November 7, 2019, in commemoration of "N7 Day" , an informal celebration of

7107-410: The departure of the SSV Normandy from the human colony Eden Prime. Councilor Tevos features as the asari representative of the Citadel Council during the game's events, and depending on Shepard's actions, can be killed during the final battle. Matriarch Benezia, a notable leader among her people, is initially sighted as an aide of the rogue turian Spectre Saren Arterius on board the Reaper Sovereign; she

7210-530: The design process for alien races, the writing team would first supply a short paragraph describing the species. According to associate art director Matt Rhodes, the writers wanted a race of "beautiful, blue aliens" designed to add a familiar science fiction element to the series. Their blue skin references the Orion species from Star Trek . The Bioware team was also influenced by the 1992 space game Star Control II , with writer Patrick Weekes acknowledging

7313-500: The desire to settle down to raise children; and finally the Matriarch stage , where they are often elevated as leaders of their communities, dispensing wisdom from centuries of life experience. The asari's long lifespan makes them comfortable with observation and centuries long planning, and influences their conservative yet convivial attitude toward other species and their belief that their ideologies and values will inevitably shape

7416-494: The electrical pattern of their partner's system to provide a template for half the DNA of their resulting child. A small section of the asari population is affected by a genetic condition which manifests at sexual maturity and develops over time, causing the death of whomever the individual mates with instead of reproducing offspring. Known as Ardat-Yakshi or "demon of the night winds" in the asari language, these individuals are offered

7519-503: The entire trilogy. Following Shepard's death in Mass Effect 2 , Liara gradually became emotionally hardened, and began working as an information broker, eventually leading to the events of Lair of the Shadow Broker which conclude with her becoming the new Shadow Broker. Liara is voiced by Ali Hillis . Miranda Lawson is an officer of the pro-human group Cerberus, first appearing in Mass Effect Galaxy and then serving as

7622-485: The fourth mainline installment of the Mass Effect series, and the child of Alec Ryder. Their twin sibling is Sara or Scott Ryder, depending on the player's chosen gender. The player can change their character's first name, but if the default names of Sara or Scott are kept, NPCs will occasionally refer to the character's first name in voiced dialogue. The Ryder siblings are cryogenically frozen and dispatched alongside their father and tens of thousands of other colonists on

7725-405: The franchise's inclusivity and profitability. Evan Narcisse, in an article published by The Atlantic , highlighted in-game dialogue between Liara T'Soni and Commander Shepard about mainstream asari culture being pro- diversification and pro- multiculturalism , which he believed to be "an incredibly progressive organizing principle for a whole society". He was moved by the notion that "there's

7828-476: The game's launch, attracting comments such as "It's a perfect representation of the uncanny valley" and a "robot-like model that had dead eyes syndrome" prior to a patch fix released in early April 2017. Kaidan Alenko is a human Alliance Navy officer with biotic powers, who serves aboard the SSV Normandy as Staff Lieutenant and head of the ship's Marine detail. In a late-game choice on the planet Virmire,

7931-461: The game's narrative, including Illium and their homeworld of Thessia. The Banshee, altered from asari with the Ardat-Yakshi genetic condition, is introduced as a new enemy type and recurring element of the Reapers' ground forces. Following an unsuccessful incursion in the krogan homeworld of Tuchanka by Reaper forces, the asari councilor (either Tevos should she have survived the events of the first game, or her successor Irissa should she have perished)

8034-456: The game, if not the race" if they are shown a visual image of the asari. Mike Suszek, of Joystiq , cited them as his favourite fictional race in video games, commenting that the asari as a whole intrigued him, "from their intellectual ways and place in the universe to their biotic prowess." Brittany Ferrendi from South California Gay News consider the asari to be collectively one of the best non-binary video game characters. Fans have embraced

8137-451: The games. Certain characters have names chosen by the player; these characters are designated the name they are addressed by in-game. The appearance and story arcs of certain characters in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 are conditional upon decisions from prior Mass Effect titles being carried over via an imported save file. Lieutenant James Vega is a human Systems Alliance Marine and Shepard's squad member in Mass Effect 3 . James

8240-412: The general galactic culture in the long term. In diplomacy, this manifests in a tendency to centrism for the asari, as they seek millennia-spanning investments to maintain stable balances of economic, political, and military power. The asari were the first to discover the Citadel, and proposed the creation of a multispecies governing council after they made first contact with the salarians. As part of

8343-415: The image of a woman "emerging from the water with her hair swept back". Inspiration was drawn mainly from sports-gear, such as climbing and scuba gear, particularly its "pliable, flexible" qualities. After the addition of the hair fins, the asari looked more aquatic, and thus their design was altered to fit with that; this also led to the writers altering the asari home climate to be more wet. Their clothing

8446-542: The influence of the Syreen on the conception of the asari, with their feminine presentation, innate psychic abilities, and cultural emphasis on utopian ideals of cooperation and enlightenment. Unlike the design process of most other alien races where their concepts would be focused outside of a human being's frame of understanding, Rhodes noted that for the asari, the process went in the opposite direction as they were "idealized". More alien-looking or unconventional designs for

8549-423: The krogan recalls Okeer's last words and chooses one of them, "grunt", as his name. While initially hostile towards Shepard, Grunt may be recruited as a squad mate. He comes to respect Shepard's leadership, partly because Shepard faces great battles and has powerful enemies. If Grunt completes his rite of passage on Tuchanka, he declares Shepard his battlemaster. If the player imports a save game where Grunt survives

8652-432: The option to continue their relationship from 2 if she was Shepard's paramour. Jack is voiced by Courtenay Taylor . Grunt is a tank-bred genetically engineered super-krogan that can be recruited as a squad member. Grunt's design is intended to be youthful but also tough, invoking the look of a linebacker with large shoulder pads and exposed muscular arms. Compared to Wrex who is a much older krogan, Grunt's crest

8755-407: The other character's death. If Ashley is saved, she will return in a cameo appearance in Mass Effect 2 and as a full-time squad member in 3 , where she has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and commands an unspecified covert operations unit. She is later bestowed Spectre status by the council. She is a potential romance option for a male Shepard throughout the entire trilogy. Ashley

8858-686: The other hand, Wes Fenlon indicated in his articles written for PC Gamer and Gamesradar that he was disturbed by BioWare's decision to give EDI a sexy robot body, and involving the character in a romance subplot with Joker. Stacey Henley from TheGamer also disapproved of EDI's costume design in Mass Effect 3 , and criticized the sexualization of the character's physical appearance as not only unnecessary, but also uncomfortable as it detracts from her role in Mass Effect 3 ' s team dynamic, as well as her "brilliant" characterization which Henley summarized as "engaging, philosophical, layered". Mordin Solus

8961-415: The outcome, he may return in later sequels and eventually become a leader of the krogan. Wrex is voiced by Steven Barr . Tali'Zorah, initially known by her full name Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, is the first quarian character to appear in the series. She is a squad mate in each of the three games. While she is known as a genius in the field of mechanical engineering. As the daughter of Admiral Rael'Zorah, there

9064-403: The parallels between the Ardat-Yakshi and the term sinthomosexuality as proposed by Lee Edelman : "the cultural fantasy that conjures homosexuality , and with it the definitional importance of sex in our imagining of homosexuality, in intimate relation to a fatal, and even murderous, jouissance". Youngblood considered Ardat-Yakshi characters like Samara's daughter Morinth to be representations of

9167-403: The player must choose whether to save Ashley Williams or Kaidan; this choice leads to the other character's death. If Kaidan survives, he returns in a cameo in Mass Effect 2 and as a full-time squad member in 3 , where he has been promoted to the rank of Major and commands the 1st Special Operations Biotic Company, a covert operations unit. He is later bestowed Spectre status by the council. He

9270-457: The player's prior decisions, but will ultimately succumb to his wounds from Kai Leng if he plays a role in preventing the assassination of a Citadel councilor, or to Kepral's Syndrome. Thane is voiced by Keythe Farley . Samara is an Asari Justicar , a member of a highly respected and feared ascetic order of mystic warriors. Samara is on a quest to track down her fugitive daughter Morinth, who

9373-410: The prison facility that she is confined in to join the suicide mission against the Collectors, in exchange for files aboard the Normandy about the science facility where Cerberus scientists tortured and abused her. She is a potential romance option for a male Shepard in Mass Effect 2 . Jack reappears in Mass Effect 3 if a save game is imported where she survives the events of the suicide mission, with

9476-545: The series as its most dignified race due to their "long-lived and well-preserved nature", as well as a blatant substitute "for all the green alien babes that Captain James T. Kirk would bed". Lucas summarized the polarized opinions of the asari as "intelligent, thoughtful, sensual, over sexualized, objectified, infantilized". In her article published by Central European University in December 2015, Eva Edina Zekany argued that

9579-517: The series is derived from the designs for Jacob's armor and clothing; some involved fully armored looks, while others had only cloth, or a mix of cloth and armor. For airless or toxic environments, Jacob wears a small breather device, which allows for more facial expressivity. According to a former BioWare employee, Jacob was originally meant to be a bisexual romance option, and that animation work for romance scenes with Commander Shepard of both genders, "matching shot-for-shot from Brokeback Mountain ",

9682-451: The silhouette of the asari's fringe was originally concepted as a hair style, and the final design of the species' hair fins mainly arose from the designers' experimentation with different shapes. He indicated that the spiny fins hinted at the species' capability as a potential threat, as the asari would have developed over millennia of conflict and interactions with their environments. The asari's fins, also described as scalp tentacles, evoke

9785-410: The suicide mission in 2 , he appears in Mass Effect 3 in a small role. Grunt is voiced by Steve Blum . Grunt showing Shepard his strength in Mass Effect 2 is considered to be one of the original trilogy's most iconic moments by Kotaku's Gergo Vas. PC Gamer staff noted that while there is not much to the character "beyond punching things and talking about fighting", dealing with Grunt could be

9888-407: The suicide mission in Mass Effect 2 . At the time of his recruitment, Thane states he has nothing left to lose, and he hopes to right many wrongs he has found in the galaxy before his death. Thane Krios is a possible romantic interest for a female Shepard. Thane returns in Mass Effect 3 provided he survived the suicide mission in Mass Effect 2 . Thane may play a role in the narrative depending on

9991-437: The suicide mission, she will appear as a squad member in Mass Effect 3 , with the option to continue their relationship from 2 if she was Shepard's paramour. If Shepard sides with the geth over the quarians during the latter's attempt to retake Rannoch, she will commit suicide after witnessing the annihilation of the quarian Migrant Fleet. If Shepard is able to broker peace between the quarians and geth, she will survive. Tali

10094-482: The synthesis of all organic and synthetic life at the conclusion of the game, EDI will be present in the ending cutscene alongside Joker. EDI is voiced by Tricia Helfer . PC Gamer praised EDI's characterization, noting that she "might have had some fine dialogue and ruminations on what it means to be human". EDI is also included in PC Gamer's definitive list of the best squad mates around, citing her utility as

10197-463: The synthetic entity and eventually seizes control of its platform in the process, allowing her to accompany Shepard as a squad mate on missions. Now possessing a physical body with humanlike characteristics, her relationship with Joker develops further, and, if Shepard supports the idea, the two may start a romantic relationship. She often asks Shepard about the context and nature of human behaviour so that she can better understand human psychology and, in

10300-488: The title Asari . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Asari&oldid=1183764879 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Disambiguation pages with surname-holder lists Place name disambiguation pages Japanese-language surnames Hidden categories: Articles containing Japanese-language text Short description

10403-457: Was compared to that of hermaphroditic animal species found on Earth, such as snails. In Chapter 4 of the 2017 book Digital Love: Romance and Sexuality in Games , Alexandra Lucas analyzed the asari life cycle, which is inspired by the Triple Goddess archetype , and suggested that it promotes a comprehensive representation of female sexuality in video games. Jordan Youngblood drew attention to

10506-462: Was completed prior to intervention from management requesting that the same sex romantic content be removed, blaming backlash from news outlets like Fox News in response to the previous game. Jacob Taylor is voiced by Adam Lazarre-White. Chris Thursten from PC Gamer called Jacob "the worst companion" and the culmination of his romance arc "the worst moment in Mass Effect". Randall Ezno

10609-486: Was saved in the previous game, he uses it to aid in Eve's treatment and produce a viable cure for the Genophage. Mordin is voiced by Michael Beattie in Mass Effect 2 , and by William Salyers in Mass Effect 3 . Jack, also known as Jacqueline Nought or "Subject Zero", is the powerful product of unethical Cerberus experiments to enhance human biotic ability, which molded her antisocial temperament. Shepard may recruit Jack from

#629370