The Perfect Playthrough: Paragon or Renegade?

Connor and John discuss the politics and philosophy of Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy.

Subscribe to our other channel:

Follow us:

[TheGrimmCommoner]

I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favourite channel on the Citadel.

[sneakyking]

Paragon: every choice matters
Renegade: ends justifies the means

[AncestorEmpire]

To be real, we all pushed that mercenary out the window during Thane’s recruitment mission in Mass Effect 2.
It was glorious then, and it’s glorious now.

[ornu]

You cannot convince me that humiliating Kai Leng was not the morally correct action. In memory of Thane, he had it coming.

[InsomniacTC]

After this video i have to an inevitable conclusion.

It is physically and mentally impossible to dislike Garrus.

[deplorablepiratecaptaingunberd]

I want to see the satisfaction on Carl's face as he smashes the button to hit the dirty dirty smear merchant!

[Bagginsess]

"It's a big F'ing jelly fish!"

10/10 best renegade line

[theicepickthatkilledtrotsk]

KOTOR had also a morality system. It is one of the few games where you can be unredeemable evil. Especially the ending.

[Cunnysmythe]

Fallout New Vegas has a similar system with opposing bars being filled up, you have good and bad reputations with each faction and you're given a title that reflects how good and bad you've been to them. Maximum good is 'Idolised', max bad is 'Vilified', max good and max bad is 'Wild Child' and there are a number of different ratings in between such as 'Dark Hero' and 'Soft-hearted Devil'.
My personal favourite is 'Sneering Punk'

[DaMainman]

In the first game, Wrex's mutiny on Virmire and the face-to-face encounter with Saren were the best implementations of this system. Both scenarios are 'dialog boss battles' where diplomacy and logical debate can completely negate a conflict or _actual_ boss battle.
Regardless of your Paragon or Renegade points, a skilled (or guide-following) player can navigate a narrow path through the dialog trees, where most of the choices lead to violence, and miraculously talk their way to victory. However, someone who has been consistent in their morality, and thus has a high enough Paragon/Renegade score, will be given a persuasion option that near-instantly resolves the situation with the 'best' outcome.

[occultnightingale]

Oh my god, it was so refreshing to hear John Wheatley's voice again. Sure do miss him, especially nowadays, but glad to have him back, even if it is to discuss Mass Effect.

[LorePlayingGames]

I had a perfect Renegade score on my first playthrough of ME3, but during the scene with Tali crying during her personal quest I picked the paragon option to hug her. That was my one and only stray from the path with that character.

[LayLowOfficial]

I can't believe you guys did a video on Mass Effect! Such an underrated sci fi universe!

[properjob]

good to see John back, Need more Josh too!

[integr]

If you're not punching the reporter in every game then you're playing wrong.

[cord]

As a general rule I played as Paragon in the Mass Effect trilogy with a few exeptions. For example, when dealing with the Krogan in ME2 I view a lot of the Renegade options as the correct way. Headbutting Gatatog Uvenk seemed right as that was the "Krogan" way of dealing with him, something the Clan Shaman likes. In ME3 I punch Admiral Gerral in the gut and throw him off the ship every time. He changed the plan mid-mission and opened fire on our squad so he deserves it and needs to be put in his place. I also use the renegade option shown in the vid to avenge Thane. That one feels good.

[discipleofdeath]

I remember doing mostly paragon, but had some renegade that just seemed logically sound. I was confused how some of those were "evil"

[jackhazardous]

I see someone else in the office plays on Gamepass. What i loved so much about the first game is i can just interupt a monologue with "Kill Him!" For every villain.

[Siddington_]

The full version of this was great fun to watch and nice to see John again.

[thekey]

Renegon is the way to go. Literally saving the galaxy and the leaders of that galaxy explicitly tell you to do whatever it takes.