Overview
This is a complete no-commentary playthrough for Mass Effect for a Male Paragon-Oriented Infiltrator Shepard. All main and secondary quests included with maximum dialog. The emphasis is more on creating a cinematic experience than uncovering all of the game’s secrets, so certain repetitive tasks such as collecting minerals have been edited out, but other than that, the playthrough is as complete as possible. Also includes the “Bring Down The Sky” DLC. The game has been modded with the latest versions of the modpacks MEUITM and ALOT with new and improved HD textures.
Part 1: The Normandy / Eden Prime
In this opening chapter, Commander John Shepard is created and introduced as a Sole Survivor of Spacer origin, trained as an Infiltrator (with Assault Rifles as a bonus talent); assigned to the Normandy SR-1 for a covert mission on the planet of Eden Prime; has his first encounter with the Geth and a mysterious spaceship; and receives a bizarre vision from an exploding Prothean beacon.
Part 2: The Normandy / Citadel Presidium
In this chapter, Commander John Shepard is revived on board the Normandy SR-1; docks at the Galactic Citadel; spends some time exploring the Citadel Presidium, meeting the volus and elcor ambassadors, Sha’ira the Asari Consort, and other colorful characters; and simply spends some time relaxing with his fellow marines before moving on to more important things.
Part 3: Citadel Wards
In this chapter Commander John Shepard fails to find understanding with The Citadel Council; narrowly escapes an assassination attempt; teams up with turian officer Garrus Vakarian and krogan bounty hunter Urdnot Wrex; and spends some time exploring the Citadel Wards, sharing in its shady secrets and questionable pleasures.
Part 4: Spectre Initiation
In this chapter, Commander John Shepard enlists the services of a young Quarian on her Pilgrimage; gains access to precious evidence condemning Spectre Saren Arterius of treason against the Council; solves various questionable situations all over the Citadel; and finally gets promoted to Spectre status.
Part 5: In Command Of The Normandy
In this chapter Commander John Shepard is officially put in charge of the Normandy SR-1; completes some hanging tasks and gains some new ones on the Citadel; and has plenty of long, informative, witty, and occasionally boring conversations with his now fairly multi-species crew.
Part 6: Some Early Side Assignments
In this chapter Commander John Shepard embarks on a few secondary assignments, such as showing the disgruntled and traumatized biotic commander Major Kyle the error of his ways; investigating an entire colony transformed into husks; dealing with a bunch of renegade space privateers; surviving a Geth ambush; and, finally, setting the crime boss Helena Blake on the path of righteousness.
Part 7: Finding Liara On Therum
In this chapter Commander John Shepard investigates the mystery of Admiral Kahoku’s lost soldiers and fights his very first Thresher Maw; lands in the middle of the Prothean ruins on Therum; battles the Geth forces for access to the heart of the ruins; saves Dr. Liara T’Soni from an unfortunate stasis trap and a ferocious krogan battlemaster; and goes through yet another relaxing round of crew conversations back on the Normandy.
Part 8: More Tasks On The Citadel
In this chapter Commander John Shepard saves a politician from mistreated (and enraged) biotics; disables a rogue VI on Luna; and heads back to the Citadel for some R&R, encountering along the way such colorful personages as grumpy Admiral Mikhailovich, intrusive reporter Khalisah al-Jilani, an old and drunken acquaintance of his mother’s, and an ingenious salarian gambler.
Part 9: Bring Down The Sky (DLC)
In this chapter Commander John Shepard responds to a distress call on a remote asteroid; has his first encounter with the four-eyed Batarians; prevents a planetary catastrophe; and, once again, saves lives a-plenty. (“Bring Down The Sky” DLC). Before that, he also rescues a diplomat from a desperate group of biotic terrorists and investigates a tragic romance story on a derelict ship drifting in space.
Part 10: Cerberus And Other Assignments
In this chapter Commander John Shepard has his first encounter with the rogue organization Cerberus; assists crew members Garrus and Wrex in settling some old scores; and deepens his relationship with Lt. Ashley Williams, much to the detriment of Doctor Liara T’Soni.
Part 11: Feros – The Colony And The Skyway
In this chapter Commander John Shepard lands on the human colony of Feros; assists the colonists in repulsing a major geth attack and restoring crucial life systems; and embarks upon a dangerous trek towards the headquarters of ExoGeni corporation to unravel the planet’s weird mystery.
Part 12: Feros – ExoGeni Headquarters And The Thorian
In this chapter Commander John Shepard saves the colonists of Feros from being mind-controlled by the Thorian; finds the Thorian itself and provides it with a fitting end; learns “The Cypher” from a formerly mind-controlled asari thrall; and finally departs from Feros, having secured the colony’s freedom and safety.
Part 13: Post-Feros Side Assignments
In which Commander John Shepard recuperates after the troublesome Feros mission… by embarking on even more side assignments, during which he has to deal with a misplaced data module, some corrupt ExoGeni scientists, a mysterious asari slaver, a team of huskified researchers, a space pirate armed with a nuclear device, and a band of biotic terrorists submitting people to fairly whacky psychedelic treatments.
Part 14: Geth In The Armstrong Nebula
In this chapter Commander John Shepard makes another brief visit to the Citadel, concluding the story arc of Conrad Verner and settling a couple of other scores; deepens his relationship with Ashley Williams; and conducts a long, tough, and slightly tedious campaign against a Geth incursion into the Armstrong Nebula system.
Part 15: Noveria – Getting Garage Access
In this chapter Commander John Shepard lands on the frozen planet Noveria; gets acquainted with the local riff-raff; unravels several layers of intrigue and corruption just to get access to the local garage; and is owed a beer by undercover agent Gianna Parasini.
Part 16: Noveria – Peak 15 / Rift Station
In this chapter Commander John Shepard takes a long, dangerous journey to the facilities on Noveria’s Peak 15; fights his way through hordes of Geth, Krogan, and a new old enemy to get to Rift Station; investigates the consequences of the catastrophe in the Hot Labs; and is forced to take measures against several cases of mysterious indoctrination.
Part 17: The Last Of The Rachni
In this chapter Commander John Shepard finally encounters Matriarch Benezia and is forced to put her down in the presence of her own daughter; makes a fateful decision on account of the last Rachni Queen; and pursues the remains of the Rachni around the galaxy, eliminating the return of this ancient threat once and for all.
Part 18: Virmire
In this chapter Commander John Shepard lands on Virmire to investigate and destroy one of Saren’s secret bases; has a difficult stand-off with Urdnot Wrex, fortuitously resolved to mutual satisfaction; infiltrates the base, only to discover a terrifying secret, have a face-to-face chat with a real Reaper, and witness in person the effects of indoctrination on a once mighty Turian commander; and, finally, has to make a painful choice between two of his closest comrades as the base on Virmire goes up in nuclear flames.
Part 19: Escape To Ilos
In this chapter Commander John Shepard returns to the Citadel only to have his hopes crushed and his command taken away from him; has a run-in with the Terra Firma Party, giving him an opportunity to state his opinions on human supremacy; concocts a scheme with Captain Anderson that allows him to make a narrow escape to Ilos and continue his hunt for Saren; and, last but not least, gets a (maddeningly brief) opportunity to consummate his romance with Ashley Williams before the final battle.
Part 20: Battle Of The Citadel
In this chapter Commander John Shepard, in his search for the Conduit, finally learns the truth about the Citadel and the mass relays from a long-lost Prothean VI; has a final stand-off with Saren, making the rogue Spectre understand what “the greater good” really means; and finally triumphs over Sovereign, saving both the Citadel and the Council at the expense of a large part of the human fleet and ensuring that humanity’s achievements be finally recognized and rewarded by the Council nations. This concludes the first part of the Mass Effect trilogy.