tbf the cerberus plotline in ME2 does raise some very important questions such as "why did you think this was okay to write, like morally?" and "what about the 'white supremacist'-coded group did you think really deserved critical support"

always thought it was funny shepard has the sole survivor profile by default and the way they resolve this pretty obvious and deep tension is by just ignoring it and hoping, nay, praying you don't notice it lmfao

the constantly-smoking boomer being blasted by close-range solar radiation is so cool tho

The entirety of Mass Effect 2 feels like the EA marketing department heavy-handedly trying to make the series more appealing to Xbox bros. MORE VIOLENCE, MORE COOL ACTION, MORE SEXY BABES, MORE EDGE! The first game kinda nailed a cosy 90s science fiction TV show feel. I assume EA worried it seemed too nerdy and uncool

Just look at what they did with Garrus. In the first game he's an unsure rookie cop that Shepard can nudge towards becoming either a goody two shoes good cop or a reckless loose cannon. Then you get to the second game and none of it matters because he left his job to become the fucking Punisher on a crime planet. He's also filled with rage because his vigilante team was murdered by criminals

ME1: Cerberus is some shadowy conspiratorial breakaway faction of the Alliance military that are doing insane experiments to create supersoldiers. They go so far as to kill an admiral to keep the secret.

ME2: Cerberus has made you, the hero of the Alliance military, into a supersoldier and also they have infinity money.

ME3: Cerberus can make anime real and also they have even more infinitier money.