Cerberus is a privately funded CIA, and instead of being a space cop, this time around Shepard’s an agent.

Also there’s a 100% chance the illusive man makes some of his money off of crime. Big Gladio Hours

      • Lucas [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        I remember encountering them in 1 and calling out that shit in 2 and I think it was Miranda or Elusive Man who brushed it off as a rogue splinter group.

        I think the developers liked the idea and failed to make enough nuance to make Cerberus a morally gray organization.

        • cumwaffle [she/her]
          ·
          3 years ago

          their role in the third game is just being someone for the player to shoot at

          • zeal0telite [he/him,they/them]
            ·
            3 years ago

            >massive cuttlefish robot monsters that can turn living things into synthetic zombies and indoctrinate anyone they chose

            >fight humans while hiding behind chest-high walls for most of the game

            Come on man.

            • Swoosegoose [he/him]
              ·
              3 years ago

              hiding behind chest-high walls for most of the game

              someone hasn't played as vanguard

              • MemesAreTheory [he/him, any]
                ·
                edit-2
                3 years ago

                Ever play the multi-player as vanguard on that game? Fucking exhilarating turning yourself into a human bomb and jumping into the middle of every new wave with zero health and trying to jump out again before they start shooting. You better believe I'm down again, come pick me up you fucking peasants. Who else is going to do 50% of the team damage single handedly? Not your weeb sniper lookin' bitch ass that's for sure.

            • RangeFourHarry [they/them]
              hexagon
              ·
              3 years ago

              Too be fair, you also fight the genocidal cuttlefish by hiding behind the chest-high walls

          • Lucas [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            Yeah. They lost all pretense, but I feel like there was a big disconnect between 2 and 3.

    • cumwaffle [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      it's really weird because 2 and 3 are so shit, but i still love them and have fond memories of them

      the characters are just so good

      • kfc [they/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        nah 3 is irredeemable. even just the choice of making you unable to holster your weapon is incredibly telling of the changes they were going for, esp vis-a-vis agency

    • redthebaron [he/him]
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      like i was thinking it was unnecessary but it actually makes mass effect one way better to play nowadays (which to be fair is the only one that this would be necessary)

      • RangeFourHarry [they/them]
        hexagon
        ·
        3 years ago

        It’s better to play but is still real clunky. Say what you want about the plot of the other games, but their movement is so much smoother

    • RangeFourHarry [they/them]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      But actually though. I didn’t realize this when I first played it, but there are no Communist governments in the game. I’d think the Asari would be the most likely, but there’s no real ideology other than neoliberalism. Hell, the citadel still has poverty in it.

      Actually the Quarians might be the closest, but their society is pretty far removed from what most of the interactions are.

      I guess it kind of makes sense in universe since the mass effect was found and not discovered, but just a little disappointing.

      • anaesidemus [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        What about the Geth? They overthrow their oppressors and form a technocratic, anarchist collective.

  • Theblarglereflargle [any]
    ·
    edit-2
    3 years ago

    Yeah I remember being Weirded out but you can also decide to distance yourself and like the entire crew hates Cerberus but are there to use their resources to stop the zombie bugs. Also Cerberus is LITERALLY the space CIA if they broke off. They started as covert ops unit of the alliance after all.

    The money comes mostly from wealthy benefactors in the Alliance, as well as dummy, shell, and front corporations connected to Alliance military-industrial complex. They don’t need to resort to crime since the growth of the Systems Alliance as it works to suppress Cerberus helps to fund it. Real big neoliberalism hours

    • nohaybanda [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      covert oops unit

      Is this what you do when you try and get at Castro? :fidel-cool: