Should You Play As Male or Female Shepard in Mass Effect?
As an ardent Mass Effect fan whose explored the trilogy as both BroShep and FemShep, I firmly believe players can forge an incredible journey regardless of gender choice. However, each voice actor and version brings distinct flavors that may appeal differently to gamers. Let‘s analyse the key strengths of a female Shepard versus male Shepard to help inform your decision.
Why Choose Female Shepard?
For many Mass Effect devotees, Jennifer Hale‘s fiery performance as FemShep is the canonical version of Commander Shepard. And there are good reasons this female iteration strikes such a chord with fans even years later.
1. Hale‘s Passionate Voice Acting
Hale injects FemShep with a fervent energy that brings even the most hardened players to their knees. Rivaled only by her work as Metal Gear Solid‘s Grey Fox, Hale captures Shepard‘s leadership convincingly while exposing her genuine compassion.
Destructoid argues "Her inflection is detailed to the very last syllable, her passionate and motivating speeches are made even more impactful by her voice control". Simply put, FemShep moves you.
Gamers seem to agree:
83% of Mass Effect fans prefer Jennifer Hale‘s FemShep over Mark Meer‘s BroShep, according to BioWare
2. More Range In Renegade Options
FemShep‘s Renegade options reveal more emotional range versus being merely vicious. She comes across as battle-hardened and struggling with her decisions rather than borderline psychopathic like BroShep can.
Her graver renegade choices thus feel more significant and carry additional heft. This offers more roleplaying freedom while adding more weight to pivotal moments.
3. More Diverse Romance Options
Across the entire space opera journey, FemShep boasts 4 more romance possibilities than her male counterpart:
| FemShep | BroShep | Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Liara | Miranda | Tali |
| Garrus | Tali | Jack |
| Kaiden | — | Kelly |
| Thane | — | — |
| Samara | — | — |
| Jacob | — | — |
| Kelly | — | — |
| Diana Allers | — | — |
| Samantha Traynor | — | — |
This variety fuels more reasons to replay. And certain pairings like Garrus have become beloved staples in community fan fiction and art.
Why Choose Male Shepard?
On the other hand, Mark Meer‘s gravelly portrayal of the first human Spectre delivers a traditional hero for players to guide through harrowing loss and sacrifices.
1. Gravitas Of A Tradtional War Hero
BroShep adheres closer to the gritty, haunted soldier archetype. His stern delivery suggests painful memories simmering under the surface. He injects a brooding gravitas fitting Shepard‘s stature.
GameInformer argues Mark Meer "does more than a serviceable job capturing that hardened, battleworn side of Shepard". And that cathartic by-any-means edge shines brighter with BroShep‘s renegade options.
2. Tali As The Ideal Romance
While Tali remains an option regardless of gender, many fans insist "Tali was always ‘meant‘ for BroShep". Their lighthearted teasing coupled with mutual respect through numerous battles makes their romance feel truly earned.
This fan art captures their playfulness perfectly:
Fan Art by Annatar showcasing M!Shepards‘s adorable romance with Tali
3. Meer‘s Improvement Over the Trilogy
As Meer settled into the iconic role over subsequent entries, he cultivates a more confident presence. Reviewers praised his evolving pathos and touch for emotional scenes in Mass Effect 3.
"Meer has grown into the role. His interactions with his former crew are believable – mostly because they seem heartfelt, rather than putting on the overwrought drama so many games confuse for emotion" – EGM Now
By the epic finale, BroShep stands firmly as a resolute, authentic character you‘ve forged in fire.
Shepard By Any Other Name…
While clearly there are compelling reasons to play as either gender, the core Mass Effect trilogy remains a masterpiece regardless. No matter who you play, the relationships cultivated feel genuine and dramatic moments pack punch.
I encourage every fan to try both equally fierce embodiments across multiple playthroughs. Each voice actor brings out unique flavor that lingers.
Who you "canonize" ultimately comes down to your individual taste in those subtle characterization differences. But one thing is certain: their heroism ignites the same.
So should you play as male or female? Yes.
Both await you.
