Mass Effect 2--Cerberus Theories

high_castle

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Heads up: SPOILERS for Mass Effect and the ME2 teaser. You have been warned.

Alright, so I just got finished with my second play through of Mass Effect. I have to say, the game left me pleasantly surprised. I got it for 15 bucks in the used bin, and after hearing some awful things about it, was prepared to hate the thing. But it was by BioWare, creator of my precious Baldur's Gate and the original Neverwinter Nights (we just forget all about the awful sequel). And here's the thing: it didn't suck. I heard people whine about the combat, but I found it pretty easy to master once you get into a rhythm. And talk about cinematic. It felt like a seamless merger between old adventure games and RPGs...turned into a movie. And the voice acting was solid enough to make the cutscenes insanely watchable. In short, I loved the game.

But that's not really the purpose of this post. I played through the game once before looking up anything about the sequel, not wanting to be spoilered on the ending. Then, of course, after watching the teaser, I played through a second time to see what I might glean.

The big thing I noticed was the Cerberus logo all over the teaser site. Cerberus has, in ME, purposefully infected their own staff with some bad mojo and generally gone about as emulators of the Dr. Doom school of science. But we never actually met anyone affiliated with the group (unless it's in one of the side quests I haven't done yet). Now, since the principle threat of the first game were the Reapers and the geth, and the latter features prominently in the teaser, I'm betting Cerberus has to be involved with the Reapers. But how? Is there another Reaper hiding out in space, affiliated with the scientists of Cerberus? Did the researchers stumbled onto a Reaper and are now doing its bidding? I'm very curious to hear your theories.

Sorry if this has been done before. I did a search, and I looked through the past 7 or 8 pages of the threads and didn't see something like this. If I failed a spot check, my sincere apologies.
 

high_castle

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No love for Mass Effect? Now, I know I'm late to the party, but all the more reason for more people to have come up with some theories about the role our favorite black ops group will play in the next game.
 

PauL o_O

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I LOVED that game. Seriously, I played through it 10 times. Who said it was bad?!
 

timmytom1

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PauL o_O said:
I LOVED that game. Seriously, I played through it 10 times. Who said it was bad?!
Nobody said it was bad what people have said is that the combat was a bit broken and the game was very short but it was still a good game
 

Vrex360

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I love Mass Effect, especially the characters and of those Wrex takes the cake. My theory is that there will be a much heavier emphasis on war this time. I even have the ideal opening for Mass Effect 2 (Vrex hoped Bioware would listen):
(ahem)

We start with a black screen that slowly reveals the red virtual lighting of a Reaper, we hear the systems roaring and whirring a little and a voice prophesiseds about the end of the universe.... then we cut to the Normandy and enter to a room with a bed, Shepard and the love interest from the first game (in my case this would be Ashley) are both lying naked beneath the sheets. they are both in deep conversation (should recap events from prior game) about how the Council (humans included) are now fanning out and searching the galaxy and rallying the troops together and how this could be the last moment of peace they have in a while. Shepard should pensivley stare out into space in deep thought. That's when he gets a message from Joker to suit up and that the 'whole team is ready to land, citadel in sight'. Shepard and love interest kiss then leave the room. We then see the other cast (in my case this would mean Wrex, Garrus, Tali and Liara, this ecludes Ash from the list as already mentioned she is WITH Shepard). They all suit up and are in conversation, Shepard and Wrex exchange a few quips having become good friends over time then we cut to a scene of the Normandy arriving at a very different citadel surrounded by fleets of battleships.
The crew lands and all arrive to see the council, as they go up it is clear that there are a lot more forces suiting up and prept for war. Wrex should quip:
"So many Turians, if you are going to war... should have called for Krogans."
To which Tali could reply:
"Krogan are stil considered violent sociopaths Wrex."
"Yeah... in a time like this what's wrong with that?"
The mention of this Cerberus thing can be overheard amongst the soldiers on the citadel.
They arrvive at the council chamber where Shepard is informed of a new system that may contain answers and that he is now one of the elite group of leader spectres in an operation to search this new system for any key on how to stop the Reapers forever. Also he should learn that not only is he a Spectre but now his crew has also been given the rights (but not official rank) of spectre. Also to ty in with the trailer Shepard is declared 'killed in action' so as to make his involvement more discreet.
After that... your move Bioware.

Sorry if this went on for a bit, but Mass Effect is almost the game equivilent of a favourite movie and I have the soul of a movie maker.

Whatcha think anyway?

P.S oh shit this has nothing to do with the topic.. nevermind. I felt like saying this more than talking about game developer theories.
 

Bigeyez

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Well in the original there are multiple side quests that deal with Cerberus. You never find out anything huge about the group other then that they were once a secret black ops alliance program that have gone rogue. If you do all the sides quests though you do get the feeling that they have their hands dipped into a lot of things in the galaxy. Same goes with the Shadow Broker. I hope his story is fleshed out more in the sequel as well.
 

high_castle

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Bigeyez said:
Well in the original there are multiple side quests that deal with Cerberus. You never find out anything huge about the group other then that they were once a secret black ops alliance program that have gone rogue. If you do all the sides quests though you do get the feeling that they have their hands dipped into a lot of things in the galaxy. Same goes with the Shadow Broker. I hope his story is fleshed out more in the sequel as well.
I think I did most of the Cerberus side quests (I hate looking at manuals and try to avoid guides/walkthroughs unless I'm legitimately suck; got the Completionist achievement, so I must have done most of the game). I got the same impression as you, that they have their fingers in many affairs. But it's never really explained who runs them. So they used to be black ops affiliated with the Alliance, but now they're rogue. So who controls them? And they're logo plastered over the ME2 teaser suggests to me they'll play some kind of role in the sequel maybe a big one.

Wouldn't it be interesting if the Shadow Broker and Cerberus were connected? Don't know if there's much basis for this one, but it would be pretty fascinating.
 

Avatar Roku

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high_castle said:
Bigeyez said:
Well in the original there are multiple side quests that deal with Cerberus. You never find out anything huge about the group other then that they were once a secret black ops alliance program that have gone rogue. If you do all the sides quests though you do get the feeling that they have their hands dipped into a lot of things in the galaxy. Same goes with the Shadow Broker. I hope his story is fleshed out more in the sequel as well.
I think I did most of the Cerberus side quests (I hate looking at manuals and try to avoid guides/walkthroughs unless I'm legitimately suck; got the Completionist achievement, so I must have done most of the game). I got the same impression as you, that they have their fingers in many affairs. But it's never really explained who runs them. So they used to be black ops affiliated with the Alliance, but now they're rogue. So who controls them? And they're logo plastered over the ME2 teaser suggests to me they'll play some kind of role in the sequel maybe a big one.

Wouldn't it be interesting if the Shadow Broker and Cerberus were connected? Don't know if there's much basis for this one, but it would be pretty fascinating.
In one of the books, they tell us that Cerberus's leader is a dude called The Illusive Man. In that book, Cerberus were the major bad guys, and Bioware have said that we'll see The Illusive Man in the sequel, so...yeah. My theory is that The Illusive Man is also the Shadow Broker, but I don't really have any evidence, other than that they're both infamous people who's identities we don't know.

We do, however, know Cerberus' motives from the book; we see into the Illusive Man's head, and he believes that he is helping humanity gain supremacy.

EDIT:
NoMoreSanity said:
Vrex360 said:
I have to admit that sounds pretty good.

My theory is that the Terra Firma party has some connection to Cerberus (Them both being racist to non-humans). Terra Firma will try to take over the Earth Government with Cerberus' network of connections.
Oh yeah, that's also my idea: Terra Firma is a front for Cerberus. Who knows, though? Maybe they're just random racists.

Also, to expand on the similarities between Cerberus and the Shadow Broker, Barla Von mentions that he thinks the Shadow Broker is really a group rather than a person, because how else could he get all that info? Thing is, a big organization like Cerberus could easily gather that sort of info.
 

Somanto

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I don't think Cerberus is connected with the reapers I think they are there to develop the side quest story arc while the reapers develop main story. Also by the looks of it the shadow broker is either one of the last AIs left or related to the protheans somehow...or maybe even both?
 

Avatar Roku

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Kendread said:
I don't think Cerberus is connected with the reapers I think they are there to develop the side quest story arc while the reapers develop main story. Also by the looks of it the shadow broker is either one of the last AIs left or related to the protheans somehow...or maybe even both?
That was what I thought too, but after reading the book, in which Cerberus was the Big Bad, I think they'll affect the story in the sequel.(By the way, this is Josh from Robotics Club)

Also, another thing in the book that wasn't in the first game that should be important: The Collectors. Strange beings who have complete control over a certain Mass Relay. No one who's gone through it has ever come back, and all are assumed dead. Every now and then, however, odd beings from the other side of the really will make incredibly bizarre requests, such as bringing them a dozen left handed Salarians. Those who do are made exceedingly rich, but no one knows why the Collectors do that. The common theory is they are studying everyone.
 

high_castle

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orannis62 said:
high_castle said:
Bigeyez said:
*snip*
In one of the books, they tell us that Cerberus's leader is a dude called The Illusive Man. In that book, Cerberus were the major bad guys, and Bioware have said that we'll see The Illusive Man in the sequel, so...yeah. My theory is that The Illusive Man is also the Shadow Broker, but I don't really have any evidence, other than that they're both infamous people who's identities we don't know.

We do, however, know Cerberus' motives from the book; we see into the Illusive Man's head, and he believes that he is helping humanity gain supremacy.
Alright, now I have to go out and read the books.

Kendread said:
I don't think Cerberus is connected with the reapers I think they are there to develop the side quest story arc while the reapers develop main story. Also by the looks of it the shadow broker is either one of the last AIs left or related to the protheans somehow...or maybe even both?
That would be really interesting if the Shadow Broker were an AI. Is that from the game or one of the books (just curious to know where the intel came from)?
 

Avatar Roku

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high_castle said:
orannis62 said:
high_castle said:
Bigeyez said:
*snip*
In one of the books, they tell us that Cerberus's leader is a dude called The Illusive Man. In that book, Cerberus were the major bad guys, and Bioware have said that we'll see The Illusive Man in the sequel, so...yeah. My theory is that The Illusive Man is also the Shadow Broker, but I don't really have any evidence, other than that they're both infamous people who's identities we don't know.

We do, however, know Cerberus' motives from the book; we see into the Illusive Man's head, and he believes that he is helping humanity gain supremacy.
Alright, now I have to go out and read the books.

Kendread said:
I don't think Cerberus is connected with the reapers I think they are there to develop the side quest story arc while the reapers develop main story. Also by the looks of it the shadow broker is either one of the last AIs left or related to the protheans somehow...or maybe even both?
That would be really interesting if the Shadow Broker were an AI. Is that from the game or one of the books (just curious to know where the intel came from)?
I think that was just speculation. I didn't read the first book, so maybe it was there, but this is the first I've heard of such a thing (not a bad theory though).
 

Therumancer

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My immediate guess is that not all of the elements are conveinently going to be tied up into one overreaching threat. Sort of like how nowadays Gang Bangers and Terrorists might both be threats to the general populance (in their own way) but they don't work together.

I haven't read the book, but if I had to make a guess it seems to me that Cerberus is your basic super-deep black ops type group, that may or may not still be working for the goverment despite denials. Or perhaps went rogue to do what needed to be done.

In the end their methods might actually be for the best, as all of that "Doctor Frakenstein" type stuff could very well be a factor against The Reapers especially if they are coming up with stuff more advanced than the plateau that developing civilizations are supposed to maxx out at based on the seeds planted at the Citadel. Heck, it could be a huge advantage simply by being developed in a differant direction, seeing as the whole "plan" is to force technological development down a specific path.

Keep in mind that in absolute terms, Shepard is ALWAYS a good guy. Even as a Renegade he generally does the right thing, albeit with a very humaneocentric and ruthless viewpoint.

Later choices might involve Cerberus. Either taking an ultra-moral highground (Paragon) or working closely with them based on the philsophy that it doesn't matter what you do, as long as the good guys win in the end (Renegade).

From an overall perspective, keep in mind that the somewhat xenophobic "Renegade" outlook is NOT entirely incorrect. The various races of citadel space really were being a group of buttheads and messing with humanity (and only acknowledging them as far as they did due to potential power). If humans weren't so threatening they probably would have wound up in the role of some of those "lesser" species that played the game by the rules and ultimatly went absolutly nowhere and received little in the way of acknowlegement because of it no matter what they did. Those little guys in the pressure suits (can't remember the names) for example built the entire intersteller economy and it was even acknowleged, but because they weren't forceful or in possession of a large military they pretty much got walked on.

By the same token the Paragon attitude while much nicer seeming is rather naive on a lot of levels. When playing Paragon you seem to either miss (or intentionally overlook) a lot of the subtext of events.

Overall I prefer the paragon game (despite the differance in the size of text), but I guess what it gets down to is that it would be cheezy if Cerberus were working with the Reapers. I'm kind of thinking they will be a major plot point as far as the game's morality goes because they wind up with technologies to be a factor.

Also if at some point it's decided the Rakshi are "surprisingly" going to be allies of humanity, Cerberus having them under it's control allows a renegade's "universe" to have them with a Cerberus controlled queen. A paragon could have the spared queen in charge as a willing ally. All they would have to do is change the subtext/dialogue a bit.
 

Bigeyez

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Speaking of connections between the Shadow Broker and Cereberus I remember one side quest where you get some cerberus documents and then get contacted by the Shadow Broker because he wants to buy them from you. Dont remember what they were but I think it was in one of the missions where they were using biotics??? Not sure...
 

high_castle

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Therumancer said:
Interesting. I think you raise a good point about Cerberus being tied more to the morality of the game than the Reapers or Protheans. It would be a good way to diverge the Renegade/Paragon stories a little bit (either by working with Cerberus or bringing them down).

I happen to like the way the game handles the morality in this game. Yeah, the Renegade's a bit of an asshole and the Paragon's hopelessly naive. But I think the point in Mass Effect, unlike KOTOR is NOT to be purely one or purely the other. There are so many points available for each choice, it seems like overkill until you realize that gives you the freedom to play the character how you want and still have a functioning game. Most games that try to give you middle ground usually make it ridiculously hard to attain (Fallout 3, I'm looking at you). But ME gives out the Paragon and Renegade points like candy, which means you can be a generally good guy with a few rough patches, or big jerk with a few soft spots. Either way, you can still raise your Charm/Intimidate high enough to function and you don't have to fully commit yourself to either path. This is the way I played on my second go. I played mostly Paragon for the Charm points, but when the Council was being idiotic I called them out on it.

Anyone, pointless little diversion just to say I think Mass Effect handled the morality/choices thing better than most games.
 

Doug

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I wonder what everyone thinks of...
The Reapers? Who made them? Or rather, how and when did I they come into existent? And why do the repeat the cycle of let organic civilizations grow and then wipe them out? Or is it impossible for us to understand as, lets face it, the Reapers are absolutely alien to us...?