Poll: Mass Effect 2: Tali or Jack

[Geo Da Sponge]

I love how all the Tali hate focuses on a) her accent (awesomely superficial), b) the fact that she's an alien (moderately superficial given the setting), and c) her inability to play games or mince words (self-destructive tendencies masquerading as high-brow criticism).

Tali is friendly, humble, and self-deprecating without being weak or incompetent. You don't have to peel away layers or work for her affection because she's not ten tons of oversexualized baggage. I swear, guys (and gals) are just gluttons for punishment.

Sidebar: it's not hero-worship if it's mutual.

I have never seen any of the hate come from your a) or c) points, and the only reason I've seen stuff for b) is people saying that Bioware is providing fanservice while ignoring stuff they've previously outlined in the canon. And Tali's not oversexualised? She wears form fitting space-latex and has purposefully exaggerated female characteristics (wide hips, narrow waist). This is justified in game of course, but it's not exactly subtle.

And having to help Jack through her problems to win her affection makes me a glutton for punishment? What happend to character development? If you're just looking for 'Quarian tits' as Internet Kraken puts it, fine by me.

There are people hating on Tali for her accent right here in this thread, and there's definitely someone talking about how Tali is lame because her affection comes off as hero-worship - as if the only valid affection is hard-won from a frigid ***** with ridiculous emotional baggage. That's why I call it self-destructive; it's a philosophy requiring you to be distant and even hurtful up front just to obtain meaningful affection later. Reminds me of cat people calling dogs emotional shallow animals. Nothing but weak justification for your selfish, asshole pet.

Not all cats are selfish assholes. Save the hate.

Anyways, if you think Tali is oversexualized, what the hell are Jack and Miranda? It's all relative, and Tali is far and away the least sexualized female romantic interest in the game. Miranda's never more than 2-3 seconds away from a gratuitous ass shot, and her outfit and dimensions are even more exaggerated and form fitting than Tali's. And Jack? She screws anything that moves and barely even wears clothes. C'mon, guy.

The only person I've found who complained about Tali's accent was a guy who got permanently banned for saying homosexuals had "malformed brains". He's hardly a fair yard stick for judging everyone else.

To the main point, what's so self destructive about trying to help someone who's obviously become very angry at the world because they've had terrible experiences in the past? I also dislike your apparent assertion that not going for 'the simple option' is self destructive, as if just because someone likes you in that sense you have to reciprocate. Heck, it could be argued that chasing after the person that is closer to the status quo because you feel you have to is just as self destructive.

And I wasn't really trying to convince you that Tali is 'over' sexualised, but it's just as much designed as it is for the other characters. Anyway, the main focus of Tali's sexualisation is in a completely different direction. She's portrayed as innocently and non-threateningly as possible, as well as being a geeky character to appeal to the fanbase. That and the fact that the entire romance option was as far as anyone can tell inserted as fan service. Besides, Jack's sexualisation is justified, since she approaches sex casually as both a tool and entertainment, but is afraid of actually opening herself up to being emotionally vulnerable.

But I'm probably not going to argue on this thread any more. I quite like Tali as a character really. She's pleasant enough. But seeing all the Tali fans who won't give another character the time of day unless they are constantly endearing and unproblematic from the moment you meet them infuriates me. I don't mean you, but it's the vibe I'm getting from a lot of the Tali fans.

I would say 'I like a girl with spirit', but films have taught me that saying that line always precedes being maced, tasered, kicked in the balls or beaten up by Batman.

 

[ThePostalGamer]

Miranda looks like Michael Jackson if you look closely enough.

I think that kinda turned me off.

Thanks. You've just made the engine room scene about six thousand times more traumatizing for me.

OT: Out of those two, I think I'd take Tali. Jack's entire character isn't something I find desirable.

Miranda is my pick every time for MaleShep love interests. I'll take a section from the Video Games Fridge Brilliance page on TV Tropes...

People keep saying that Miranda's face is Uncanny Valley because of how strange it looks. But while reading that page, this Troper realized that the reason her face does seem so strange is because it's too perfect. Since she was a designer baby grown in a lab, her face is more symmetrical than the average human's!

*cue mass realization*

 

[DutchWarlord]

Clearly alot of people here follow the Philosophy of Jay from Jay and Silent Bob

"Be the first person to go to outer space, and nail an alien" (This is a rough paraphrasing, but you get the idea)

For me, Jack all the way, violent, psychotic, how could anyone not? Though its understandable, I would not want to see Jack PMSing, there wont be much of Normandy left.

Also lol @ Geo from the 2nd page

 

[Zhukov]

Wow.

A relationship thread regarding a video game.

Now I really have seen everything.

EDIT: I just realised that this was a resurrected thread. Shame on me.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Forge new ground in sexploration. Go Quarian.

 

[Link112]

Oh for crying out loud. In that scene where Tali comes up to Shepherd's room, she explains that she has boosted her immune system with *gasp* immuno boosters and other types of supplements, giving her a temporarily strengthened immune system, and even with all that she still ends up with an awful cold/infection afterwards. It was keeping right in line with what's been laid out so far in the Mass Effect universe.

Jack, with her shaved head and countless tattoos (and EXTREMELY annoying attitude) is a bit cookie cutter/cliche. If you're going to create a character that is that messed up, don't go the easy route with aforementioned design choices. She was a bit two dimensional. They didn't give her any other attitude other than "F*ck the world and everyone in it." They could have made her a more complex character but decided not to.

And Tali's anger at the Geth is justified. It's because of them that the Quarians have a total crap immune system and no homeworld. But, if you make the choice in ME2, you start a tentative reconciliation between Geth and Quarian (at least, that's how I viewed it). Tali was more than two dimensional. She was self-sufficient and confident and driven. But when it came to relationships and displaying her emotions, she was awkward, shy and clumsy. This is just me, but I found it endearing.

 

[DakRattler]

I think Jack was a nice touch. I personally did not like her, but it gave the game some added character, not everything in life is unicorns and bunnies and her character showed that.

Tali for me, definately. She is a bit awkward but I like that, her personality is sweet and its the only relationship that has (Im going to use this word because I saw it in an earlier post) soul.

 

[Pingieking]

I can see the appeal of Jack, but I'm going for Tali.
Go with the face-less alien girl. It will be totally worth it.

 

[wolas3214]

I started out romancing jack because i have a thing for messed up hardcore chicks(who ofc are all soft and cuddly deep down) but tali was just so adorable and sweet i went with her, dont regret a thing. Second time i went renegade fempshep and got garrus(whos equally adorable) now on my third time im going paragon and sticking with jack because im intrigued on what she'll say before the suicide mission

 

[Herbsk]

The poll results don't lie - seduce Tali - leave Jack to die with the Collectors!

Actually, that's just my personal feelings, so pay no mind....

 

[radioactive lemur]

Miranda for sure. Super hot, decent personality and biotic enhancements. Tali has probably the sweetest personality and is at least potentially hot (although you have no ways to tell). However, seeing as being out of her suit will pretty much kill her, sex is out of the question. As such, making her your girlfriend has very little advantage as compared with simply remaining good platonic friends. Jack is fucking insane, and IMO not even that attractive. Not girlfriend material at all.

 

[Drakulea]

I picked Tali as it's my personal cup of team.

This being said,I found Jack's (Jacqueline) story interesting and even heartwarming. Her loyalty mission in ME2 was well executed and paced.

It has been said she got a make-over for ME3.

Looking at Ashley,I'd say it's a good omen. Ashley's hair-style gives her that hot "femme-fatale" look that I just never suspected she could have in ME1.

Perhaps in dissonance with the rest of the internet, I don't have a problem with anybody. You're all cool in my book.

Except Wrex... I shot that f-ing toad. Repeatedly.And loved it. I hate krogans, who do they think they are so smug. The Genophage let them off the hook easily, where's the deathcamps, the cosmetic products made from tears of young krogan females... *slides into mindless ranting*

 

[HerrBobo]

I had both Jack and Miranda, good times!

 

[Wesley Brannock]

Lets face it you can be the sweetest person in the universe but nothing is hotter than a bad girl.

 

[Eddie the head]

What's with the Necro? I guess it's better than just starting another one. But the question is a bit odd. Anyway I felt the same about both of them. Mech. I did like Kasumi though she was awesome, best squad member in that game. Didn't talk much. If you mean romance? Ha Ha! Yeah right.