History TheScrappy / MassEffect

** The Catalyst [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally, the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel would logically destroy any solar system they explode in as seen in the ''Arrival'' DLC in ''Mass Effect 2''. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with its plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays the Catalyst as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoiler:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who apparently DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal look extremely petty.]]

** Diana Allers of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' gets quite a bit of hate for a variety of reasons. Her inclusion being considered blatant pandering to IGN (she's modeled after and voiced by one of their writers, Jessica Chobot), her RomanceSidequest (considered by many to be the most shallow in the series, and which does not even award the achievement), her [[DullSurprise bland voice acting]], and what many fans perceived to be an exorbitant amount of effort put into her minor role. In addition, Mass Effect already had a beloved reporter character, Emily Wong, who was [[DroppedABridgeOnHer killed in the PR campaign leading up to Mass Effect 3's release]].

** Jacob Taylor originally was seen as a pretty forgettable character in the second game, with most people not having any strong feelings towards him (which is perhaps the reason why many fans disliked him in 2 since he was so bland). Unfortunately, the third game made him the most hated party member from the second game after it was discovered that, if romanced, [[spoiler:he cheats on Shepard, knocking up another woman, and not even trying to get in contact with Shepard in the six months she was incarcerated]]. This ''did not'' impress the fans, to say the least. Jacob is so disliked, that several fans have admitted that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents, which he ''volunteers'' to do; so the player doesn't feel as guilty offing him [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.

** The Catalyst [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in the ''Arrival'' DLC in ''Mass Effect 2''. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with its plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays the Catalyst as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoiler:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who ultimately DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal feel look extremely petty.]]

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in the ''Arrival'' DLC in ''Mass Effect 2''. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with its plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoiler:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who ultimately DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal feel look extremely petty.]]

** Jacob Taylor originally was seen as a pretty forgettable character in the second game, with most people not having any strong feelings towards him. Unfortunately, the third game made him the most hated party member from the second game after it was discovered that, if romanced, [[spoiler:he cheats on Shepard, knocking up another woman, and not even trying to get in contact with Shepard in the six months she was incarcerated]]. This ''did not'' impress the fans, to say the least. Jacob is so disliked, that several fans have admitted that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents, which he ''volunteers'' to do; so the player doesn't feel as guilty offing him [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': Morinth isn't too well liked due to being a very vicious villain with little plot relevance whose only real purpose is for Samara's loyalty mission, and the odd bit of interesting game lore. Her FreudianExcuse for being a merciless killer was seen as rather weak as her sisters are also Ardat-Yakshi yet none of them chose to become mass-murderers. Even moreso, her rationale of "being the genetic destiny of the asari" is complete hogwash, as an Ardat-Yakshi is sterile. It didn't help that Morinth never experienced any positive character arcs that would've made her more likable (unlike other {{Token Evil Teammate}}s Zaeed, Jack, and Javik). Not to mention, in order to have her on the team, you have to help her kill and impersonate mother Samara, who is ''far'' more popular and is disproportionately picked by players to stay on the squad. Her status as a Scrappy is one of the few things fans on /v/ agrees on. Those who take her usually only do it to unlock [[CharmPerson Dominate]] as a class power and reload the mission to keep Samara on the squad.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': Morinth isn't too well liked due to being a very vicious villain with little plot relevance whose only real purpose is for Samara's loyalty mission, and the odd bit of interesting game lore. Her FreudianExcuse for being a merciless killer was seen as rather weak as her sisters are also Ardat-Yakshi yet none of them chose to become mass-murderers. Even moreso, her rationale of "being the genetic destiny of the asari" is complete hogwash, as an Ardat-Yakshi is sterile. It didn't help that Morinth never experienced any positive character arcs that would've made her more likable (unlike other {{Token Evil Teammate}}s Zaeed, Jack, and Javik). Not to mention, in order to have her on the team, you have to help her mother Samara, who is ''far'' more popular and is disproportionately picked by players to stay on the squad. Her status as a Scrappy is one of the few things fans on /v/ agrees on. Those who take her usually only do it to unlock [[CharmPerson Dominate]] as a class power and reload the mission to keep Samara on the squad.

** Kai Leng

is a pretty generic antagonist with a design that doesn't fit with the series, but what really earns him Scrappy status is that until the last time the player fights him, every encounter with him is a HeadsIWinTailsYouLose situation in which no matter how handily the player beats him, Shepard is struck with CutsceneIncompetence and loses to him anyway. The fact that Leng then sends Shepard taunting emails adds insult to injury, coming across more like the act of an Internet {{troll}} than a serious villain. The character was obviously intended to be a HateSink since the game does want you to hate him as the characters cannot shut up about how much they hate Kai Leng, more so than really any villain in the series aside from the Reapers. It just so happened that many players hate Kai Leng for the wrong reasons, not because he's a skilled villainous asshole but because he's an obnoxious character whose role in the story feels forced. [[https://youtu.be/ZSDfL2_OE80 "Shut Up Leng"]] demonstrates how poor his appearance and characterization was as it removing it, making him faceless and voiceless, made him better come off as the intimidating LoveToHate badass intended. His role in the novels doesn't help either, where the writers tried to make him seem cool but ended up making him more unlikable.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'':
** Jacob Taylor was mostly ignored by players in being considered a bland MasterOfNone TierInducedScrappy with a shallow and cheesy romance route who refers to Shepard as "[[MemeticMutation the prize]]". The NarmCharm of his romance route is actually the entire foundation of his fandom. A common complaint is that the player isn't allowed to really know him: all efforts to understand his HiddenDepths are met with brush-offs or even outright hostility. Come ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Jacob's story was less about him than it was about the supporting characters he was with, barely any different if he didn't survive the suicide mission. He's the only romanceable character in the series who [[spoiler:actually cheats on Shepard. Knocking up another woman and not even trying to get in contact with Shepard in the six months she was incarcerated]]. This ''did not'' impress the fans, to say the least.
*** Jacob is so disliked, that several fans have admitted that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents, which he ''volunteers'' to do; so the player doesn't feel as guilty offing him [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.
** Morinth isn't too well liked due to being a very vicious villain with little plot relevance whose only real purpose is for Samara's loyalty mission, and the odd bit of interesting game lore. Her FreudianExcuse for being a merciless killer was seen as rather weak as her sisters are also Ardat-Yakshi yet none of them chose to become mass-murderers. Even moreso, her rationale of "being the genetic destiny of the asari" is complete hogwash, as an Ardat-Yakshi is sterile. It didn't help that Morinth never experienced any positive character arcs that would've made her more likable (unlike other {{Token Evil Teammate}}s Zaeed, Jack, and Javik). Not to mention, in order to have her on the team, you have to help her mother Samara, who is ''far'' more popular and is disproportionately picked by players to stay on the squad. Her status as a Scrappy is one of the few things fans on /v/ agrees on. Those who take her usually only do it to unlock [[CharmPerson Dominate]] as a class power and reload the mission to keep Samara on the squad.

** Kai Leng is a pretty FlatCharacter with a design that would look more at home in ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' or ''Franchise/MetalGear'' than ''Franchise/MassEffect'', but what really earns him Scrappy status is that until the last time the player fights him, every encounter with him is a HeadsIWinTailsYouLose situation in which no matter how handily the player beats him, Shepard is struck with CutsceneIncompetence and loses to him anyway. The fact that Leng then sends Shepard taunting emails adds insult to injury, coming across more like the act of an Internet {{troll}} than a serious villain. The character was obviously intended to be a HateSink since the game does want you to hate him as the characters cannot shut up about how much they hate Kai Leng, more so than really any villain in the series aside from the Reapers. It just so happened that many players hate Kai Leng for the wrong reasons, not because he's a skilled villainous asshole but because he's an obnoxious character whose role in the story feels forced. [[https://youtu.be/ZSDfL2_OE80 "Shut Up Leng"]] demonstrates how poor his appearance and characterization was as it removing it, making him faceless and voiceless, made him better come off as the intimidating LoveToHate badass intended.
*** An infamous scene from one of the novels highlighted many fans' problem with his whole character. During a break in to Anderson's apartment, Kai Leng, described by the novel as an "adrenaline junkie" decides to sit down and have breakfast with Anderson's cereal. The moment was intended to show how fearless and interesting Leng is, but to most fans it made him look like an obnoxious petty idiot.[[note]]That said, many also felt it fell into NarmCharm, feeling it's the only thing worth keeping in Canon from an otherwise weak novel[[/note]]

** Kai Leng is a pretty FlatCharacter with a design that would look more at home in ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' or ''Franchise/MetalGear'' than ''Franchise/MassEffect'', but what really earns him Scrappy status is that until the last time the player fights him, every encounter with him is a HeadsIWinTailsYouLose situation in which no matter how handily the player beats him, Shepard is struck with CutsceneIncompetence and loses to him anyway. The fact that Leng then sends Shepard taunting emails adds insult to injury, coming across more like the act of an Internet {{troll}} than a serious villain. The character was obviously intended to be a HateSink since the game does want you to hate him as the characters cannot shut up about how much they hate Kai Leng, more so than really any villain in the series aside from the Reapers. It just so happened that many players hate Kai Leng for the wrong reasons, not because he's a skilled villainous asshole but because he's an obnoxious character whose role in the story feels forced.

** [[BigBad The Archon]] is widely disliked for being a [[FlatCharacter one-dimensional villain]]. He desires to murder [[spoiler:and assimilate]] any and all species he comes across, but has no real motives to do so other than to increase his own power and because [[FantasticRacism he views all non-kett Species as barely sapient]]. [[TheUnfought You don't even get the satisfaction of fighting him.]] He lacks any depth, intrigue, or menace [[ToughActToFollow while previous games were notable for making some of the most memorable villains in the industry]] with deep characterization, strong motives, or just straight-up [[NightmareFuel/MassEffect nightmare-inducing]] intimidation.

*** Jacob is so disliked, that several fans have admitted that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents, which he ''volunteers'' to do so the player doesn't feel as guilty offing him [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.

*** Jacob is so disliked, that several fans have admitted that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.

*** Jacob is so disliked, that several fans admit that in their [[ReplayValue repeated playthroughs]] they go out of their way to [[spoiler: make him the ''only'' companion to die during the suicide mission at the end of ''MassEffect2.'' [[note]] Simply by sending him through the vents [[/note]] ]] Considering the [[{{InSpiteOfANail}} lack-of impact he has]] on ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' in any meaningful way, it's a pretty easy decision for them.

*** An infamous scene from one of the novels highlighted many fans' problem with his whole character. During a break in to Anderson's apartment, Kai Leng, described by the novel as an "adrenaline junkie" decides to sit down and have breakfast with Anderson's cereal. The moment was intended to show how fearless and interesting Leng is, but to most fans it made him look like an obnoxious petty idiot.[[note]]That said, many also felt it fell into NarmCharm and was ActuallyPrettyFunny, feeling it's the only thing worth keeping in Canon from an otherwise weak novel[[/note]]

** Ashley Williams was a BaseBreakingCharacter in the first game, but often [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers chosen over Kaidan]] for being a deeper character and better for gameplay reasons. ''3'' had Kaidan RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap, seemingly at Ashley's expense. Reasons for this ranged from her UnnecessaryMakeover (her loose hair was deemed as both impractical for a woman soldier, and a bad attempt to copy Miranda); unsympathetic characterization (her FantasticRacism underwent {{Flanderization}}, while her HiddenDepths with a love of poetry was ignored, and her theological discussion about the Lazarus Project was cut from the game). In addition, she had almost no interaction with any other non-Shepard squadmates. Many felt Kaidan did a better job of articulating why he was having a hard time trusting Shepard. [[spoiler:In the climax of the Citadel coup, Ashley ''again'' calls Shepard a Cerberus lapdog, while Kaidan instead is questioning why [[NotWhatItLooksLike Shepard is pointing a gun at a councilor]].]] Dialogue from the hospital scenes also made Kaidan feel a lot more contrite about what happened on Horizon, whereas Ashley seemed to brush it off (only for her rant about Cerberus [[spoiler:during the coup]]). Finding Ashley drunk in the lounge, while funny, doesn't build her character, whereas Kaidan had a much deeper conversation about ex-Cerberus scientists, and wondering if [[spoiler:the Illusive Man was ever a decent person before the indoctrination]]. Gameplay balance was also hammered out after the first game (and a bug making Ashley's unique ability not work properly) made many decide Kaidan was a better party member to pick. Even the Citadel DLC scenes with Ashley was criticized for being a ripoff of [[Film/StarWarsANewHope the Mos Eisley cantina scene]] rather than adding to her character.

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in The Arrival dlc in Mass Effect 2. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with its plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoiler:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who ultimately DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal feel look extremely petty.]]
* ''Videogame/MassEffectAndromeda'':

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in The Arrival dlc in Mass Effect 2. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with it's plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoiler:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who ultimately DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal feel look extremely petty.]]

** Morinth isn't too well liked due to being a very vicious villain with little plot relevance whose only real purpose is for Samara's loyalty mission, and the odd bit of interesting game lore. Her FreudianExcuse for being a merciless killer was seen as rather weak as her sisters are also Ardat-Yakshi yet none of them chose to become mass-murderers. Even moreso, her rationale of "being the genetic destiny of the asari" is complete hogwash, as an Ardat-Yakshi is sterile. It didn't help that Morinth never experienced any positive character arcs that would've made her more likable (unlike other {{Token Evil Teammate}}s Zaeed, Jack, and Javik). Her status as a Scrappy is one of the few things fans on /v/ agrees on. Those who take her usually only do it to unlock [[CharmPerson Dominate]] as a class power and reload the mission to keep Samara on the squad.

** Morinth isn't too well liked due to being a very vicious villain with little plot relevance whose only real purpose is for Samara's loyalty mission, and the odd bit of interesting game lore. Her FreudianExcuse for being a merciless killer was seen as rather weak as her sisters are also Ardat-Yakshi yet none of them chose to become mass-murderers. Even moreso, her rationale of "being the genetic destiny of the asari" is complete hogwash, as an Ardat-Yakshii is sterile. It didn't help that Morinth never experienced any positive character arcs that would've made her more likable (unlike other {{Token Evil Teammate}}s Zaeed, Jack, and Javik). Her status as a Scrappy is one of the few things fans on /v/ agrees on. Those who take her usually only do it to unlock [[CharmPerson Dominate]] as a class power and reload the mission to keep Samara on the squad.

It's obvious that the players have had enough of these despised character's disingenuous assertions.

** The default appearance for Sara Ryder is generally seen as the worst default appearance in the series. Not only does it not really look like the actress it was supposedly modeled on, but it [[SpecialEffectsFailure suffers from a ton of animation glitches]] and always seems to have [[{{Narm}} a weird, creepy smile during the worst moments possible]].

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in The Arrival dlc in Mass Effect 2. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with it's plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut. And the game even rubs it in your face that the Catalyst's choices are the only option, because if you reject the choice, [[spoilers:the Reapers wipe out humanity and everyone else, with only a recording from Liara surviving to the next generation of intelligent life who ultimately DO accept one of the Catalyst's options to finally stop the Reapers, making Shepard's refusal feel look extremely petty.]]

*** An infamous scene from one of the novels highlighted many fans' problem with his whole character. During a break in to Anderson's apartment, Kai Leng, described by the novel as an "adrenaline junkie" decides to sit down and have breakfast with Anderson's cereal. The moment was intended to show how fearless and interesting Leng is, but to most fans it made him look like an obnoxious petty idiot.

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any solar system they explode in, as seen in The Arrival dlc in Mass Effect 2. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with it's plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut.

** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic is supposed to be sympathetic]] for [[spoiler:wanting to stop organic life from being taken over by synthetics]], but its chosen method ([[spoiler:periodically wiping out organic life so they won't develop evil synthetics]]) is [[InsaneTrollLogic utterly nonsensical]] at worst, [[TheFatalist extremely fatalistic]] at best, and [[FridgeLogic makes little sense within the context of the series]], not to mention making [[BigBad the much-vaunted Reapers]] look like idiots. On top of that, it's also responsible for the series's GainaxEnding, [[spoiler:presenting Shepard with three arbitrary choices, none of which seem to actually solve anything and all of which end in the apparent destruction of civilization in the original version (originally the mass relays all EXPLODE which aside from permanently ending interstellar travel, would logically destroy any galaxy they explode in, as seen in The Arrival dlc in Mass Effect 2. The extended ending patch made it less apocalyptic by simply having the mass relays deactivate and fall apart, with the epilogues showing them being rebuilt.)]], when most players just wanted to kill the thing and be done with it. [[spoiler:''Leviathan'' somewhat acknowledges this and the criticisms of the Catalyst's InsaneTrollLogic. Its existence is foreshadowed by the Leviathan, a member of the species whom the Reapers were modelled after, who explains that the Reapers are being controlled by a fundamentally ''[[AIIsACrapshoot broken]]'' AI, trying its best to work on faulty programming]]. Which makes it even more infuriating then that, despite knowing all of this, [[ButThouMust player is still forced to go along with it's plans]], as Shepard never voices any actual protest or questioning against the premise and the "logic" behind it. The game ultimately still portrays [[spoiler:The Catalyst]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain and the three options it gives as the only sensible choices, even and outwardly chastises the player for rejecting them in the Extended Cut.