Can You Beat Mass Effect With No Friends? Part 2 - How To Kill Everybody

[@vaughnh.150]

''You turned your back on everything we stood for.'' ''Sorry Ashley, I only ever stood for murdering my friends.''

[@aslandus]

This one was actually pretty sad, but I get the feeling Mass Effect 3 is going to be hilarious when it's held together with duct tape and twine...

[@metronicmagician1816]

Don’t forget the power of friendship which we coincidentally left behind

[@Ikcatcher]

The Illusive Man when he realized he spent billions of credits resurrecting the human embodiment of the Darwin Awards

[@juangalton999]

LMAO. Illusive man wanted evolution, just didn't get the one he wanted. XD

[@demfrodegroot7596]

Outside of one time, so far Shepard has only intentionally killed one companion, one who pulled a gun on her. All other times it's been down purely to pushing away potential allies and not understanding the team enough to put them in the right positions. Honestly this story is shaking out to be a version of Shepard that, on every mission they've gone on, everyone has died except for them, so they initially push away as many people as they physically can to try and save them from the fate of dying on her team. After a while it became clear she needed a team to go out on missions, even though she makes it repeatedly clear that she thinks it would be safer if she went out on missions by herself. So she takes the options no one else would, the greedy mercenaries and the murderers, she knows these two will be useful in her team, but she also knows they'll die, removing their sorry asses from the galaxy so no one else has to suffer due to them. However the last thing she expected, was the two sinful asses being too good and too skilled to die.

[@Patterrz]

Killing off your team is fine but selling Legion is just heartless

[@ManyATrueNerd]

It's also pathetically little money for how rare and valuable he should be.

[@Chizzle69420]

@@ManyATrueNerd Oi, don't start to respect these fools by giving them monetary value

[@Jovian999]

Don't bother, Daniel, it's too late for him.

[@cypressz]

I did it in my playthrough and still have no idea what his character is like.

[@idontlikerome2744]

In the end is just a talking toaster

[@Independent_Bluds]

Garrus really died by going out of his way to stick his head in front of a bullet for no reason👌

[@l33tspaniard]

Survives a rocket to one side only to die from a warp field to other rip

[@NoodleKeeper]

He was pushing the door closed

[@steelcladgamer6578]

- It's your old friend Garrus. - Who?

[@metetural9140]

Garrus: Shepard it's me your old friend! Shepard: Who? Garrus: Garrus your old friend! Shepard: Who? Illusive Man: *kicks door open* Your old friend! Now go and recruit him!

[@AriEugene]

@@metetural9140 is that a reference to that one scene from GTA V?? lmao

[@metetural9140]

@@AriEugene yep it is!

[@gabrin94]

Did you buy the fishes and then let them die because you forgot to feed them?

[@ManyATrueNerd]

A missed opportunity!

[@ColemanTheShiningStar]

@@ManyATrueNerd lol

[@tunah.z4983]

Literally the hardest crew member to keep alive in the game with a suicide mission is some fish.

[@Feridire]

@@tunah.z4983 Love on how hard it was to keep them alive the third game adds a fish feeder for you.

[@jackcassidy9963]

@@Feridire ME2 has a fish feeder, her name is Kelly Chambers

[@JhenMaster]

I feel like this challenge is less about a lonely Shepard and more a dangerous psychopath with a taste for low-key murder.

[@aslandus]

"What? You think I did it? No, no, no, Garrus definitely got shot right in the face while trying to close a door. Trust me, I'm a specter! By the way, can you see anything stuck down the barrel of my gun?" -Shepard, probably

[@Taolan8472]

Nothing low about that key my dude.

[@ThumbSipper]

Or a very, very incompetent Shepard with no regard for his team's lives.

[@JhenMaster]

@@ThumbSipper The lengths he goes to and the calculated saving to lose later says otherwise.

[@zafranorbian757]

So Jon then?

[@KingsandGenerals]

Absolutely ruthless

[@bigguy978978]

I didn't know you were subscribed to MATN. A few others also suprised me

[@thaneofwhiterun3562]

And just what are you doing here? XD

[@5Andysalive]

@@thaneofwhiterun3562 I'm no psychologist, but my guess would be: watching the video.

[@thaneofwhiterun3562]

@@5Andysalive ._.

[@Skyfox94]

I would have not expected you guys here!

[@barretovsky]

Man, I can't wait to see how the citadel party plays out...

[@alexandresilva3427]

Never liked that dlc, maybe this can make better xD

[@codsworth3996]

@@alexandresilva3427 You...you never liked what is objectively the best Mass Effect DLC ever released?

[@metetural9140]

@@alexandresilva3427 stay away from me vile creature!

[@bgggsht]

I feel with these choices there will be no citadel by the end

[@alexandresilva3427]

@@codsworth3996 Don't know if you're being sarcastic or not but i'll risk looking dumb anyway... The writing is really corny and cliched not to mention the pistol they introduce is overpowered and ruins the game balance.

[@Citadel_Of_My_Thoughts]

This hurts my heart so much. It's entertaining to watch but something I can *never* do.

[@LordHengun]

I'm with you. It's an interesting idea and I love seeing it explored, but I couldn't bring myself to explore it myself.

[@mranthonymills]

It's important to let professionals do this sort of science so the rest of us, who do not enjoy drowning puppies, do not have to.

[@General12th]

Genocide run: Mass Effect Edition.

[@carneus]

I love the ending where everyone dies and its just Joker reporting back to Illusive man.

[@thepaintingbanjo8894]

And he can barely walk because of his weak bones but can still lift/shove a steel i-beam out of the way to make his report to IM.

[@dragmire3D]

Upon reflection, I was kinda expecting Morinth and Mordin since you'd be able to shoot both in ME3.

[@sir_dragon9529]

I love how this is just a 3 day mini series, and not 3 weeks of 1 episode a week

[@gallendugall8913]

taking notes "don't try to kill everyone at the same time" makes sense

[@ManyATrueNerd]

Leave at least one person alive to warn everybody else, exactly.

[@FlyingScotsman-mu5oi]

@@ManyATrueNerd wat

[@shotgunshells2]

@@FlyingScotsman-mu5oi you heard him.

[@FlyingScotsman-mu5oi]

@@shotgunshells2 ⚙️⚙️

[@kc12311]

Strangely enough, having too few party members at certain points on the suicide mission actually makes characters survive when they shouldn't. Since you can't continue on without 2 party members and a fire team.

[@AgentofChaos315]

Mordin is a STG vet, but he's good at defending spots he's prepared for, not holding off a horde of monsters in a place he's never seen before.

[@austincantswim3383]

Also STG are infiltration specialists.

[@AgentofChaos315]

@@austincantswim3383 Mordin is good at sneaky-stabby-in-the-backy, but he's not good at a straight up fight.

[@RaidsEpicly]

His combat skill in the Hold the Line math puts him equal to a career thief and a nearly-naked biotic though, neither of whom even come close to mordins combat experience.

[@AgentofChaos315]

@@RaidsEpicly While she might not reflect that in gameplay Jack is supposed to be a borderline weapon of mass destruction with her biotics.

[@l33tspaniard]

@@AgentofChaos315 i mean, jack is not the most defensively oriented person

[@MadTurnip]

There is a great video called Mass Effect 2 Bad Ending: Everyone Dies, with an exceptionally ugly Shepard. It has one of the greatest comments ever: "They think we are helpless! They are right."

[@SamuelTBrooks]

I love when the nature of the challenge makes your description of your own actions horrifying. Just the casual mention of putting Tali in charge in the hopes of maximum casualties.

[@DanVann1]

This 3 part special is just sadistic. I've never been so excited for tomorrow haha

[@cjjc1699]

If the mass effect series has taught me anything its that when someone in my life dies its probably because I didn't do their loyalty quest

[@_Ciaran_Maher]

It would be real unfortunate if my friends all died because they didn't like me enough. Wouldn't fancy their chances.

[@erickpoorbaugh6728]

To be fair, the official reason isn't that they didn't like you enough but that they were "distracted" by the unresolved issues or by their anger at what you did. Which is still better than ME1 where trying to talk to your companions and help them through their issues dropped you into a relationship with no notice or request for confirmation. I still remember my irritation when a seemingly-platonic conversation with Ashley ended with "So, do you still want me warts and all?" even though I never said I "wanted" her in the first place, but there was no option to not have a relationship short of doing a hard shut down and reloading. Just because I'm friendly and supportive (like a good leader should be), that doesn't mean I want to hook up.

[@thaneofwhiterun3562]

Lonely lonely Shepard, he's a true gamer now.

[@tach5884]

13:37 Big "so he got bored and died" energy.

[@alonvostraikh4218]

"Mordin doesn't like me enough to live." Just amazing. Honestly never understood how loyalty is connected to the will of survival

[@Skycroft1000]

JON JON! If you do Zaeed's Loyalty Mission _after_ the Suicide Mission, you can leave him to die! Increasing the death count! Edit: Oh, I double-checked you can't do it unless you have at least two other crewmembers. Simple arithmetic strikes again, darn!

[@DunkaDunka330]

You can use save editor to kill him off. Game runs fine with just 1 companion and can be exported to ME3. I would normally consider that as cheaty, but as he was supposed to die, meh.

[@MishiMIshaniz]

"suicide arithmetic" is a very powerful term to use in the first 90 seconds of the game video lmao

[@anabelbtenz]

not going to lie... but watching garrus and tali die was really heartbreaking

[@AgentofChaos315]

I always find siding with Morinth a ridiculous decision, you kill a loyal companion to gain the help of a freaking serial killer!

[@sasanian]

Yeah but she's hot

[@AgentofChaos315]

@@sasanian But so is Samara, and she won't melt your nervous system during sex. Unless your into that.

[@JohnSmith-wj2wd]

There's something so hilarious about the shot of a dead Garrus accompanied by a sad piano tune, followed by *NEXT UP: THE BUBBLE ROOM*

[@theprofessionalfence-sitter]

I'm surprised that Jon the classicist didn't object to the thumbnail reading "Cln you belt".

[@noname-do5wo]

I personally would have done tali's loyalty mission to ruin her father's name dieing anyway so the sacrifice was for nothing

[@Darth_Niki4]

Personally, I'd have done all of the loyalty missions which I can screw up (Thane's for example). And only after triggering Collector's attack! >:)

[@shotgunshells2]

God. I fell for Tali so hard in my first playthrough and accidentally got her killed in the suicide mission. Seeing that cutscene again was brutal.

[@derekskelton4187]

It's ridiculously easy to save everyone just do the loyalty missions and pick one of the obvious choices for the tasks.

[@shotgunshells2]

I picked Grunt for the second squad and the game killed Tali for it. I thought the best krogan ever would be able to hold a damn door.

[@Ibrahim-wr5fs]

@@derekskelton4187 you forgot about upgrading the Normandy which a lot of people forget to do but besides that it's pretty easy to save everyone

[@FireatWillz]

you made the same mistake I did in this run. I also kept Zaeed alive too. A better choice would have been Legion. As he dies in ME3 regardless of what you do, plus on his loyalty mission you can kill a load of geth.

[@metetural9140]

Zaeed I'm pretty sure can die in his mission in 3 might be wrong Nevermind just googled it, he can die in 3 but only if Shepard hadn't gotten his loyalty in 2

[@FireatWillz]

@@metetural9140 Yes, its a shame really. I was trying to kill as many people as I could. Plus I killed Wrex in ME1 which is annoying as Id rather kill him in ME3.

[@dragmire3D]

Thane dies in 3 but I guess Jon wanted to prevent him from doing anything that would comfort his passing... You can kill Mordin in 3 as well so he'd be a good choice too.

[@FireatWillz]

@@dragmire3D Thane also saves the Salarian council member too, unless you don't speak to him in the hospital possibly? So we deffo don't want that.

[@DemonLordSparda]

I think technically Morinth and Jack are the ideal combo. You have to actually fight Jack, Legion, and Morinth in 3.

[@hansofaxalia]

Mordin: falls 100 feet Cause of death: didn’t like Shepard enough

[@madjacks1177]

Seeing Garrus and Tali both die, really hurt

[@Taolan8472]

Apparently the number of rockets to the face a turian can take and not die is precisely one.

[@Kaarl_Mills]

As opposed to Jacob, who despite having one of the more gruesome deaths of that mission, I can't really care

[@madjacks1177]

@@Kaarl_Mills At least it wasn't Mordin. My heart kinda stopped there for a second.

[@Kaarl_Mills]

@@madjacks1177 I lost garrus that way once

[@jamesdrummond7684]

Mass Effect's greatest enemy: doors

[@Anonymaus209]

I heard that if you leave Zaeed's loyalty mission until after the suicide mission, then take the paragon path (wherein he ends up trapped and at Shepard's mercy), you can actually leave him to die. Was surprised you didn't go for that.

[@alexandresilva3427]

really loving this mini-series xD

[@5Andysalive]

Anyone remembers the great moments in Kotor where Obsidian conditioned Jon expected the all fixing magic of loyalty missions but the game threw it right in his face, killing everybody anyway? Because it made sense that they don't change their whole personality and opinions because you were nice to their mother once...

[@Kaarl_Mills]

Such is the tragedy of Darth Kar'en

[@TheCompleteDM]

Mordin has a low defence score because he disagrees with Kirrahe on the importance of holding the line.

[@Mikkamel]

One thing that certainly won't make sense in Mass Effect 3 is the council appointing a SECOND human supremacist spectre. The first one turned out... not so great. But ironically, I suspect you'll actually "solve" that particular problem for them.

[@l33tspaniard]

Ash is isolationist, not supremacist :P

[@XDieKillDieX]

Ash actually hates human supremacists.

[@johnecoapollo7]

I really wanted to do a 1-3 playthrough like this but never got down to it. You sir, you deserve a medal

[@ashblackmoore5052]

Well, that was a slaughter. Garus, Tali, and Mordin hurt the most off.

[@RainbowLizardOne]

There is actually a precedence order for who dies in the bubble mission (it's how we're able to guarantee that Mordin makes it to the human reaper in the speedrun). Ironically, the two lowest priority squadmates are Zaeed and Morinth. It's almost as if Bioware wanted your friends to die.

[@Terror_Official]

Also, if he had placed Jacob as the Specialist, then taken Miranda as a squadmate, it forces the other squadmate to die. Miranda is required for the speech bit after getting through the door, so the game won't let her die before that point. It would remove the randomness he was talking about.

[@FailcopterWes]

Interesting how the Garrus death cutscene has "Samara" say a line, even though she's dead at this point.

[@vynashe4442]

I played this game mostly renegade and I have to say, you sir are a monster.

[@Puremindgames]

Because of how ME2 dishes out missions I still have panic attacks when playing hoping I didn't mess something up.

[@OffTheMarke]

I also noticed that in the suicide mission, despite the fact that Samara is now dead and Morinth has taken her place, the dialogue subtitles still have Samara as saying the lines as opposed to Morinth replacing her.

[@BFedie518]

Ngl I nearly cried watching this. I forgot how much I love these characters.

[@sandrogamer30018]

Watching Tali dying hurted me deep.

[@valthorix7347]

Garrus dying messed me up man. I've never seen him die before and I hate it. I can't imaging ME3 without the big lizard bird boi.

[@katejones8705]

I'd never do this setup myself, so it's very interesting to see the mechanics behind the scenes. Very curious how ME3 handles it.

[@avvistkjaerlighet6949]

"Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god". Almost there Jon.

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

Killing Tali in ME2 is nowhere near as soul crushing as killing Tali in ME3. That, that was a blow to the gut.

[@jas4341]

Breaking mass effect 3, potentially the best ending to the game.

[@nexxus2614]

13:53 lmao Zaeed be like "Damn Shepard... Even I could learn something from you."

[@musicgamerlover]

Jon referencing Miranda: But she's also no where near strong enough to maintain a biotic bubble no matter what she says. Miranda: In theory any biotic could handle it. Jon: No! Wrong! **Jon proceeds to play the game and shows that Miranda does indeed maintain the bubble despite his swearing she can't**

[@PanzerIVAE]

Yeah but someone competent enough maintains it long enough so nobody dies to swarms

[@ifound15min]

Jacob dies because he's Jacob and just generally crap

[@musicgamerlover]

Considering all Jacob had to do was run the two feet needed to live but instead stood there to be ambushed and killed like a total moron, it's not Miranda it's him.

[@glasscanon8758]

Many a True Mitten Squad…

[@megamac1296]

Pretty fitting considering Paul stated in his early "Can You Beat..." videos how Jon was an influence on him, it's like the torch being passed back and forth.

[@jimmy1929]

Jon’s been doing weird challenge runs longer but mitten squad is still very good

[@RaidsEpicly]

This does fit the Mitten format better, would really not work as a full playthrough but it's great as part of these shorter videos

[@jamesocallaghan2699]

This is such a great little mini-series! I really respect the way the videos are so short and well edited. I can imagine so much time has gone into filming this compared to the amount of time actually captured on video!

[@blairdom]

It's just horrific, but so damn catchy! Cant wait for the final bit!

[@Electric999999]

This is shaping up to be the best mini series ever.

[@maccurtis730]

This is like a Hitman all accident run Shepard the leader assassin of own team.

[@jondavisingleman6440]

You have no idea how much I love you for this.

[@SirRoderickThunderbottom]

doubt it but i have to ask, did you toss the meteor into a mass effect relay killing the baterian settlement? feels like something that should happen this run.

[@gregconen]

If you don't do Arrival, in ME3 is says a bunch of Alliance marines died doing it. So even more people die if he doesn't do it.

[@stylesrj]

@@gregconen Yeah but Shepard then isn't responsible for the murder of the Batarians...

[@reeper147]

@@stylesrj That is purely hindsight though. All shepard knows is some scientists went missing. In that moment, he knows a few things: 1) He can leave the scientists to die, or be sent to rescue them 2) If he doesn't go, the chances of success are lower, meaning they are more likely to die 3) If the alliance steps in, alliance soldiers will likely die Shepard never knew that the meteor would have to be used to destroy a mass relay, blow up a planet, and doom the hegemony. You could argue along the same lines when shepard keeps Zaed alive by doing his loyalty mission and snatching up Samara's daughter instead of Samara herself, but those two characters are closest to who this shepard is, so you could grant him a pass on wanting similar psychopaths on board. Afterall, why waste a perfectly good serial killer and a morally-bankrupt mercenary when you could have them owing you favors to use in the future to get even more kills?

[@stylesrj]

@@reeper147 What Shepard knows is that some Batarians have captured a Human scientist. Wouldn't a psychotic Shepard be like "I've always wanted to make bigger enemies with the Hegemony!" and do the mission anyway? Then when they're brought to the Alliance in Mass Effect 3, they're being put on trial not for working for Cerberus, but for committing near-genocide? Which probably even sounds better to be accused of than just "You worked with some bad people..."

[@PuristPlays]

Oh maaan... This hurts... Good on you for doing this, cause I wouldn't have... Garrus, Tali...My heart is broke...

[@LifelessTooth]

Should have tried to complete the suicide mission without Zaeed's loyalty. if he survives, you can do his loyalty mission afterward, and you'll have the unique option to kill him at the end if Vido gets away.

[@Pax-pw4es]

Exactly, this is what I was going to say, though I'm not 100% sure if you can get him through while not loyal.

[@LifelessTooth]

@@Pax-pw4es I mean the end result is ultimately the same

[@alexfarrell3250]

The line Garrus says when recruiting him is always the same when picking that option. I got that on my current ME2 playthrough and is had picked him up in the first game and even did his "loyalty" quest

[@blueshit199]

at some point it becomes so much work that it starts to feel like Shepard is working with the Reapers

[@crickett3536]

This is hilarious. I don't know why any companion still trusts Shepherd!

[@matthewpownall1196]

This is one of the best things! I've never played mass effect but it is so much fun to try and play a game in a way that it was not meant to be played 😅

[@SolarDragon94]

"making sure only two people die" Uhh... don't you mean survive?

[@RainaThrownAway]

In case you ever wanted to go even further beyond, there is now a mod for Legendary Edition called "Last Person Standing" which allows Shepard to survive the suicide mission even if all their "friends" died.

[@JedrekVRoscoe]

You are doing some work that I would never in a million years be able to. Thank you for being absolutely heartless!

[@codydrift1863]

Thanks for exploring this! Ive always wondered but could never bring myself to actually commit to a save file. Some of it is funny, some of it is sad, but im glad i was able to experience something new today

[@Lonnloven]

I know at least one friend who used a guide to recreate an ending with only two companions, but I'm not sure they ever played that save file in ME3. Greatly looking forward to the conclusion!

[@AnesidoraAston]

Are you trying to tell us something Jon? Are you lonely? Is that it?

[@ifound15min]

crew members can survive if not loyal and can die if loyal, this is governed by your choices in the suicide mission. On my first playthrough I had everyone except Thane loyal but ended with most of them dying and Thane surviving somehow.

[@Taolan8472]

....... how?

[@ifound15min]

@@Taolan8472 I don't know exactly why, but my guess is that I picked the wrong squad members for some of the choices. I had the Normandy fully upgraded as well so.

[@oSpoken]

I've never played and or watched a mass effect video, but these videos arw very entertaining and I hope you do more videos in this style.

[@rash500m]

Published 20 seconds ago. Never been this early but I'm ready to feel bad for some of my favorite characters in gaming history :D

[@averyaustin1]

Now *THIS* is what I call an "insanity run".

[@RileyScarletSpiderGirl]

Getting Garrus killed should be illegal

[@iamtheshim]

Jon you mad bastard. This is amazing.

[@DarkNight3603]

Gotta be honest, this is hearbreaking. It is a very cool look into whats possible and pushing the limit of what the story can do but couldnt even live with myself when i accidently got some crew killed cause i didnt know the upgrades were important. Literally started the whole game over to try again.

[@pushbiswas8036]

'They're just not personally invested enough to not die'.

[@jibjabby9964]

The series I didn't know I needed in my life!

[@ChiiRayne]

Interesting how during the Garrus death cutscene, Samara is there to back the team up when Jon specifically killed and replaced her with Morinth 2 minutes earlier *twilight theme noises*

[@RealFormalGamer]

Keep up the great work John you mad lad you!

[@jylehansen2758]

“This is the part of the game where everyone has a father, sister, daughter and genocide to feel bad about, this makes them loyal” Lmao

[@michael9433]

The other thing about the calculation of combat prowess is that loyalty affects it. Specifically, if they are disloyal, they lose one from their score. So if you have Grunt loyal, he adds 4 to your combat power. But if he is not loyal, he adds only 3

[@CommissarMitch]

Purple really suits FemShep.

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

12:49 I think it's meant to be a measure of how tough they are in a straight up firefight, similar to how your choice of engineer/biotic vary in effectiveness in that role.

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

There's not much room for stealth and finesse when you're holding the line at a choke point

[@AvatarRiku]

Jon making the sacrifices so we don’t have to. Garrus was my default every game (tali, Zaeed, Javik) and he killed my boy Wrex.

[@Terra_Incognita115]

"Suicide Arithmetic" is my new band name

[@LikelyToBeEatenByAGrue]

Hey, on the plus side, I finally get to see mass effect 3. I've been waiting for you to play it for quite a while now.

[@MmKayUltra1]

I really appreciate the effort Jon puts into these videos. If anyone at my work had to figure out if they could beat mass effect without friends they would just ask me if I have beaten mass effect.

[@kamalalsb7292]

I only have one question - why not kill Zaeed, and keep Tali and Morinth alive? As far as I know Zaaed can't die in ME3 if he was loyal in ME2, but if you do Tali's story in ME3 and choose the Geth, she and Legion BOTH die. Would that have fucked up the calculations for the Suicide Mission, though? Honestly have no idea, really enjoying this series though!

[@Deadshot_Raptor]

I literally finished the first video and refreshed to see this pop up...what a day 😌

[@Giraffinator]

I'm glad Garrus at least got to complete the other side of his face.

[@LimySilver2]

Pretty fitting that Zaeed lives since all of the stories he tells go something along the lines of "everyone died, except me."

[@blueshit199]

it's funny cause he's the only one to ever die on me while trying to keep everyone alive

[@WgdVids]

There's a graph somewhere out there on the interwebs that explains the math to show who survives. I've been able to get just about any combination or two to survive. You can even keep Legion and Grunt and get them killed off before you get to ME3, but it's largely dependent on getting Zaheed killed in his loyalty mission, and wiping out Grunt and Garrus before you get to the final battle (As the are the strongest in the survival maths). Morinth and Tali might be the best to bring into ME3, because Morinth just becomes a banshee that you kill and Tali will kill herself after the Geth win. It makes for a fun shore leave party!