Mass Effect 2 OST - The Illusive Man

Buy the Mass Effect 2 Original Videogame Score composed by Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, David Kates & Jimmy Hinson!
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© 2010 E.A.R.S (EA Recordings). All rights reserved - masseffect.biow...
Jack Wall: jackwall.net
Sam Hulick: samhulick.com
David Kates: davidkates.net
Jimmy Hinson: biggiantcircles...

[@smanly3274]

Shepard, you are making a habit of costing me more than time and money.

[@Distruptor18]

I can't hear you, I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line.

[@smanly3274]

Distruptor18 Don't try my patience. The technology from that base could have secured human dominance in the galaxy, from the Reapers and beyond.

[@Distruptor18]

+S “Music4Ever” Manly Human dominance? Or just Cerberus?

[@smanly3274]

Distruptor18 Strength for Cerberus is strength for every human. Cerberus is humanity. I should have known you would have choked on the hard decisions. Too idealistic from the start.

[@Distruptor18]

+S “Music4Ever” Manly I know what you are and the price of dealing with you. We do things my way from now on. Harbinger is coming, and he won't be alone. I'm going to make sure we're ready when they get here. You can fall in line or step aside, but don't get in my way.

[@jusblazze2598]

In mass effect 3 with the Cerberus troops and ships I am like "where the fuck were you guys on ME 2?"

[@TheNocturnal1]

Dosekk 66 even with Shepard as the huge investment that he was....still had an army...

[@TheNorang]

remember all of the errands you were doing for cerberus? well...

[@Extreme96PL]

Its possible that was a part of plan that not show Cerberus army in ME3 you find console with video where TiM say that Shepard need see nice faces to belive that Cerberus is good

[@RyanRonin]

@Who Cares Thats right

[@friedpickleeater]

i always thought it was because alot of alliance soldiers defected because shepard took on the collectors while pretty much the rest of the galaxy did hardly anything, even admiral hackett in the arrival dlc gives them praise for their decisiveness, but i could be wrong tho

[@youraverageinternetperson4323]

"Don't you turn your back on me, Shepard! I made you! I brought you back from the dead!" "And I'm going to do exactly what you brought me back to do. I'm going to win this war, and I'll do it without sacrificing the soul of our species."

[@erbilshaban3959]

This fits the Illusive Man perfectly. It's calm, collected, but you can hear a hint of desperation behind it

[@andrewbracy31]

....which is precisely how I feel studying for final exams right now, hence the reason I'm listening to this.

[@RagingGoblin]

Illusive Man is easily one of the most authentic and intruiging bad guys ever

[@AnEruditeWolf]

>illusive man >bad

[@publiuscorneliusscipioafri5009]

Michael I agree with the illusive man, in fact were I in the same place as he I would also dedicate myself to the progression and preservation of humanity; Progress can be bloody but it will be honest.

[@vonbraunprimarch]

+Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Progress is not always good, it's a black pill yes, but underlying consequences is what bring us down.

[@roigergoololo3966]

Honestly, the talks with the Illusive Man were some of the more intriguing parts of this game; between the awesome soundtrack and me trying to figure out just what he was thinking, it gave me a weird sense of "I don't trust this guy that much, but he's the only one willing to do something".

[@Casual.YT.Enjoyer]

Probably Shepard’s exact thoughts aswell

[@lonewaffle231]

Well that was the point

[@gameone7717]

He knows too much...

[@JD_the_fox]

Thats the same what the council thought about shepard

[@victuz]

​@@JD_the_fox Why the council didn't trust Shepard?

[@gambit_sfm]

Cant believe this game is 10 years old already...

[@roigergoololo3966]

Yeah, it's making me feel old now...

[@callmecloby8365]

I can’t believe it took me so long to play it.

[@davidnavarro4821]

Yeah ! I remember being so hyped back in summer 2009 about the game and watching its trailers again and again ! Time goes fast.

[@ardex9677]

Fun fact: I was too young to play and understand it that time and now I am an adult. We are all getting old.

[@urazoktay7940]

Yeah...I was 27 and feeling young. Now i'm 37.

[@kathic6402]

Urge to play trilogy rising.

[@K4PO]

😬me too now.

[@julianlopez5490]

Fr 😆

[@OtherMyths01]

Assuming direct control.

[@jherinstamps6874]

Soon you can in 4K!

[@Shad0wCK]

Urge to play mass effect 1 and 2. Fixed it for you.

[@ajmcc2012]

Martin sheen's best role ever

[@rybrentmannftw]

Um, how about apocalypse now?

[@ajmcc2012]

rybrentmannftw That's a good role too but nothing comes close to the Illusive Man

[@ARSA525]

That and West Wing. :)

[@rifadxyz]

Captain Millard forever bro.

[@GatoSanDad]

@@ARSA525 and for Funnies Grace and Frankie

[@NicoTheCinderace]

"Shepard, You're making a habit of costing more than time and money."

[@martinvaros1461]

"I'm sorry, i cant hear you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line"

[@juanlaise1059]

"You get the help you deserve".

[@HHopebringer]

@@juanlaise1059 "And what about the rest of humanity?! The technology from that base could have secured human dominance in the galaxy, against the Reapers and beyond."

[@Vesporeon]

@@HHopebringer "Human dominance, or Cerberus?"

[@SilverInterpolFire]

@@Vesporeon Strength for Cerberus is strength for every human. Cerberus is humanity. I should’ve known you’d choked on the hard decisions too idealistic from the start.

[@ignaciopaz3737]

BioWare: Making a good game. EA: I AM ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL

[@roigergoololo3966]

😂😂😂😢😢😢

[@bobbyboy1797]

You know they made ME2 under EA right?

[@assman7218]

@@bobbyboy1797 Yeah, but once EA sees potential they become greedy to the point we got games like ME3, Dead Space 3, and The Sims 4.

[@Yayofangamer16]

@@bobbyboy1797 He is referencing ME 3

[@umegaalfa5900]

Ain't that the sad truth..

[@avimzrh]

llusive Man: Commander Shepard. Shepard: Illusive Man. I thought we would be meeting face-to-face. Illusive Man: A necessary precaution. Not unusual for people who know what you and I know. Shepard: And what exactly is it that “you and I know”? Illusive Man: That our place in the universe is more fragile than we’d like to think.

[@coma5350]

Disconnecting council transmission in ME1, never forget

[@Taios87entertainment]

Avi Mizrahi illusive man: humanity is up against the greatest threat of our brief existence. Shepard: the reapers... Illusive man: glad to see your memory’s still in tact. How are you feeling? Shepard: you need to earn the right to ask me those types of questions.

[@ApoorvaSrinivasa7]

Illusive man is the ONLY kind of person that can save humanity were it ever to face threat of extinction. I hate to say that. All the ideals work only in the game. But his words just hit home base one after another. Played the for the 5th time and still get goosebumps for his theme song.

[@marclyn5]

@@Taios87entertainment Illusive man: Cerberus isn't as evil as you believe. You and I are on the same side; we just have different methods.

[@Taios87entertainment]

@@marclyn5 Shepard: cut to the chase! what are the reapers doing that made you decide to bring me back? Illusive man: we're at war, no one wants to admit it, but humanity is under attack. while you've been sleeping, entire colonies have been disappearing; Human colonies. we believe it's someone working for the reapers. Just as Saren and the geth aided sovereign. You've seen it yourself. you've bested all of them. that's just one reason we chose you.

[@jtjr26]

This is probable the perfect music for an intelligent villain.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Who is the villain is a matter of point of view

[@michaelhenry3234]

*Cue Littlefinger music*

[@MrAwrsomeness]

Kind of sounds similar to L music

[@JohnSmith-rw1rf]

@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess Not to be the guy who jumps straight to a Hitler comparison immediately... but this is like saying Hitler was only a villain from a certain point of view. IM is an egomaniacal racist in charge of a morally bankrupt terrorist organization. There is no point of view where he isn't a villain.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

@@JohnSmith-rw1rf Look it up what happened to Prussians and Pomeranians (East Germans)

[@shaun5809]

"There... Earth. I wish you could see it like I do, Shepard. It's so... perfect."

[@SquareInsider]

+Father RIP to one of gaming's greatest and most complex antiheroes. Would have joined and fought with you till the very end, Illusive Man. You still remain one of my favorite characters in the entire series, and all of gaming. I still wear my Cerberus shirt to this day. Humanity first!

[@tr4il98]

+Shaun Please don't tell me thats a spoiler

[@simmyxan9706]

+Shaun SHAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!

[@b.w.9444]

Too bad you don't get that line if you "persuade" TIM. It's pretty poetic.

[@matthewmcmatthewson6578]

+mercilessv you should watch this pbs documentary about Lincoln. Martin Sheen narrated. It's quite confusing.

[@Enigman64]

The last cutscene of Mass Effect 2 is just AMAZING, and so is this music playing all the while. I can just picture him getting up out of his chair, genuinely upset for the first time. "Don't turn your back on me. I made you; I brought you back from the dead."

[@MrImastinker]

"Joker, lose this channel." (walks away smirking like a boss)

[@dank_K_knight]

@@MrImastinker "whoops"

[@ALLMINDmercenarysupportsystem]

*turns my back on him*

[@33hegemon]

I wonder what the Illusive Man drinks, and smokes, sitting there in his comfortable chair, contemplatively looking at that red giant...like a total boss.

[@Rebsten]

+33hegemon +33hegemon I wondered the same. I can't give you specifics, but the Shadow Broker console just called them cigarettes. What brand? No idea, probably a space age one. Again, I can't give you specifics, but in Mass Effect 3, the ex-Cerberus Engineer Ken Donnelly confirms he drinks American bourbon. Here's some of what the console said about him, not included are vague details of numerous sexual liaisons and who he was sending messages to. Cigarettes smoked today: 4 Drinks consumed today: 7 Daily skyball score: 160/0 (fifth consecutive perfect game)

[@ingamingpc1634]

+Reb Station the fuck how does the Shadow Broker know that

[@ZeroCanalX]

+33hegemon He drinks burbone and Thessia Red.

[@33hegemon]

He has only gone up in my estimation now that I know he drinks bourbon.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

he drinks mountain dew and vapes

[@mlgfrog2470]

"We're at war. Nobody wants to admit it, but humanity is under attack."

[@frederickjalbert3298]

" if this is a war i'll need an army, or à very good team".

[@ajaybala8967]

My dog listened to this and became the illusive dog

[@EdVarkarion]

+Ajay Bala I would think he would become a Cerberus

[@IzzyBooTube]

+EdSkywalker nice lol

[@Narsilion098]

+EdSkywalker - underrated comment!

[@DeluminatusGM]

+Ajay Bala I guess he's a... german shepherd? XD

[@Spider-Man2094]

Does your just sit in a chair menacingly smoking a cigarette?

[@hyperespiotheninja]

I want this ost to play when someone steps into my office at work

[@heomji7216]

Am I the only one who think the Illusive Man is one of the best antihero characters ever made in sci-fi AND that this is one of the best leitmotifs I ever heard ? I played the trilogy for the first time two months ago and these games became my favourites of all time.

[@seanfitzgerald8454]

I think the illusive man is one of the greatest characters of all time. He had so much character in Mass effect 2, and I feel like he had a lot more potential than what the Mass effect 3 developers showed.

[@jukkaputtonen4797]

Very elusive

[@bkshowstopper]

He was an antihero until ME3, when it becomes clear he will stop at nothing to control the Reapers. ME2 he was sort of neutral.

[@heomji7216]

@@bkshowstopper I agree, though it was obvious to me he would be a problem in the third game since he was already doing some shit in both ME1 (check the sidequests) and ME2. When you read the Codex, it is clear that Cerberus is NOT the good guys of the story, even if their leader had more depth and was not entirely wrong on certain points. Didn't mean he could not use better methods most of the time though, that's why I disagreed a lot from what he did.

[@Obbie40]

"Don't turn your back on me Shepard. I made you. I brought you back from the dead." "And I'm going to do exactly what you brought me back to do. I'm gonna win this war without sacrificing the soul of our species." *walks away smirking like a BAWS*

[@humanasthma8106]

sbn4 oooooh goosebumps

[@Rares_G4H]

+sbn4 Joker lose this channel.

[@Longdongsilverx]

+sbn4 I never turned my back on him I did the right thing and helped (Renegade all the way)

[@Infernal460]

+Emporer Palaptine Same we needed that base so we could make weapons to tear the reapers apart.

[@1DoctorWolf]

+sbn4 "I'm sorry I'm hearing a lot of bullshit on my line" "Joker lose this channel"

[@Lycandingo]

Shepard: "I thought we'd be meeting in person" TIM: "It was a necessarily precaution. I've seen the vids where you knock out the reporter just trying to do her job, just like I am trying to do mine."

[@omiorahman6283]

lol

[@HexPLAYSPlus]

I REALLY liked the Illusive Man tbh. He was just such a cool character, and was very 3 dimensional. I'm almost completely certain he wasn't indoctrinated during ME2, and he had done a whole lot to help out, which led me to choose to save the collector base during Suicide Mission at first. I mean, if it helps destroy the reapers I'm all for it. SPOILERS [Major] But when he betrays you in ME3 my keeping the base was used against me, so I never chose that option again. Regardless, TIM is one of my favorite antagonists of all time, and I REALLY wished you could have gotten him to join your side during ME3. I mean, how awesome would that have been?

[@MrImastinker]

It would have been awesome seeing him join the side of good.

[@cr4yv3n]

MrImastinker They made his "evul" because god forbid the world is gray and not black and white. Cerberus bad , alliance good. I absolutely LOVED working for Cerberus, the world is gray not black and white as ME1 and 3 try to portray it.

[@jcferrell931]

***** Even to the end, his intentions were well. They needed to justify placing him as an antagonist by having installed within himself Reaper tech. A very naive move, unfitting of a pragmatist like TIM. Regardless, by far one of my favorite characters ever. Right up there with Mr. House from Fallout: New Vegas.

[@MrImastinker]

***** I didn't like working for Cerberus, as the organization was still pretty dirty and did some terrible things. But it would have been nice to see TIM realize that, and try to make up for it in ME3 by helping fight the Reapers. Maybe the game could have shown Cerberus actually splitting in two, between those who decide to fight the Reapers and thus join Shepard, and those who try to control them.

[@cr4yv3n]

MrImastinker I liked ME2 and the 'dark-gray' Cerberus because the world is gray, not black n white. More realistic.

[@TheGIJew.]

"What if there was someone who is the absolute maximum of the things that you would aspire to be, but also the worst of humanity?" -Casey Hudson, on the inspiration for the Illusive Man.

[@seanfitzgerald8454]

Great comment. That literally summarizes his whole character. Absolutely brilliant

[@TheYourGod666]

*inhales smoke* -Shepard, *exhales* *drinks whiskey*

[@DextroDNAOfficial]

Coolest antagonist in sci-fi?

[@gundamfan19]

Antagonist? I'd say he was more an anti-hero in Mass Effect 2. Though in Mass Effect 3 his character was changed drastically to that of an antagonist which I cannot agree with.

[@_Teej_264]

+Dale Guimond I don't think he was all too different. The fact that he had different goals than we did is just amplified in a way because we weren't allies anymore, if you get what I'm saying. Basically, his character and values were constant, but we began to fight for something that didn't match his plan

[@winsarun7916]

If he didn't work with the [Spolier Alert] in the game he might be one of my favorite character.

[@gundamfan19]

I see that, what I was saying more or less is that the affects of Indoctrination were far more prominent and obvious than before. Making him seem more than an antagonist than he was in Mass Effect 2.

[@winsarun7916]

Dale Guimond Still tho I Like him a lot Like Wheatley from Portal 2 When he betray Chell yet I still like him Same goes with illusive man in my opinion his character show intelligent and power.

[@Lostmychill]

Does anybody else really love the Illusive man's character? I was kinda sad when he was the main antagonist of ME3

[@TheMoorgoth]

yea same here.

[@Valleyraven007]

It made no sense lol

[@tardwrangler1019]

cerberus is awful in me3

[@mrAZcardinal]

Agreed. Huge letdown. So much potential wasted on ho hum indoctrination.

[@cristobalsapiain2709]

It looks that we all think the same here, glad to find people of culture :)

[@Zackarco]

Anyone else really loved the voice actor for the Illusive Man?

[@TheMoorgoth]

Martin Sheen did a great job.

[@TheStarcraftJACKAL]

Hearing this music, I can't think of TIM as the bad guy. This song is like the painting of his mind: filled with thoughts, worries for humanity and the future of his organization - and things he must do to preserve them.

[@chrissierra-5633]

R.I.P Tim aka illusive man

[@larry-three8225]

Every time Kelly Chambers said the Illusive Man wished to speak to me I was like oh dear. Then I'd go into the comm room and the door would close behind me and the room would dim and turn into some holographic cages thing. I liked they they helped get rid of Collectors. I was actually somewhat okay with Cerberus in Mass Effect 2. It was good that they was able to explain at least some of the things they did in Mass Effect 1. It's to bad they all became indoctrinated in Mass Effect 3, they probably could have saved Shepard from a terrible ending in Mass Effect 3.

[@b0nenana]

Hemmo Laurell TIM was able to control his people, but like harbinger said, the reapers controlled him.

[@3ShotTGK]

I'm currently on the full series playthrough right now and what's interesting is in Mass effect 1 they were the focus of a few side missions and their experiments were inhumane, though they claimed to be working for the good of humanity (irony). But in ME2 you see just how desperate Cerberus got and how more devious the Illusive Man is, going as far as to bring Shepard back to the dead, just to continue work left unchecked. By ME3, Cerberus just becomes the rogue organization that everyone figured but came to fear.

[@NiskeyTV]

Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the best games ever made...

[@cashew_later9023]

#IllusiveManForPresident2016

[@TheMoorgoth]

Better than Trump or Hillary that's for sure :D

[@technetium4761]

Sure, but so are Saren, Harbinger, and Sovereign, so that's not saying much.

[@sitasky8015]

Well at least Illusive Man has a "humanity first" platform, unlike those others, that means he doesn't care about your race, religion, etc. if you're human you're good.

[@volo7]

lmao true

[@majorastorm]

Plus if he makes a monthly speech when he talks to the American people with this song in the background, I would be under his indoctrination

[@IcarusPanopticon]

Imagine playing a Mass Effect spin-off game about the events between ME1 and ME2. After finishing the prologue mission, your character enters the dark room and this music kicks in when your character says - "Reporting for duty, sir."

[@TheJupiteL]

Imagine if ME3 had infinite budget and time in development, we could have had two main stories, as independent or working under Cerberus. Depending on which side you chose in ME2, Shepard could either destroy the reaper and save humanity's freedom or rule the galaxy harnessing the Reaper's technologies, as Cerberus would. And not as in red and blue explosions.

[@roigergoololo3966]

Yeah I mean, after the Renegade ending in Mass Effect 2 I was hoping to be able to continue working with the Illusive Man in ME 3; would've been awesome.

[@TheHulk1850]

Being able to be Alliance, Independent, or Cerberus, would be even better, but I love the idea!!

[@Cappuccino_Rabbit]

Yeah, make the final choice of ME2 as deep, if not, much better than choosing whether the council dies or not in ME1

[@TheDarkUnknown]

shepard: *does literally anything* (theme start) illusive man: shepard- shepard: NOT AGAIN, I WAS JUST USING THE SHOWER

[@timspeller4084]

Ngl I'd love to see a 4 panel comic where TIM bothers Shepard while he's doing mundane things like feeding his fish or putting his models together

[@cisionpromark4270]

Don't turn your back on me shepard I made you i brought you back from the dead!

[@Warsawke]

''Don't presume to judge me or my methods. Cerberus will be ready to face the reapers.''

[@user-nj5zc3qo7i]

"Strength for Cerberus is strength for every human. Cerberus is humanity."

[@Caprice05]

ME 2 was my favorite. The Illusive Man was my favorite character.

[@Ozeki_Negima]

God DAMN... Mass Effect 2 was such an incredible game.

[@BlackLegion12621]

"The patterns are there, hidden beneath the data."

[@WeeabossVA]

The Reapers were cool and all, but Illusive Man really stood out in the end as such an amazing villain.

[@TheWtfanime]

One of the most interesting "villains" ever created in video game history.

[@ElStink4K]

Martin Sheen has this subtle charm to him

[@HiddenWen]

I loved ME3 despite some of its flaws, but one thing I really dislike is what they did with the IM's character. He was cold, cruel and calculating person in ME2, but in ME3 it felt like he went overboard. I lost that feeling of respect and awe of his persona in that game. They tried too hard to make him an insane evil mastermind type of character.

[@theboywhocriedducks]

HiddenWen He was indoctrinated by the time ME3 occurs, so it would make sense that he wasn't able to be the same calculated man as in ME2. At least to my knowledge. I could be wrong.

[@Wuzu93]

Nicholas Rodriguez No, you are right. He got real ****ed up by the indoctrination.

[@jmichael5712]

uiuy1uyui It would of been worse in ME3,BioWare planned to make him turn into some sort of reaper creature at the end of the game,but they took it out because they wanted the player to fight something they knew instead of something completely diffrent.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Cruel? I wouldn't say he's cruel, I think he's a hero of humanity

[@tsukopara2054]

Nicholas Rodriguez How the fuck could he even have been indoctrinated? He had no direct exposure to any Reaper tech & we know the Human Reaper wasn’t conscious yet, therefore it didn’t have the Reaper ‘soul’ that causes indoctrination. He worked through proxy for everything. The ‘indoctrination’ excuse for TIM & Udina was pulled out of a hat to excuse shit writing.

[@computergenie1]

when i listen to this i suddenly have the urge to stand up and say: Shepard we've found them, our latest colony on horizon just went dark etc

[@Coltara]

I can't believe this game is 84 years old now

[@Masmix77]

(smoking cigarette) - Commandor shepard - illusive man, i thought we would be meeting face to face - A necessary precaution , not unusual for People Who know what you and I know - what exactly is it that "you and i know"? - that our place in the universe is more fragile that we would like to think. That one man - one very specific man - might be all that stands between Humanity and the greatest threat of our brief existence - The reapers - good to see your memory's still intact, how are you feeling?

[@metalnat27]

In my case, "woman" lol! But great nostalgic comment!

[@eberechukwucooper7796]

This song is inspirational some how. Funny I thought I was the only one who thought that but obviously not lol Every time I here it I feel as powerful and wise as the illusive man himself..

[@Malacite]

One of the most fitting themes for a villain ever - and also just in general an iconic piece of music. Just wrapping up my playthrough of the Legendary Edition trilogy, making me wish they had gone for a full remake (to smoothen out some things like getting Legion far too late in 2) I wonder if Martin Sheen would be up for reprising his role in any capacity, the man was absolutely perfect.

[@speedscampi5217]

This is the first time I’ve played through the Legendary edition while importing my Sheppard and made a no save scumming rule where if I piss off a character like Jack who refused to speak to me at the end of ME2 or let one die like Wrex I can’t reload (some of the most fun I’ve had in gaming) I’m at the part where I launch the mission on the illusive mans base in ME3 but I’m finishing up some DLC. The illusive man has to be my favorite “villian” of the series, Harbringer and the collectors had interesting moments and lore but the weakest, Saren and Soverign were both interesting and had iconic moments, but the mystery around the illusive man is unmatched, you genuinely can’t read in ME2 whose side he is one, all of his arguments for his actions make some form of sense. His plan as a whole makes sense from a human centered perspective. You don’t understand his true motives until the end of ME2 or start of ME3. He supports Sheppard well and even when u disagree with him or call him out he stays calm. He is the perfect intelegent cunning villian

[@RUdigitized]

Martin Sheen grooms to this music.

[@ingamingpc1634]

lol

[@WJstudios04]

Did you know that Saren and The Illusive Man (Jack Harper) have met in the past (First Contact War) and both contacted with reaper artefact (blue eyes, understanding reaper language). And both died in similar way, suicide.

[@The_Twero]

+Fi Skirata It still bugs me they could communicate each other. I mean, the Turians didn't know the human language, nor the inverse. And the translator tools didn't have human languages in their database.

[@camillebanez8958]

+Fi Skirata Saren only dies by suicide if you play your cards right. Otherwise you have to put him down yourself. Same with The Illusive Man, IIRC.

[@TheAtomicGoliath]

Spoilers guys!

[@samaritan_9783]

I'm late but, bolt in a VI to a human system, it translates everything and puts the data in the translators

[@The_Twero]

***** Yeah, but in order to do that, they need the data about human language. In the First Contact War, the VIs didn't have this data, since it was the first time humanity left the Sol System to meet other species.

[@johnnyb9591]

I made you, Shepard I brought you back from the dead

[@smanly3274]

Joker, lose this channel.

[@TomZanovich]

Mass Effect 1 : Grrrrr... We faceless terrorists. You kill us. Grrrrrr... Mass Effect 2 : Hello Shepard. We are a evil scientific organization who does horrible tests because Humanity is the baddest. Now join us to kill the Collectors, because if you do not, well, you can still wait on a beach for them to kill us. Mass Effect 3 : Grrrrrr... We huge stormtrooper army. You kill us. Grrrrr...

[@xTiberias]

Remember Cerberus has different branches. The branch that Shepard was associated with, isn't the same one from the 1st game.

[@TomZanovich]

Arishok That doesn't change the fact that in ME1 they were the basic human ennemy, in ME2 a well established organization, and in ME3 the basic human ennemy.

[@gundamfan19]

I'll never tire of this song just because how fitting it is for the Illusive Man and how great of a character he was in Mass Effect 2. Of course I'm not gonna say his character was bad in Mass Effect 3, he wasn't making his own choices because he was indoctrinated. I myself came around to playing Mass Effect really late. My first playthrough for the series was just last year around this time. Each and every game had their awesome moments and characters. I can't say that any character quite beat the Illusive Man though in my own opinion. Everytime I talked to him in 2 and 3 I felt a slight chill down my spine. I knew I couldn't trust him but I agreed with his ideals and that of Cerberus in Mass Effect 2. Now here comes the part where a lot of people won't agree with me on. I don't hate what he became in Mass Effect 3. The changes to his character were because of indoctrination, too much time trying to figure out uses for Reaper tech most likely lead to his indoctrination. "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" I think this quote fits what became of him rather well. The end goals he was going for in 2 and even 3 (despite not being under his own control) were good. However the means to reach his goal in 3 and hell even in 2 I don't think could have been justified. As a whole though the Illusive Man is probably one of the best characters in a video game that I've seen as of yet. Now comes the wait for Mass Effect Andromeda.

[@darwinarroyo8733]

too bad andromeda was a piece of shit

[@HalNordmann]

#MEAndromedaWasNotBad

[@denis_ds]

Never played the game, but I feel like I know all about the character just by listening to this.

[@barkley8285]

best anti-hero of all time. When playing me2 you knew he has helping you but he definitely was not on your side.

[@TheForceIsMyAlly]

Martin Sheen's voice acting made The Illusive Man even more badass than his writing would have allowed.

[@blueshit199]

Shepard, you're making a habit of costing me more than time and money.

[@212th]

I'm sorry, I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line

[@nizzepower]

No doubt the best character in the series and one of the most interesting ones in SciFi.

[@gr1iev3r10]

this soundtrack suits the mysterious feeling and the desire to find out who the illusive man is

[@playboyx60]

“Shepard… you’re starting to cost me more than just time and money…”

[@Masmix77]

"I'm sorry, i'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line"

[@dannycardona211]

"Don't turn your back on me shepard! I made you. I brought you back from the dead!"

[@rezeren5326]

BW should make a game specifically around The Illusive Man/Jack Harper. Damn, that would be awesome!

[@Jib223]

Awesome villain and an equally awesome theme.

[@klord23]

Awesome Villain and an Awesome theme paired with an Masterpiece of a trilogy

[@Jib223]

​@klord23 true that. Playing through the trilogy for the 20th or so time showing a friend. On to me2

[@ArdentPrayer]

Going through the Legendary Edition, it reminded me how much I loved hearing this bit of music pop up in ME2 and ME3.

[@MrPlans]

listening to this and remembering just how badass everything felt...man, andromeda has big shoes to fill...not sure how they're gonna do it or if they can even do it again...

[@SquareInsider]

The fact that you weren't even given the choice to remain with Cerberus and the IM in ME3 if what did it for me. They were both only a million times cooler than the Alliance. Would have sided with him and his ideals a million times over any other options. He was on the right track and I believe, with Shepard's help, he would have eventually conquered the Reapers and been the first to do so. Humanity first!

[@requiem6465]

+mercilessv They really screwed the pooch by having him being Indoctrinated and vilifying Cerberus, such a multifaceted faction and 3 dimensional character both reduced to a nuisance by the end game. It's actually tragic; seeing how far they fell, which might have been what Bioware were going for now that I think of it.

[@UltimateFeudEnterprise]

+Orchestra Of Ruin cerberus was in the first game and they was as sick as they was in mass effect 3 in mass effect 3 they had managed to engineer humanity with repear tech like the illusive man wanted. Like it or not the illusive man was always indoctrinated from the get go. The eyes say it all. He got too close to the reapers like benezia and saren thinking he was strong enough to handle it. But they already had him.

[@Squadwin]

+Orchestra Of Ruin Oh come on, Cerberus from ME1 to ME2 was poorly written and so was everything else after the 1st. I think it's quite clear they didn't plan anything ahead and just went with the best they could. I blame Sam Hulick's insane music creations for giving off such an outstanding impression.

[@darksteelmenace595]

The illusive man is ruthless, no sacrifice is too big for him, he also sacrifices human lives and fates, you cant trust him. Also hes been indictrinated like saren. And humans are a dumb species, look at us, we're spending more time killing each other and destroying our own planet than we do anything else

[@HeliosKafar]

+mercilessv Cerberus is filled with racists and xenophobes. Illusive man said it himself, that the crew Shepard was working with was the bright side of the organization. It was all to deceive him. The real Cerberus was kidnaping civilians, indoctrinating their own soldiers, and launching terrorist attacks on citadel. Thane died because of them, Cerberus gets what it deserves.

[@joelsays2280]

Shepard, you're making a habit of costing me valuable time and money.

[@SmokeBloody]

This should be obvious, but I just realized that Shepard meets the Illusive Man in person only at the end of the trilogy.

[@roigergoololo3966]

Yes it should be, but I never truly realised that until now when I read your comment😂

[@yungfelix17]

illusive man was Badass. You always get a sense of humanitys impending doom when speaking to him

[@Hayden1084]

for me, he's perhaps the most charismatic character of Mass Effect series, with so much mysteries

[@mrpotatohead321]

Such a beautiful and well crafted song.

[@balrok9959]

Illusive Man: Shepard ...

[@seanfitzgerald8454]

Man. All the memories flooding back from years ago. Martin Sheen absolutely killed this role.

[@TheDarkUnknown]

The Illusive Man: "Strength for Cerberus is strength for every human! Cerberus is humanity! I should have known you'd choke on the hard decisions. Too idealistic from the start." Shepard: (after seeing Cerberus torture biotic kids and experiment with genetic engineering and kill innocents) fuck you, im taking your ship, bye.

[@p6mkq]

Spare me your lies, Cerberus's scum.

[@koolandblue]

Does The Illusive Man remind anyone else of the cigarette smoking man from the X-Files?

[@longshanks8286]

Yeah actually haha I think that's what they might have gone for

[@TheCPonder7]

Yes and that was very intentional by BioWare

[@UltimateFeudEnterprise]

the way he Dibs and dabs the cigarette is like whiting from true crime NYC played by Christopher walken

[@ouufy1595]

I'm gonna be honest I never played the og mass effects but the legendary edition came out and I just gave it a shot. One of thoe coolest trilogies in all of gaming. I'm really that bummed that ended ME3 with such a lack luster ending. At least the second game had a great ending :/

[@titanjakob1056]

“Your making a habit of costing me time and money”

[@davishgraff9594]

"Shepard"

[@void-1632]

Illusive man Is easily one of my favorite characters

[@LionOfCasterlyRock]

Ilusive man is one of my all time favorite video game charters. I got chills when this theme started when you have your conversation on Mars.

[@nathanielbutler2553]

Please make a Mass Effect Origins, i would love to play as Jack Harper/Illusive man If the decisions we make in origin effect the trilogy, that would be one bad ass reboot. That game would keep me occupied until mass effect 4 comes out.

[@S-N7]

There was an TIM comic backstory.

[@Nexusdawn2049]

When you open the zoom call

[@gerald1495]

lmao how it felt in 2020

[@matesarkany4952]

Illusive man! We would like to see you in mass effect 4!

[@neetcoomer]

Illusive man, I thought we were going to met face to face There's no need for that Shepard, it would be too risky

[@WarpedPixels35]

"You're unique. not just an ability or what you experienced, but in what you represent. You stood for humanity at a key moment. You're more than just a soldier - you're a symbol and I don't know if the Reapers understand fear but you killed one of them. They have to respect that"

[@gameygeemer4142]

I don't really get why people complain about how harsh a light Cerberus was cast in Mass Effect 3 compared to Mass Effect 2. In Mass Effect 2, he never (to my knowledge, though I am playing through it again now) talked about destroying the reapers, just stopping them. It can also be gleaned that he wanted something other then the destruction of the reapers, and especially how much regard he has for Commander Shepard, if you blow up the Collector base at the end of Mass Effect 2. He is angry because he wants to take the reaper technology and learn from it, conquer it, and use it against the reapers. He was always for controlling the reapers, and Cerberus was never more then a terrorist group, they just made a carefully calculated plan to make themselves look as appealing as possible to get Shepard on their side. And then, they really are an organization that whole heartedly believes that they are doing what is best regardless of the sacrifice. Even in Mass Effect 2 when all the luxery ships and piles of cash and friendly smiles are taken away, that is what the illusive man is doing, you are just seeing what all they are sacrificing to reach their "Best" goal.

[@blueshit199]

having replayed ME2 recently for the 4th time, I find that this song is somehow more nostalgic, bringing me back to that first playthrough all those years ago, than the game itself is

[@Imicus]

The comment you replied to gave me a good chuckle.

[@DrAnimePhD]

As far as I'm concerned, Mass Effect ended on 2 and not 3. Siding with Cerberus and the Illusive Man was so unique as you saw the galaxy through their eyes. Games that let you be with the opposite faction allow for so many interesting possibilities.

[@edinabdic6798]

True :)

[@donkeykongman1001]

The reason I consider Mass Effect 3 non-canon is because of the ending

[@Dimovuha222]

Cerberus rail roading is good? Ok

[@DrAnimePhD]

Mour Seat Pepsi Mass Effect 3 was perfect except for those final fifteen minutes that basically threw everything that made the trilogy an unforgettable experience out the airlock

[@tsukopara2054]

3 totally ruined Cerberus while breaking the lore as well.

[@babyhenchy1]

Jennifer Hale and Martin Sheen = Two best performances in the Mass Effect series. I love Cerberus in both games, they were a great grey area in 2 and a great villainous organization in 3, especially in the final scene with TIM.

[@somakun1806]

Illusive man gotta be one of my fav Antagonists ..and this theme song suits him perfectly

[@opalfinity]

always loved that epic moment after finishing a really awesome loyalty mission or something and the mission recap screen would come up.. and you just sit there in awe with this music playing like "woah... mass effect, man"

[@Gaming_Burnout]

Почему в масс эффект 3 нас ну прям ЗАСТАВЛЯЮТ враждовать с призраком, хотя я, например, был согласен с его идеями о защите человечества и контроле жнецов? Да всю третью часть ждал, возможности послать альянс на три буквы и спасать мир на стороне цербера. А в итоге самое близкое, что там было похоже на это-геройский ответ Шепарда"так помогите мне" в самом первом разговоре в марсианских архивах. А в конце так вообще заставляют убивать такого харизматичного антигероя, с которым ты ещё и согласен. Ну, хотя бы контроль можно выбрать и то хорошо: (

[@Dimiurgi]

Да, интересно было бы .

[@masterbison8957]

( Stares stoically out of a window while smoking a cigar ).

[@krepes8685]

I want this to hit 1M views just because of how nostalgic it is.

[@krepes8685]

1M! Lets goooooo! Illusive Man has his spot in YT history.

[@Specterish]

I can only imagine a Cerberus employee following TIM around playing this on a stereo whenever he speaks to anyone.

[@sabertoothjenkins6560]

This was my adolescence.

[@ajaybala8967]

Cerberus=Hydra Illusive man=Alexander Pierce Kai Leng=Winter Soldier Can you see the connection?

[@xxsuperdragonslayerxx]

no Cerberus = Nazi Germany Illusive Man = Hitler Kai Lang = a bag of shit can you see the connection? Me neither.

[@markmontano2097]

You were born to listen to this.

[@MrBioWhiz]

I like to think the Illusive Man was already playing into the reapers hands in ME2. The reapers know through many cycles that a concentrated front to fight against slows the process of harvesting species, and so would aim to divide them to make the process easier. Giving a few people the right knowledge of existence would drive some species to take control of the reapers for themselves, and thus further drive division and suspicion between species. The Illusive Man was screwed from the gate.