The Only Creationist in Mass Effect

Michael Elliott

It’s hard to find fault with the character of Mordin Solus, the fast-talking, singing, quick-minded salarian scientist from Mass Effect 2. It’s not really worth mentioning that he’s in Mass Effect 3 as well, because he’s only going to be there if he survived the second game, and of course he survived the second game. Of course you assigned to him the role to which he was best suited during that fateful suicide mission. Of course you made sure he was safe, of course you reloaded that final run 3 times to makes sure at least Mordin came through alright. Mordin is a fan favourite; he’s a crowd pleaser and with good reason: he’s funny, well written, and through his character you learn about one of the most interesting moral gray areas of the Mass Effect universe: the genophage.

So with all of that in mind, there’s someone I would like to introduce to you. If you played Mass Effect 3 then you’ve met briefly; he’s kind enough to receive you and your krogan friend as you land on Sur’kesh.  You won’t see much more of him than that, unless Mordin died in Mass Effect 2.  In that rare, but possible turn of events, this salarian takes over Mordin’s role in synthesizing and dispersing the genophage cure, and he’ll be available to deliver one of the most interesting conversations in the Mass Effect franchise.

So without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Padok Wiks, the only true creationist in the Mass Effect universe.

Now, there are a few creation myths in the Mass Effect universe, and alien intervention in the development of at least a few alien races is pretty much cannon at this point.  There are strong suggestions that the Protheans nurtured or uplifted early human beings, as well as the hannar.  The salarians themselves uplifted the krogan and other species; alien’s intervening to allow their species to progress and found civilizations is old hat in the Mass Effect universe.  

But Padok isn’t talking about that. When Shepard remarks on the salarian’s strange behavior, remiscient of our other favourite salarian, he says,

“A side effect of our work. it often decides the fate of millions, even billions of lives. No mind is immune to the pressure. We all fracture in different ways. Mordin’s conscience haunted him. Maelon crossed the line into barbaric experiments.  And myself… I went searching for whatever gods created the rules for this unfortunate universe.”

Padok Wiks doesn’t think that all life was nurtured into creation by the Protheans.  What he’s suggesting is that every, all life, all of Creation was put together by what he calls the originator.

“I’ve spent my career planning which species deserve uplift and which do not.  But no one ever asked if we had earned the right to make those plans. We are not the originator.” 

“Who do you think decides what the plan is?” Shepard asks. 

“The question of the hour. The very reason religions are invented. Unfortunately, at this hour the answer seems to be the Reapers.  But even they evolved for some purpose… and by some design.”

What makes Padok even more interesting is that he, like many salarians, is a scientist, and works with organic life every day, which is part of what drives his search.  

“There have been hints… like finding an artist’s signature in a painting. The way the pattern in a Tanvorian mulwich’s feathers resemble the galactic spire. That’s almost showing off.  But none of it constitutes proof. Just intuition.” 

“Most scientists I’ve met don’t feel that way,” remarks Shepard. 

“Then they’re blind. So much grandeur in creation. It can’t be an accident.”

There you are, an alien biologist who has not ruled out that life, all life, was brought into being by some Creator.  Padok Wiks is another example of Bioware’s fantastic cast of characters, and that studios’ ability to fill video games with worthwhile and memorable writing.

So, perhaps next time you play through Mass Effect 3, you won’t take along your favourite salarian, or take a risk and see what the game is like without some of your other favourite characters.  Trust me, it’s worth it.


UPDATE: I forgot to add that this is especially interesting in a science-fiction game. In Fantasy RPGs like BioWare’s Dragon Age series creationism is often the defacto philosophy. Of course the gods created the world and the universe, what other cause could there be? In these worlds, atheism, or any system of belief that does not support supernaturalism (not to say that the two are mutually exclusive), simply does not make sense, given the evidence of magic and the divine. That everyone you meet thinks that God or gods are responsible for Creation isn’t a huge shock. 

But in science-fiction, it tends to be assumed that these methods of thought would become outdated, and often religion is very different or simply non existent in these future worlds. You would think that someone who not only believes in a supreme being, but that this being created the universe, would stick out like a sore thumb in such a setting. But in Mass Effect 3, Padok Wiks exists as a character that is not offensive, obtuse, or even preachy. He, like so many other stories and characters in the franchise, feels like an organic part of the world, a natural occurrence. 

[REVIEW] Mass Effect 3: From Ashes DLC

Damian Turner

(PlayStation 3 [REVIEWED], Xbox 360, PC)

I finally got around to buying Mass Effect 3, and finished the epic trilogy with my Shepard. I went into the PlayStation Store, and saw there was a new character DLC (for $9.99 or 800 MSP) with a dedicated mission set for him. Giving me a brand new character and expanding on the universe that I know and love? How could I say no? From past experiences, the Mass Effect games have always been character-based, so I could see no wrong with this purchase. Let’s just hope that this first DLC is worthy enough to be a part of this fantastic franchise, or we might have to send it back to the deepest parts of the galaxy.

With this DLC, you get to go back to Eden Prime, which will ring bells for most fans, because this is where your Shepard had his/her first mission in the original Mass Effect. The story is that Cerberus has found something very valuable on the planet: a relic from the long lost Protheans. For people who don’t know who the Protheans are, they were a species that had been extinct for 50,000 years by the hands of the Reapers. This mission will give you about an hour of play time. Yes, it is very short, and I do wish it was a lot longer for the price you pay, but what it does right is give you more of the Mass Effect lore you love.

You also get another costume to use with each character. I have to say, they don’t disappoint. They all look very badass, and I found myself using them every time I would go on a mission. The one sad side to this is Shepard does not get any new armour (where’s the Shepard love, BioWare?).

The character you get from this DLC is Javik. He is a Prothean that has survived for all of these years. He is a very unique character — one that you have not seen in any Mass Effect games before. Yes, it’s nice to see fan favourites like Garrus and Ashley come back, but Mass Effect’s characters have usually stayed the same throughout the whole series. With Javik, it felt fresh and new.  I found myself, every time, doing a mission with him and Garrus accompanying me (Garrus is a favourite of mine). It was always neat to see what he had to say on objectives and story pieces. I also liked how other characters reacted to him being there because no one else has seen anyone like him. So, while I was traversing the galaxy, everybody, including myself, got to see a new face.

What would any fan want from DLC? More story! That’s what you get here: a little more of the lore you love hearing from this expansive universe that BioWare has set out for us. Also, there is a character that is unique, and is something that fans haven’t seen before. The mission is a little short, and that is kind of a downer. However, all the countless hours you will get from having Javik in your party, and seeing how everybody reacts to him, is highly intriguing. Just to see what all your favourite characters have to say about him is worth the price of admission. If you are buying Mass Effect 3, or have already beaten the game, this DLC is definitely worth the pickup. I promise you that Javik will be a character that you remember for a long time.