So I finished another playthrough of Mass Effect 1 this week and I got what I believe is the worst ending possible in the game.

RARE ME1 SCENE - WREX ARGUEST TO SAVE THE COUNCIL
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MASS EFFECT 1 - WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU LET THE COUNCIL DIE?
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0:00 Introduction
0:26 No Redemption for Saren
2:38 Sacrificing the Council
6:12 Defeating Sovereign
8:50 Still Alive, Baby!
10:32 Udina Selected to Chair All-Human Council
14:19 Why this is the Worst Ending to ME1

Before we wrap up, let’s briefly discuss why I think this is the worst ending to the game. Let’s start with Saren. He’s obviously the big bad we were chasing the whole game but when we spoke to him on Virmire - we learned his motivation was to save organic life by creating an alliance with the Reapers. He wasn’t simply on a power trip or trying to become a god or some cliche like that. He saw the visions from the Prothean beacon and believes the Reapers are too powerful to defeat.

This doesn’t justify his actions but puts them into context. During this final confrontation there is an opportunity to help Saren realize how badly he’s messed up. He’s too far gone to resist Sovereign’s indoctrination completely because he stupidly installed an implant to “strengthen his resolve.” But the ending where Saren shoots himself is the best ending for him in my opinion because in his final moments he refuses to continue doing the Reapers bidding.

As for the Council, many players might see the deaths of the original Council as a good thing. And there are some compelling reasons to make this argument. The original Council was incapable of responding to the crisis and did not take Shepard’s claims seriously for pretty much all of the game.

However, an ending where an all-human Council is put into power - especially one led by Udina - is the worst outcome. It’s not the same as selecting a Human to lead a new multi-species Council. In the short term humanity could hold great political power on its own. But in the long run? The turians, asari, salarians and more are not likely to accept an all-human Council for long - which will make it difficult to build alliances and respond to crises in the future.

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