Almost 20 Years Later, I Still Think This Mass Effect 2 Missions Is Flawless

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Mass Effect 2 was a truly expansive game, fitting for its galaxy-spanning story. Unlike the first game’s simpler structure or Mass Effect 3’s focus on war, Mass Effect 2 featured character-focused missions that naturally broadened the game’s universe and helped players connect with its supporting cast before the climactic suicide mission. These missions are still considered some of the best in the series, like partnering with Garrus for a revenge quest or assisting Miranda in rescuing her sister from their controlling father.

While Mass Effect 2 has many fantastic side quests, I believe Thane’s mission is the very best, even after almost twenty years. BioWare clearly cared a lot about this serene assassin, featuring him prominently in the game’s marketing. What truly made Thane stand out was how he defied expectations; his emotional loyalty mission wasn’t just a compelling personal story, but also highlighted the complex moral choices at the heart of the entire game.

Thane’s Loyalty Mission Was All About Helping An Assassin Save A Life

Thane isn’t one of the first crew members Shepard meets in Mass Effect 2, but his abilities quickly make him a valuable asset, especially for covert operations. Throughout the game, Thane comes across as calm, reserved, and deeply thoughtful. He’s a religious man with a strong moral compass, which seems at odds with his profession as an assassin. Adding to this complexity, Thane is also facing a terminal illness, causing him to contemplate his past and regret his life choices.

Thane’s personal quest, “Sins of the Father,” reaches a critical point when he tells the player about his son, Kolyat, who has become an assassin. Thane wants to prevent Kolyat from repeating his own mistakes, so he asks Shepard for help in stopping his son’s current assignment. What makes this quest unique is that it doesn’t involve any fighting; instead, the outcome depends entirely on the player’s ability to talk to and influence others through conversation and persuasion.

Players will eventually encounter Kolyat tasked with assassinating a Turian politician who’s gaining power by promoting anti-human views. The consequences of this event will vary depending on the player’s decisions – whether Kolyat completes the assassination or if Shepard can help Thane reach his son. What makes this mission so captivating is its focus on the characters and their stories, rather than just action or background details.

Thane’s Mission Highlights Exactly What Made Mass Effect So Special

Mass Effect 2 is widely considered one of the greatest action RPGs ever made, and a major reason is its memorable cast of characters. Players build relationships with these characters through personal missions that not only unlock new abilities, but also make each one feel like a fully realized individual. These missions are consistently well-done, but it’s the stories focused on personal struggles, rather than combat, that are the most emotionally impactful. The storylines of characters like Garrus and Samara are particularly strong, as they both deal with feelings of guilt and how Shepard helps them find a path forward.

What makes this mission particularly strong is how it weaves in difficult moral questions. The relationship between Thane and his son, Kolyat, is loving yet strained, as Kolyat is hurt that his father only recently showed interest in him. This realistic family dynamic is heightened by the science fiction setting, a technique Mass Effect consistently uses effectively. The mission also works well for players choosing to be either good or bad because it complicates things. The criminals are surprisingly sympathetic, and the alien politician you’re supposed to protect is often frustrating, even leading some players to choose to kill him instead.

At its heart, Thane’s story – particularly if you follow the Paragon path – is about him confronting his past mistakes and thinking about how violence repeats itself. This ties into the larger themes of the Mass Effect series, which often explores questions of destiny and whether we can escape a future filled with conflict, especially considering the Reapers’ destructive arrival. Throughout the trilogy, the narrative emphasizes the consequences of our choices, and Thane’s personal journey really highlights that. Interestingly, his story subtly hints at two of the possible ways the trilogy ultimately ends, with Shepard finally resolving the conflict.

While not difficult to play, Thane’s mission stands out because of its emotional impact. It’s a straightforward story about right and wrong that really showcases how well-developed BioWare’s characters are. I’ve remembered his conversation with his son about faith and doing what’s right for almost twenty years, and it’s still one of my all-time favorite side quests in any RPG, especially in Mass Effect 2.

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2026-01-30 01:11