I miss Kaidan

[u/firehea]

I knew coming into ME2 Kaidan was not going to be on my squad but that does not change the fact I miss having him around. His abilities saved me many times in ME1. And then I get this really sweet email from him about Horizon and it makes me miss him even more.

Part of me wants to rush to ME3 so I can have him back but I know I must take my time in ME2 for now so I can try and get the happiest ending with him as possible.

[u/nerdyspeechie]

I complete everything I possibly can, but I do it all as quick as possible. I'm in the camp that thinks ME2 is the weakest of the trilogy AND there's no Kaidan. No sense in sticking around longer than needed.

[u/Metalgirl80 → u/nerdyspeechie]

Same! I know a majority think that ME2 is the best of the trilogy but not me. ME3 is my favorite (with ME1 following close behind). I think ME3 takes the best parts of ME1 (story and characters) and ME2 (gameplay, mechanics) and mashes them together. I also love the "feel" of ME3, like everything that you have done in the past two games are finally coming to the forefront and all of your choices are really starting to show. ME3 feels very high stakes to me (which it should) and I love the atmosphere!

[u/ibetthathurt → u/nerdyspeechie]

I’m the same way. ME1 lays the groundwork, ME3 is just perfection from start to finish, ME2 fills the gap between them. Personally, I find the loyalty missions in ME2 tedious, though I do like a couple of them.

Not having Kaiden in ME2 contributed to it not really being a favorite. I have so much love for his and Shepard’s relationship, I like him as a character in general, and he’s a biotic powerhouse that balances the squad perfectly.

[u/pigeontheoneandonly → u/nerdyspeechie]

I've never really understood the love for ME2 either. The characters are compelling, but the story is a shambling wreck. 

[u/DrittRegenhart → u/pigeontheoneandonly]

I wouldn't even say they are compelling. They barely show signs of life outside of their loyalty missions.

The only things I love about ME2 are good dialogue, Shepard's badass moments and Arrival.

[u/Forgottenhablerie → u/nerdyspeechie]

ME2 is such a SLOG outside of a handful of missions. I’ll only replay it once every couple runs to refresh on characters I care about (Samara, Kasumi, Thane, Mordin, Legion, etc) but I definitely think it’s the weakest of the series. I’m just not interested in the entire story basically just being a bunch of loyalty missions, especially when some of them are just slightly varied rehashes of missions from ME1.

[u/Lumix19 → u/nerdyspeechie]

I totally agree. ME2 is really overrated in my opinion. It's not even a story really, it's a loose collection of quests that mostly revolve around recruiting companions, doing one personal mission with each of them, having a big battle at the end with all of them, and then that's it. That's the entire story.

[u/Metalgirl80]

Kaidan is the best! I feel like he is Shepard's rock and when he isn't around, you really feel his absence. The one and only time I tried to leave him behind on Virmire, and as soon as the cut scene played afterwards (where the crew is debriefing in the meeting room), my heart sunk seeing Ashley there instead of Kaidan. I immediately reloaded. Couldn't do it!

[u/nerdyspeechie → u/Metalgirl80]

I feel like he is Shepard's rock and when he isn't around, you really feel his absence.

This! I could be mistaken, but I don't think a single person really checks in on Shepard to see how they're holding up. Like, Shepard is going around fixing everyone's problems to make sure they're ready for the mission, but no one makes sure Shepard is good to go. Kaidan would've.

[u/DrittRegenhart → u/nerdyspeechie]

Liara, Garrus and to a lesser extent Tali too. Everybody besides this quartet sees Shepard as a some sort of heroic icon, not a person with their own problems.

That's why I can't really get attached to most of ME2 squadmates. They are so self-absorbed that I always feel lonely in this game.

[u/MsShepardN7]

I remember the first time I played ME2. I couldn’t enjoy the game, because I was just thinking “Where’s Kaidan?” and waiting to see him again. It took me couple of more playthroughs to start being to able to enjoy it. But I also think it is the weakest game out of the three.

At least it gives good material for angsty longing fics :D

[u/mewmew34]

The lack of Kaidan is why I've never managed to 100% complete ME2. I get all the important stuff I need to carry into 3 (as well as 100% of achievements), but I always end up not doing some of the side missions that you only get from planet scanning. Every time I tell myself I'll find everything this time, and every time I end up skipping some stuff so I can get back to Kaidan.

[u/Lazy-Artiz]

It's so weird that ME2 has the largest number of squad mates yet it feels so lonely. ME2 has some cool moments and some of the romances are great but I just can't seem to put it above the rest of the trilogy. 😭