A Closer Look At The Cast Of Mass Effect 2

If you want to get a head start on Mass Effect 2 before Tuesday, you might want to plan out who will be on your scouting party. Meet Commander Shepard's new assault team in this exclusive look at the cast of of Mass Effect 2.

Grunt

Class: Soldier (combat specialist, assault rifle, shotgun)

Born in a test tube, Grunt is a young, excitable Krogan who believes anything can be resolved with a fight. His Krogan nature drives him to violence and killing, yet not indiscriminately. With his "might makes right" philosophy, Grunt never shies from confrontation nor would he let Commander Shepard do the same. Like his Krogan brethren, he lives for the glory of battle and he is yet to know defeat. Grunt has a youthful sense of invulnerability, but is cunning beyond his years. He joins Shepard's crew because he believes it will help him find his place in the universe.

Jacob Taylor

Class: Vanguard (biotic, combat, heavy pistol, shotgun)

A former Alliance marine, Jacob is one of the few survivors of Saren’s attack on Eden Prime. Following those events he saved countless lives when he foiled a Batarian terrorist plot to release a deadly virus on the Citadel. In the aftermath, Jacob joined Cerberus believing that humanity needed to become stronger and be able to protect itself in the dangerous galactic stage. While he agrees with Cerberus’ goals, he is somewhat conflicted over their means. Jacob is also a powerful biotic capable of lifting and hurling enemies with great force.

Miranda Lawson

Class: Sentinel (tech, biotic, pistol, heavy pistol)

Born on Earth, Miranda comes from a wealthy background. However, underneath her opulent upbringing lies a woman who is calm, collected and driven to accomplish her mission at any cost. She is quick to judge and values her goals more than people. Miranda is also a powerful biotic and tech specialist. Her unique combination of talents allows her to overload enemy shields, leaving them open for a follow-up biotic attack. Early in her life she approached Cerberus and the Illusive Man, and she is now devoted to their cause. She does what needs to be done in order to further Cerberus' goals.

Samara

Class: Adept (biotic specialist, heavy pistol, assault rifle)

Samara is a Justicar, an asari who has forsworn having children and given up all worldly possessions in order to wander the galaxy righting wrongs as defined by her unwavering code of justice. An extremely powerful biotic warrior, Samara is calculating and resolute in her mission. She has no problem with killing as vindicated by her asari Justicar code, but she disapproves of "unjustified" violence. Her regal and poised demeanor hides the guilt she feels over a mysterious past.

Subject Zero

Class: Adept (biotic specialist, heavy pistol, shotgun)

For every kill she has a tattoo; she is covered in ink. Subject Zero has run with gangs and joined a cult. A powerful biotic with a mysterious past, about all that is known about Subject Zero is that she is drawn to brutality and violence. The fact that she can lift and discard enemies like trash with her biotic powers only makes her emotional instability all the more dangerous. She is an extremely violent and unstable individual, which is exactly what Commander Shepard needs for this suicide mission.

Tali

Class: Engineer (tech specialist, pistol, shotgun)

Tali, the Quarian machinist returns. Following the Geth assault on the Citadel, Tali returned to the migrant fleet and joined the crew of the Neema. Renowned for her technical and engineering abilities, she is an important and respected member of the Quarian fleet. Tali's unique insight allows her to hack mechanized opponents, overload shields, or deploy an automated combat drone. Her resourcefulness and tech skill set will prove to be a useful asset to Commander Shepard against the Geth and the Collectors.

Thane

Class: Vanguard (biotic, combat, pistol, sniper rifle)

A deadly Drell assassin, Thane is akin to a warrior-monk. He is stoic, collected, and very spiritual. He ardently believes in his religious path and its accompanying rites and prayers. From Thane's perspective, his body is merely a weapon his employers wield; however he does not believe in killing indiscriminately. Once his services were offered to the highest bidder until something forced him into retirement. Now he has shifted his professional philosophy; he no longer takes contracts for pay. Rather he chooses his targets based on his moral and religious beliefs. While Thane is lethal with any firearm, he is also a powerful biotic who is able to manipulate foes at will.

Mordin

Class: Sentinel (tech, biotic, pistol, heavy pistol)

Mordin is a brilliant salarian professor and scientist. While eccentric at times, Mordin is guided by scientific principles rather than morals. His analytical outlook on life leads him to do what is necessary for the greater good. His unique genius will be a valuable asset in combating the Collector threat and their unknown technology. In the field Mordin is a powerful tech specialist capable of disabling enemies and deploying crippling attacks, such as Incinerate.

The Illusive Man

(Non-party character)

Mysterious and powerful, the Illusive Man commands Cerberus, a secretive pro-human organization dedicated to protecting mankind’s interests in the galaxy. He believes the ends justify the means, at any cost. Nothing is more important than ensuring humanity’s survival in the galaxy. To combat the new Collector threat, the Illusive Man recruits Commander Shepard and gives him the tools to build a team to save mankind. Is there something behind his altruistic façade? More importantly can Shepard trust the Illusive Man with his life?