Squad Goals — A Mass Effect Podcast

Squad Goals Trailer

Mon, 03 May 2021 06:40:23 GMT

Welcome to Squad Goals, a Mass Effect Legendary Podcast where we will be assembling a crew and piloting the Normandy across the Milky Way as we look for Reapers to slay and aliens to love in whatever order we see fit. I'm Nick, and I'll be joined by Chip and Cory each week to discuss our experiences throughout Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, taking advantage of the improved gameplay and graphics to relive one of the best sagas of our time. We’ll look into some of the differences as the story progresses between Shepard and Femshep, and we’ll each have our own outlook on how the universe should be saved.

Starting May 13th, join us every week for your new favorite podcast on the Citidel.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#1: Introduction

Thu, 13 May 2021 07:50:09 GMT

Welcome to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! We are Mash Those Button's podcast talking about our experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition to be released on May 14th. Our hosts for this journey are: Nick Zielenkievicz, host of WoW! Talk! and The Tauren & the Goblin; Chip Locke, co-host of Wondrous Tails; and Cory "Kurabara" Treadway, co-host of Apex Legends and Clan of Three. Each week we'll be discussing our journey through the galaxy and the characters that we meet and our reactions and decisions as we go along.

In this episode, we begin by talking about our gaming history and relationship to Mass Effect. Chip talks about how he has played through the games seven times and loves the franchise. He also mentions he is getting the Deluxe Edition and waiting for his helmet to ship. Kurabara mentions that he usually plays as a paragon. And Nick talks about how he was invested after Knights of the Old Republic and needed another Bioware space franchise.

Then, we talk about our favorite squadmates, where Kurabara basically mentions everyone. Chip brings up the few that Kura didn't mention, and Nick just talks about how awesome Wrex is.

Next, we discuss our plans for our characters, with Chip planning on playing paragon and Kurabara going renegade, and Nick not sure how he will go but possibly trying to pick neither path.

Finally, we discuss whether to be concerned or not that review copies were not made available to press in advance of the launch. Kura and Chip are a little concerned, but Nick thinks that EA felt that they would be redundant since you can still play Mass Effect to this day.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast. Email any questions or thoughts to squadgoals@mash.gg or reach out on twitter at @squadgoalsN7.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2rw

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#2: First Impressions and Eden Prime

Fri, 21 May 2021 06:38:29 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back and they finally have had a chance to play Mass Effect: Legendary Edition! They jump right into it with Chip talking about how he was able to compare this to the prior game since he just played Mass Effect a few months ago. They talk about how the game looks better and for Chip it felt a bit like coming home. Kurabara also enjoyed the graphics updates and also liked how the elevators seemed to work better and smoother.

They also talked about how the gunplay was changed since it was easier to aim and weapons weren't as restricted by class. Nick complained that his vanguard is doing too much sniping. Nick also talked about how he was disappointed he was automatically given one point in charm and intimidation and already he's had some interactions that were limited in how he could address them. They also talk about the handling of the Mako and Chip mentions the XBox bug where they game will not start with a wireless controller connected.

Finally, they get into the story. After a recap of our introduction to Shepard and the Normandy, the squad talks about their selections of background: be it lone survivor, war hero, or ruthless. They talk about how everyone reacts to you differently and later on you'll even get quests about those choices. They talk about how awesome Doctor Chakwas is and how Corporal Jenkins is set up for doom. They also consider Nihlus as a spectre, and discuss the distress signal from Eden Prime.

Next, after some narration about the mission on Eden Prime itself, they get right into Jenkin's death. They talk about Ashley joining the crew and how Chip butted heads with her. They also talk about the introduction of Saren and Nihlus' end. Chip enjoyed fighting his way up the train. No one liked the vision that Shepard received, not because it was of death and destruction but because it was a poor narrative device. Everyone is looking forward to next time when we head to the Citadel.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2s8

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#3: Night Citadel Stories (Part 1)

Thu, 27 May 2021 18:14:23 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back from chasing beacons on Eden Prime and ready to share their visions with the world, or at least the Council. But first, Kura talks about photo mode and how he's been enjoying it. Nick points out that they both thought to take pictures of Saren's ship, but the picture is intentionally blurry and out of focus because of the camera work.

Finally, they get into the story. After a quick summary of the first, the guys talk about a cutscene from right after the beacon explosion that they missed last time. They talk about the introduction of Matriarch Benezia, voiced by Marina Sirtis, and Saren's reaction to the events of Eden Prime.

Finally, Shepard and crew arrive at the citadel. They talk about the massive ship the Ascension and discuss their first impressions of the Citadel, and how it has stayed with them into other games. Shepard and crew reunite with Ambassador Udina, and Nick and Chip debate whether Udina is a decent man squashed by his position or a corrupt politician to the core. They discuss some of the sites in the Citadel, including a curious relay monument as well as a massive Krogan statue. They debate the nature of Avina and compare our experiences with voice controlled assistants since 2007. They talk about the mysterious Keepers and how they have become one of Mass Effects iconic features.

Shepard meets the next crewmate, Garrus Vakarian and the squad talk about him as a party member. Next they discuss Saren's "hearing" and how it was intended to railroad the humans and leads to everyone being frustrated with a few options for where to go next.

After another recap, the second chapter of the Citadel begins. They talk about the drunk C-Sec officer Harkin who can play a role in Shepard's adventure. They also talk about Barla Von, volus with ties to the enigmatic Shadow Broker. Barla Von's interrogation leads to Shepard's encounter with Wrex, a Krogan mercenary with a good and massive head on his shoulders. Wrex joins the party and leads Shepard to Garrus who is in a hostage standoff. After the shootout, Garrus formally joins the crew and everyone is excited to drop Kaiden and Ashley from the immediate group. Shepard and team lead an assault on Chora's Den, and the criminal owner Fist sends them chasing after a Quarian before Wrex terminates him. They find the Quarian, Tali'zorah Nar Rayya, and she joins the party, and Chip and Kurabara point out how she is one of the best squadmates both because of utility but also attitude.

The group reconvenes in Udina's office and Tali provides evidence that Saren has gone rogue and also introduces the concept of the Reapers. Shepard takes the evidence back to the Council, and is made a Spectre. Anderson steps aside, awkwardly Chip claims, so that Shepard can take the Normandy, and the Commander is tasked with where to go next.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2se

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#4: Night Citadel Stories (Part 2)

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 04:00:29 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back, and they begin this week by talking about Shepard getting the Normandy and how akward it is to find your way to get to the ship from the Citadel.

Then, they get into the many side quests on the Citadel. The first that Nick brings up is the story of Jenna who is a C-Sec informant working in Chora's Den. Shepard is tasked with trying to extricate her from the dangerous environment and winds up working for C-Sec briefly to end her mission.

Next, they discuss the Asari consort Sha'ira and how weird the questline is. They talk about the possibility to sleep with the consort, and Nick mentions he was confused on his first playthrough as he thought the consort was the Asari who would join the party. Nick shares his experience playing with no charm or intimidate points when he can't convince Septimus to get it together, but he was saved by Garrus' intervention. They talk about Sha'ira's gift to Shepard, which is a reading of his past and how that changes based on your selected history.

They talk about the quest with the Preaching Hanar who is trying to illegally share the wisdom of the Enkindlers in the Presidium. Nick talks about getting stuck trying to buy a permit for the Hanar while everyone else just sent the preachy jellyfish packing.

Next, they discuss the quest where Shepard is accosted by a fan to sign an autograph. They talk about how this quest can escalate and how it may impact galactic readiness in Mass Effect 3.

They talk about Emily Wong, a reporter who asks for proof of corruption, which you just happen to find in Fist's office in Chora's Den. Nick gets confused about which reporter Emily is. Kura is surprised that everyone had to go back through Chora's Den to get the data but Nick points out that you usually are in a hurry on your first visit because there is a timer to get to Tali.

They also talk about the quest to scan the keepers, and how difficult or not that is based on your familiarity with the Citadel and all its nooks and crannies. They talk about the misunderstanding between Chorban and Jahleed and how it is annoying. Chip points out that Garrus was not in the party when Shepard initially met Chorban, yet still recognized the name, and Nick theorizes why that was.

Finally, they talk about the Rigged Quasar game in Flux that leads to a hostile AI hidden in a server bank. Shepard has to hack or shoot their way out before the AI can blow itself (and Shepard) up.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2si

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#5: Paging Doctor T'Soni

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 06:50:13 GMT

This week, Nick, Chip, and Kura greet the last member of team, Dr. Liara T'Soni, Asari Prothean archaelogist, stumbler into traps, and possible love interest for Shepard. They begin by running through the mission to meet her, which goes pretty quickly once you are on Therum. They try to figure out how exactly she got herself trapped in the Prothean bubble and what the Protheans could have intended with their security procedures. They also talk about combat with a Krogan and the possibility of leaving the recovery of Liara till near the end of the game.

Next, they talk about another mission in the Artemis Tau cluster involving Nassana Dantius and her slave-running sister. You are able to kill her sister on Sharilja in the Macedon system before returning to the Citadel to get the full quest details from Nassana. Either way, you get your reward. The squad also talks about how there are seemingly only about four kinds of base layouts and it is not hard to get used to them, and debate whether Bioware should have put resources into updating the variety of encounters. Nick points out that they did the same thing with Dragon Age: Origins back around this time as well.

When returning to the citadel to complete Nassana's request, two other encounters are initiated. First, a fifth fleet admiral surprises Shepard for a Normandy inspection. Everyone grumps about how much this is annoying, but Nick talks about how he lacked any charisma points to get through the encounter and was left to get chewed out. Then, the group discusses the news report with Khalisah Al-Jilani. No one punched her (yet), but again, Nick was stuck answering her questions blandly and got called out by Hackett for the story making you look bad. Chip and Kura answered some questions but revealed a bit more and got called out by Hackett for that.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2st

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#6: Feros, Reaper's Day Off

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 07:47:14 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about the early Mass Effect mission to Feros. They get right into it, talking about how the Geth are operating on the planet and manuevering around the Zhu's Hope colony. Nick points out that the sense that something isn't right with the colonists is evident early, but the excuse of anxiety from the Geth attacks is easy to blame.

Chip feels that this part of the story doesn't make as much sense, with the Geth based out of the Exogeni building when they are ostensibly there to wipe out the Thorian. They also talk about how convenient it is that everything the colony needs is right in the tunnels along with the Geth transmitter you need to destroy. Kura talks about how he delayed helping the colonists until later in the experience.

Next, the squad talks about taking the Prothean Skyway to the Exogeni headquarters. Chip and Kura are glad the Mako controls have been redone because they would struggle with staying on the road through this part. They also talk about how the radio chatter is used to highlight the side-tunnels where you can find goods are.

Chip points out that he has tons of money from selling goods at this point so its not necessary. Chip also feels that the plot starts to make more sense here. They talk about meeting the Exogeni employees and getting into the Exogeni building, and they all enjoyed the interaction between the Krogan and the VI. Nick brings up the Geth church that is found in the building. They being talking about the story of the Thorian.

Finally, its time to raid the colony and everyone managed to save all the colonists, mostly due to improved gameplay. Nick was stuck to kill Ethan Jeong but Kura and Chip did not. They talk about their encounter with the Thorian and how the council was disappointed it could not be saved. They talk about whether they let Shiala the Asari live, and what Saren's relationship with the Thorian really was.

Finally, Nick mentions some side quests that can be picked up by hacking terminals on this mission.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2sx

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#7: The Space TSA & The ESRB

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:00:15 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey into the galaxy of Mass Effect! This week, they tackle the last of the three initial missions provided after leaving the Citadel: Noveria. They start off talking about the frozen environment that all the party members complain about but has no significant bearing on the game. Then they get into talking about the struggles of carrying too many items and too much omni-gel.

The get into the workings of Noveria, with Anolais the Salarian administrator overseeing a community shared by several biotech companies. Nick and Kurabara argue about how effective the security forces are against the Geth and the Rachni.

They talk about the encounters at the hotel bar. Nick was unable to convince Lorik Qui'in to testify against Anolais, while Kurabara was able to use an exploit talking to Qui'in to max out his paragon. Chip points out that the credit rewards offered for quests is insignificant compared to selling all the weapons you can acquire along the way. Kurabara runs through a corporate espionage quest that involves talking to an executive and stringing him along for as long as possible.

Chip talks about a quest for a smuggling Hanar and how he was able to use the quest to bypass the Lorik Qui'in parts of Noveria.

Nick is excited when he was able to get Lorik Qui'in to become the new administrator after Anolais was removed. Kurabara thought it was awkward because he never talked to Anolais to have any opinion on his arrest.

They also discuss infiltrating Synthetic Insights for information on Anolais' corruption, and all the different ways you can get your garage pass to head to Peak 15.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2t6

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#8: Noveria (Part II): Hot Labs!

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 06:35:59 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through the universe of Mass Effect. This week, they have made it through the corporate espionage of Noveria and were able to get into the garage. After a Geth ambush, they were able to take a Mako and get to Peak 15 and the Hot Labs, where a bunch of bug-like Rachni and an encounter with Matriarch Benezia are waiting!

Kura is concerned that Peaks 1-14 are not accessible. He also talks about an odd bug that turned all his characters to squares briefly.

Nick starts talking about the Rachni showing up as a horror style threat, and compares the bug invasion of Noveria with the zombie invasion of Feros. They discuss the reasons for why the missions could feel so similar, down to an asari speaking for a powerful telepathic being at the end of the mission. They also talk about the difficulty of the Rachni as far as how strong they are as an enemy, and the presence of non-humanoid aliens in the game. They discuss how all this feeds into the decision of whether or not to save the Rachni at the end of the mission.

Next, they talk about entering the Hot Labs and dealing with the ECSB forces who are trapped and stuck defending against the Rachni. They also talk about the odd Asari who was meditating and how strange she was.

They also discuss the decision of whether or not to bring Liara on the mission, as she is Benezia's daughter. They talk about how bringing her into the room with Benezia triggers are quick cutscene that felt half-implemented. They also talk about how Benezia shows up and then dies rather quickly, and how her boss fight is not difficult. Nick also mentions that the Rachni Queen overshadows Benezia's death.

They discuss the quest to make a cure for Dr. Zev Cohen to get access to the maintenance tunnels to enter the Hot Labs where Benezia is. Kura is concered as after the Asari spy kills a guard, none of the witnesses point out that they just watched a murder.

They discuss how the Rachni travel through space. Then they talk about the final fight and having to shoot and run your way through a room full of Rachni.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2tc

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#9: Let's Talk About Wrex, Baby

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:05:08 GMT

Nick, Chip,and Kura are back to talk about Wrex and the Genophage in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Nick starts off talking about how the origins of the Krogan-Rachni War, but Chip corrects him and points out that the Salarian lifted up the Krogan and brought them in to fight the Rachni. They talk about how Tuchanka, the Krogran homeworld is a tough place to survive, and as such, a high fertility rate for the Krogan made sense on their planet. Taking the Krogan out into space and letting them colonize other, less harsh planets meant that more Krogran could survive, and thus they attacked an Asari settlement in their quest to expand. They discuss the Krogan Rebellion, and they talk about how the Turian were discovered behind the Krogan, and were able to be brought into the conflict. Meanwhile, the Salarian developed the genophage to restrict Krogan reproduction to about one in a thousand, which has left the Krogan on the verge of extinction. The squad compares the harshness of the punishment to concepts like incarceration as far as the magnitude of punishment.

Next, they talk about Wrex and his role on the team. They discuss how he joined the party at C-Sec, and then how he takes a while to open up to Shepard. They discuss Shepard's encounter where they misspeak about the genophage and Wrex puts the Commander in their place. The group also talks about Wrex trying to take responsibility for the genophage but being attacked by his father and having to kill him because of it. They also talk about Wrex's exploits, including the time he has a brush with Saren and his fight against an Asari Commando that destroyed a space station. They review Wrex's quest for his family armor which involves raiding a base and killing Tonn Actus.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2tk

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#10: Kaiden & Ashley: Wonderbread & The Space Racist

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 20:05:35 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to look at the contributions of Kaiden and Ashley, the two human party members, in Mass Effect in the ME Legendary Edition. First, they have a quick discussion about how they balance their parties when selecting members. Then, they get into talking about Kaiden, and how none of them are particularly interested in the character. They review his history as a biotic and participating in BAaT training, and how he had to kill his Turian instructor. They compare him to Carth Onasi from Star Wars: The Old Republic, also voiced by Rafael Sbarge, and how they are both unappreciated as party members. They talk about how he is awkward at flirting but comes on strong to FemShep and also expresses an attraction to Liara that Shepard quickly shuts down. Kura compares him to Ashley in that she is hot while he is cold, and Chip coins the nickname "Wonderbread."

Next, they talk about Ashley and after initially dealing with the shock and guilt of Eden Prime, she then comes across as a space racist. They talk about her mistrust of the aliens and how she is talking about them in the same room as them. They also talk about her family history and how her grandfather was the only human to surrender to any aliens, and how that has caused her to be grounded and not serve in space. This is her first mission with aliens, and she learns from the experience. They talk about romancing her and how she is forthright with Shepard and and her love of poetry. This leads to a discussion about the technical requirements for producing a quality romance scene in a game like this. They also discuss Liara as a romance option and consider whether it is better to wait for options in later games.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2tq

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#11: On Virmire: Massacre Effect

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 05:12:58 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about the major happenings on Virmire! But first, they get into the Normandy meetings that end the Feros and Noveria missions. They talk about how Ashley is very defensive to Liara siding with Shepard, and Nick claims it felt like it was because Ashley was being defensive of her relationship, where Chip and Kura argue that it was just Ashley being uncomfortable when dealing with aliens.

Then, they get into Virmire. First, they talk about dropping onto the planet and how it feels a bit like a Mario Kart Turtle Beach track. They discuss meeting Captain Kirrahe of the Salarian Infiltration Team, and his reveal that Saren has cloned and bred Krogan. This upsets Wrex, which leads to the first big moment on Virmire: The confrontation with Wrex. The squad all kept Wrex alive, but Nick talks about how on one play through he intentionally didn't choose the option to reach out to Wrex, and instead when Wrex got heated, he sent Ashley a signal to shoot Wrex.

Next, they discuss entering Saren's base, and how the layout is interesting because of the options you have for how to approach it. They talk about getting into Saren's office and encountering Sovereign, and the reveal that Sovereign is a Reaper and he is working with Saren. They talk about how this is such a big moment in the game and a major twist.

Then, they talk about confronting Saren about this information. They talk about how Saren's reaction is understandable. They discuss fighting him and trying to get him to join Shepard.

FInally, they talk about the decision to save Ashley or Kaiden. They talk about how there it was the culmination of a string of decisions that led to this moment, and how they normally handle this point in the game.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2tx

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#12: Side Quests (F***ING HUSKS)

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:47:09 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they begin talking about the various side quests in the game before they focus in on heading to Citadel and advancing to endgame.

First, they talk about their strategy for how they approached the side quests and when they did them. They also talk a bit about the planetary exploration and how that evolves over the course of the trilogy. They also talk about whether it is worth it to skip Mass Effect 1 and play the comic at the start of Mass Effect 2, or to do all the side quests and play out all the decisions on the game that the comic skips.

Next, they get into the various side quests. They talk about UNC: Lost Module which features the introduction of the monkeyish race which is similar to pyjacks. There's also a Prothean beacon near this quest which leads to them discussing the Consort and whether you received the data key from her.

Then, they talk about the Distress Call in Argus Rho. This is just a straight Geth trap which lasts long enough to include some Star Wars jokes.

After that, they discuss the Missing Persons quest, where you find a ship that was raided by pirates. After killing the pirates, you find the corpse of the captain, and return to his brother on the Citadel to inform him that his brother is dead.

They also talk about the Rogue VI quest, which takes place on the moon (Luna.) The Rogue VI emits a strange signal when it is killed. and Shepard earns their specialization class.

Missing Survey Team is a quest regarding ExoGeni, the biotech company running the Thorian experiments on Feros. Shepard tracks a signal to a mine, where the survey team is all husks now, having found some strange Geth technology.

There are more husks (well, Thorian Creepers), on Nodacrux, where ExoGeni was shipping the Thorian Creepers from Feros for study. Killing the Thorian caused them to go berserk, and Shepard can choose how to deal with what is left of the crew.

Finally, they discuss the MSV Cornucopia, a ship that found an artifact, went into Geth space, and came back as husks.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2u3

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#13: More Side Quests and Bring Down the Sky

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 07:45:55 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about the Mass Effect Legendary Edition! They jump right into it by talking about the Strange Transmission mission in the Hawking ETA. Admiral Hackett tasks Shepard with addressing a biotic cult leader named Father Kyle. The squad discuss how they handled the mission and whether or not they decided to let Father Kyle live.

Next, they talk about the Shipments in the Amazon Cluster quest. Hackett lets Shepard know that a probe with a 20-Kiloton nuke has been lost and Shepard must investigate to recover it. It is found in possession of a Turian pirate named Elanos Haliat who was responsible for the Skylian Blitz. Shepard must deal with the bomb and then with Elanos.

The next quest, Lost Freighter, deals with the MSV Worthington. Onboard, Shepard finds a brain dead man and his feral-like girlfriend who is protecting his body. After dispatching the girlfriend, Shepard must decide what to do with the body. This leads to a discussion about ethics and then a rambling consideration of the ethics of using husks to attempt to heal people.

Then the squad mentions the renegade-only quest where Hackett sends you off with the intent of you killing an obnoxious character. The squad talks about how Bioware is great at making characters so hateable that you want to murder them. Kurabara then brings up the Beseiged Base mission, which is the paragon only quest that involves protecting as many cult-members and hostiles while storming the base.

Finally, everyone talks about the Bring Down the Sky DLC. They praise Bioware for the increased cinematic scope and how it favorably compares to other quests in the game. They talk about how it involves additional cinematic sequences, and a handful of extra side quests as well. Kurabara talks about the introduction of the Batarians and how the image was changed in the codec.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2ub

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#14: Cerberus, Hades' Dogs

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 06:14:08 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their ongoing experience in Mass Effect 1. After some chit chat about Minnesota and data pads, they get into talking about Cerberus and how they are present in the background of ME1 before having a more prominent role in ME2. Kurabara wanders how it was decided that they would be utilized in the later Mass Effect games. Nick talks about how shady they are as an organization. Kura questions if ExoGeni would have been as effective an opponent. Nick compares ExoGeni and Cerberus from an ideology standpoint.

The first quest they talk about is UNC: Colony of the Dead, which features as civilian colony turned to husks by Cerberus. Chip complains about the geography of the planet, with its steep mountains. Chip talks about how forgettable Cerberus' role in these quests was.

Nick then brings up everyone's choice for Shepard's background, as that ties into the next mission. UNC: Dead Scientists is about doctors being killed after they worked on Akuze, where Shepard survived a Thresher Maw attack. Shepard goes to the last doctor and finds that one other soldier survived Akuze, as the rest of Shepard's team were abducted by Cerberus after the Thresher Maw attack. Shepard then must decide whether to let the soldier kill the doctor or try to prevent that from happening.

Finally, they discuss the Hades Dogs mission, which starts with Kurabara blowing Nick and Chip's minds by pointing out that Hades' Dogs were Cerberus. Then they get into the details of the mission, talking about how Cerberus is able to stymie and pursue a Rear Admiral with little fear of repercussion. They talk about how Cerberus' agenda is hidden beyond the discussion of them attempting to make a Super Soldier. They they talk about the role of the Shadow Broker and whether they agreed to sell the data to the Shadow Broker or not.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2uj

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#15: All the Best Aliens Have Daddy Issues (On Tali & Garrus)

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 06:01:07 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their playthrough of Mass Effect 1 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week the topic is Tali and Garrus.

Nick starts by comparing the aliens and pointing out that Tali and Garrus are two of the most beloved, only to realize that all the aliens, including Liara, are beloved. Then, the talk about Tali and how she's basically an 18 year old going off to college to learn about the world, but also to learn to appreciate her home flotilla by being homesick. They also discuss how Tali has a very vibrant personality, but her dialogue is very flat in that it describes the flotilla and their experience with the geth and their government instead of relaying much of her personal experience.

Then, they get into discussing the nature of the Quarina flotilla and its size relative to Earth's population as well as its militaistic-democratic hybrid government. They also talk about how the flotilla is crowded by nature, and Tali is not used to the emptiness and quiet of the Normandy. Finally, they talk about the Quarian pilgrimage, and then talk about Tali's own pilgrimage, and the quest she is on to find something important for the flotilla.

Then the talk about her quest, Geth Incursions, which isn't even obviously her quest at first. Shepard attacks several Geth bases in the Armstrong Nebula and ultimately finds some Geth data of a Quarian performance, and has the option of giving Tali the data or keeping it for the Alliance. They also talk about Geth culture as a result of the transmission.

Next, they talk about Garrus and how he is defined by his experience with C-Sec. They also talk about how Garrus struggles with rules and oversight, and whether they wanted to encourage this behaviour or try to teach him to be better. They talk about Garrus' father who was also a C-Sec officer and how Garrus chafed against his father's observance of the rules. They also ponder how Garrus would have done had he become a Spectre like he was offered previously.

Last, they talk about Garrus' personal mission to find Dr. Saleon/Dr. Heart and how the outcome can affect Garrus and his outlook.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2uq

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#16: Impounded! (Return to the Citadel)

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:48:18 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their somewhat-less-than-triumphant return to the Citadel after the momentous events of Virmire. After dropping off the Salarian special forces, the Council and Ambassador Udina strip Shepard of their Normandy privileges amidst a complete denial of everything Shepard has worked for thus far. The only bright spot comes when Anderson sends a message that he wants to meet in Flux. The squad talks about the frustrations of losing the Normandy and also the fact that neither the Council nor Udina have their back. They continue talking about Udina and his political manuevering and backstabbing. Nick ponders why they did not just go to Ilos.

Stuck on the Citadel, its time to do some side quests! Shepard meets up with Superfan Conrad Verner, who now wants to be a Spectre. Then they discuss Schells and his attempts at cheating in Flux. Kurabara has the most efficient way to get money from the scam, and this leads to a discussion of the economics of Mass Effect 1. Next, they meet Elias Keeler who is a drug-addicted negotiator which allows Shepard to show just how much of a prick the Commander can be. They also encounter Charles Saracino who is running for office with the Terra Firma party. Nick takes the opportunity to talk about a party bug that would crash the game on Virmire if you didn't have the right party composition. They also discuss the Earthborn backstory that has Shepard meet Finch, who asks Shepard to intervene to get another gang member released from C-Sec. Kura raises issues with the C-Sec judicial system.

Nick chose to play the role of rich weapons smuggler and paid off the gang member, and that leads to a discussion about Shepard's true role in the galaxy. Chip brings up the soldier backstory that has a questline where Shepard talks to their mother and Nick is surprised Shepard has parents. Next, they meet the Petrovsky's who are having a dispute about how to handle an unborn baby with potential health issues. Kura talks about the Spacer backstory quest that he missed. They also discuss the Helena Blake quest that has you chase down two warring crime bosses. Shepard calls out her scheme but goes along with it anyway, and ultimately has to face her down.

Kura brings up the renegade and paragon system that leads to a discussion of how limiting it can feel.

Finally, they talk about a quest to help Dr. Michel get some blackmailers off her back. This leads to a quest that ties into the Admiral Kohaku Cerberus questline.

And then they return to the plot by meeting with Anderson, and facing the decision of sending Anderson to release the Normandy by using Udina's computer (and decking the Ambassador) or by assaulting C-Sec and surviving. The Normandy flies off and on to Ilos!

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2uw

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#17: The End of the Beginning

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:12:52 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to finish up the first Mass Effect! Having made it off the Citadel, they head to Ilos. Chip talks about how he doesn't really like Ilos and it feels like a slog to him. Kura points out how decripit the place is, and Chip and Nick agree that the fights were more annoying than hard or fun. Chip complains a bit about the verticality of some of architecture. Nick says it does a good job portraying ruins. He is also confused about how the corpses don't look like Protheans. Kurabara explains that the bodies are pre-Prothean, and Ilos is all ruins that the Protheans discovered.

Chip talks about how he does like the drive after finding Vigil, and Kurabara talks about the force fields and how he liked all the pods he was viewing in the background. Nick points out that they use the title screen music for effect. They talk about how Vigil did not stop Saren because he was indoctrinated. Nick points out that the Reapers didn't do a good job by missing Ilos on past sweeps. Then they talk about the ending sequence of Ilos where you drive straight ahead through the Geth forces to take the relay to the Citadel. Kurabara talks about how the Reapers didn't plan for the Keepers.

Then they head to the Citadel and deal with the Geth invasion in person. Kura laughs at how slow the Citadel doors close. Nick and Chip marvel over how you scale the Presidium tower. Nick talks about how quickly the end of the game came for him. Nick talks about how the first part of the Saren fight happens in the Council chambers. Kura is surprised because with charm and intimidate you can just talk to Saren and get him to shoot himself. Kura points out that the Citadel damage exposes that the structure looks Reaper-like. They talk about their encounters with Saren and Saren's evolution. Kura compares Saren's fate to the necromorphs of Dead Space. They talk about the final fight against Sovereign and how annoying it is. They discuss their decisions for the fate of the Council, as well as for Udina and Anderson.

Finally, they give their final opinions on the game and how much they enjoyed it.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2v1

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#18: They Can't Kill Shepard, Right? RIGHT?!?!?!

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 04:18:48 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are here to finally dive into Mass Effect 2. Nick has a bit of a cold, so apologies for the voice, but they get right into talking about the Illusive Man before they can even recap the events of the introduction. Chip is excited as they talk about Martin Sheen's casting and the energy he brings to the Illusive Man. They then get to questioning whether Miranda has ever actually met him (It appears that she has), and then get into talking about the morality system.

Then, they talk about the vicious decision to start the game with the death of Shepard and the destruction of the Normandy. Chip praises it while Nick calls it affecting, and they discuss their initial reaction to Sheaprd's death. Then they get into the reasons behind the decision as far as resetting Shepard's power level while allowing for a continuity of the character from Mass Effect 1.

Kurabara then praises the montage where Shepard is resurrected. Chip talks about Wilson, the shady doctor that helped bring Shepard back. Nick praises the decision to let Shepard join Cerberus as it forces a wedge between Shepard and everyone who knew and trusted him. Kura is glad to have the council off his back for now. Chip praises the improved combat in the game, and also talks about how well done Miranda's introduction is. Nick is excited by the addition of Yvonne Strahovski as Miranda. They talk more about the voice casting, and also talk up Keith David's ongoing role as Captain Anderson. They then discuss the Shepard-Anderson relationship that progresses throughout the games.

Chip praises the visual details they have been able to add into the game. Nick points out how they expanded the Cerberus lore for this game as well. Chip points out that Shepard joining Cerberus felt a little out of character. Nick uses the pandemic to explain the decision. They also talk about the internal Cerberus politics, including what led to Wilson betraying the project and trying to kill Shepard (again). Kura talks about the non-Geth robots that appear in the introduction. He wonders where they were during Mass Effect 1 and Nick appreciates the role that they play.

Kura brings up the switch to heat-cartridges as a replacement for unlimited ammo. He also talks about some of the pre-order bonus items that are now available in the Legendary edition. Chip talks about his resource hoarding problem when playing RPG's. Nick brings up that Shepard can now slide over low objects. Nick talks about how weapons are just available now instead of having to play the inventory management minigame from the first game. They also talk about the evolution of the hacking minigame and how it is more interesting this time around with less requirements upon your party. Kura points out the the skill tree has been pared down. Kura also complains about the quick-time events that have been added. Nick and Chip disagree.

Nick brings up the changes to resource scanning in this game. They figure out what happens if you run out of fuel and money in space. Chip shares his economical strategy for scanning planets while Nick admits he is going to scan every resource on every planet. Nick talks about how the first game took place on the right side of the map while this game is set in the Terminus sector which is the upper part of the map. Kura hypes up the rebuilt Normandy, and then complains about the character importer having changed our characters in uncomfortable ways. They also talk about the scarring on Shepard and how that can be influenced by your morality, unless you get the improved medbay.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2va

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#19: Old Friends: On Freedom's Progress and the (New) Normandy

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 04:30:43 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition! This week, they begin by hitting a few points they glossed over last week. First, they talk about which crew members were with them when the Normandy blew up: Chip had Liara, while Kurabara and Nick had Kaiden. Then, they talk about the resource gathering interface, and how it has bars that fill up to 25000, while many upgrades cost 50000 units of resource, which is an odd design choice. They also talk a bit about Jacob since he got short shrift last week despite being one of Shepard's new crew members.

Next, they talk about the mission onto Freedom's Progress, which is where Shepard meets back up with Tali! However, Tali is disappointed by Shepard's connection to Cerberus and declines to join the mission. They talk about Veetor, the Quarian survivor of the Collector attack, and how they all agreed to let Tali take him, while she shared his omni-tool data on the Collectors. They discuss the Collector's methods of using the swarm to paralyze people, and then they would abduct them into pods. They also discuss the mech fight right before encountering Veetor.

Next, they talk about the Illusive Man and his theories about the Collector's connection to the Reapers. They also talk about the Illusive Man's status report on Shepard's old crew. He provides Shepard with dossiers of possible recruits to build his team, and then introduces Shepard to his new pilot: Joker!

Joker shows Shepard the rebuilt Normandy, and the squad discuss their opinions of the rebuilt ship. Chip appreciates the lack of elevator trips. They then get into the new crew. They talk about Yeoman Kelly Chambers and how she seems disappointed when Shepard won't talk to her. They talk about EDI, the new, shackled AI that bickers with Joker and is kinda like having an Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri in every room. They also mention Daniels and Donnely, the couple in engineering. And also Mess Sargeant Gardner who is the cook but also the custodian. Finally, they are glad to see Doctor Chakwas back on board. She is in need of some brandy, and tasks Shepard with getting some.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2ve

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#20: On Omega: The Plague in the Pandemic

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:32:55 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about Mass Effect 2! Having completed the intro mission on Freedom's Progress, Shepard has the rebuilt Normandy and is free to travel wherever they want. So this week the squad heads to Omega, as strongly suggested by Miranda and the Illusive Man. Upon arriving at Omega, they meet Nick's favorite character, Zaeed Massani. As he is a DLC character, he has a short vignette to introduce him, and then he gives a follow up quest and joins the crew. They talk about how rugged he is as a character and how storied his history is.

They also talk about the atmosphere of Omega and how it is the opposite of the citadel. Kurabara points out that it was designed to look like a mushroom cloud, while Chip insists it looks like a squid. They talk about how grimy it is and how it is the home of the underworld.

Next, they go over the meeting with Aria T'loak. They point out the irony in one of Shepard's first destinations post-revival being a nightclub called Afterlife. They discuss the casting of Carrie Anne Moss, and how Aria is played as a straight, no nonsense character. They talk about how Aria's behaviour is counter to most Asari Shepard has met previously.

Then they head into the plague section, and talk about how disquieting this part of the game is to play during a pandemic, especially one that is respitory in nature. Nick talks about how the ambient coughing is affecting, and Chip comments on how many of the victims don't trust Mording to give them the medicine they need.

Finally, it is time to recruit another squad member, Dr. Mordin Solus. Kurabara is excited to have a Salarian with the team. They talk about how smart he is and compare him to Batman. They also talk about their experience saving (or failing to save) Daniel, Mordin's assistant who got caught by some Batarians.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2vq

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#21: Archangel, Archangel, Will You Be Mine?

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:21:59 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they continue their journey through Omega as they seek out the mysterious Archangel, who of course turns out to be none other than former Normandy crew member Garrus Vakarian. The squad talks about how quickly they initially realized Archangel was Garrus. Then they dive into the mission itself, which involved fighting several gang leaders as well as taking down a gunship! In particular, Chip dislikes the Vorcha pyros. Garrus get hit pretty bad by the gunship but he survives with some hefty scarring. This leads to a discussion about the safety of wearing a helmet.

They also talk about Shepard's choice to stop or allow a young man to join the mercenaries. Then, they look into how poorly Garrus' life has been, as his team was compromised by a traitor and they were all killed. They finish up their discussion of Garrus by talking about how Garrus and pretty much any of Shepard's squad mates could run their own team.

Next, they look at some of the side quests on Omega. They talk about the quest to help out a Quarian named Kenn who is stuck working at a vendor kiosk until he can buy his way off Omega. Shepard can either give the Quarian money for passage or talk to the merchant boss to help him out. The guys compare the kiosks in the game to ordering sandwiches at Wawa or simply buying stuff from Amazon on your phone. Kenn also sells the T6A Couplings that Donnelly and Daniels need in engineering. This leads to Shepard (and possibly Tali) playing poker off screen.

Another character with an interaction post-Omega is Doctor Chakwas. If Shepard gets the serrice ice brandy from Afterlife, the commander and the doctor will share the bottle while reminiscing about former crew members like Kaiden and Jenkins. Doctor Chakwas subsequently passes out in a medical bed, and this leads to a discussion about where the crew all sleeps.

Finally, after a brief discussion about what appearances they are using for their characters, Chip mentions the Batarian bartender in Afterlife who poisons Shepard. Both he and Kurabara shot him for his transgressions.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2vw

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#22: Dr. Okeer, I Presume?

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:12:15 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through Mass Effect 2 as part of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they look at the mission to recruit Grunt, which oddly enough begins the the dossier for a Dr. Okeer. After recapping the mission, they talk about how unexpected it was that the mission would be to get Grunt, using Dr. Okeer as a red herring.

They talk about how they didn't quite understand the doctor's goal with creating Grunt (was he cured of the genophage or just immune to it?) and joke about Wrex's old comment about Krogan scientists. They also talk about the Blue Suns being bad at their job. They discuss the Krogan lab failure that Shepard meets along the way, and consider how he would have fared on the Normandy. They also compare Grunt and Korlus to Gears of War and wonder if there was some inspiration from the other game.

Next, the talk about waking Grunt up on the ship against Cerberus and EDI's protestations. They talks about how Grunt, being so young, is still developing a personality. They discuss how much they use him in their groups. They talk about the point of EDI's warnings that waking a Krogan could be fatal, and how that plays into the decisions the player must make as Shepard, even though none of the outcomes result in Grunt killing Shepard.

They compare Wrex to Grunt, and how Wrex's experience makes him a completely different squad mate than Grunt's naivette. They also compare Grunt to Kaiden, although they like Grunt more than Kaiden. They wonder about how Grunt innately knew how to make a shotgun.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2w2

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#23: The Convict, the Thief, and the Citadel

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:09:20 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through Mass Effect 2! This week, they start by talking about the mission to get the Convict, better known as Jack. They talk about how Jack was established as a biotic powerhouse based on other character reactions to her, and then also how they were affected by the conditions of the prison ship they were getting her from. They talk about her tough exterior and Kurabara compares her to people he knows. Chip mentions the way the game primes you to expect Jack to be male, and also talks about how Miranda and Jack do not get along. Kurabara mentions that Grunt liked her, and Nick starts speculating on how Jack and Grunt could have played each other, and leaned into each other's worse impulses. They talk about how closed and guarded she is. They also talk about how they don't like her costume design. Then, they get on a rant about friendships on the Normandy, and talk about how Garrus and Zaeed should be buddies. Kura mentions that Jack was based off Jack from Chronicles of Riddick. Lastly, they talk about their impressions of the betrayal by the Warden on Purgatory.

Next, they head to the Citadel to see how things have changed since Sovereign's attack. Things kick off with their encounter with Kasumi Goto through a hacked advertisement. Then, they head into the Citadel but have to get through C-Sec where they meet Captain Bailey who is running the entrance station. Chip is excited that he's played by Michael Hogan of Battlestar Gallactica fame. They talk about how he is a sign that humans have taken over C-Sec and run much of it, having replaced the Turians from Mass Effect 1. Then, they head up to meet Anderson and talk about how good it was to see him again. They also get to meet with the Council briefly, and share their disappointment that the Council is still very dismissive of Shepard. Then, Udina returns and they talk about his character.

Next, they discuss the layout of the Zakera Ward and how cramped it is compared to the Presidium and Wards from Mass Effect 1. They also discuss how the keepers are still creepy. Chip talks about how disappointing the Citadel is this time around. Nick talks about how the Citadel has a personality and qualifies as an old friend to visit in the sequel. They also talk about how Shepard can negotiate with the vendors for discounts at the kiosks. They also talk about some of the minor characters that return on this Citadel, like the Petrovskys, now with child!

They discuss some of the side quests available on the Citadel. First, there is a Volus and Quarian arguing about a missing credit chit. Shepard can intervene and prove the Quarian innocent and get her out of trouble. Nick also wonders about how Shepard gets so much money from random computers. They also talk about getting the fine ingredients for the chef to prepare a meal. Also, Shepard receives emails from other Citadel characters such as Sha'ira and Chorban. They also talk about the Krogans that want to try the fish from the Presidium, and how to get them fish without returning to the Presidium.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2wb

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#24: Horizon, For Bitchy Pests

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 06:02:53 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing Mass Effect 2 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they begin by talking about the Normandy Crash Site side quest. They talk about placing the monument, collecting the dog tags, and the brief glimpse at a redemption arc for XO Pressley, who was one of the more xenophobic members of the Normandy crew.

Next, the guys get into the mission on Horizon. They immediately jump into the aftermath of meeting their old crewmate. For Chip, it was Ashley, who was a bit standoffish. Nick talks about a playthrough where Ashley's rejection led him to Miranda, which leads to a discussion about how high maintenance Miranda might be. Kurabara reveals some personal information. Next, they talk about Kaiden, who Kurabara and Nick got to meet.

They talk about how he quickly takes offense at Shepard not having reached out sooner, and Nick is amazed because Kaiden is now just as much an a--hole as Carth from Knights of the Old Republic. They also talk about the Illusive Man using his smoking as a way to control the conversation and praise Martin Sheen's acting. They also consider Cerberus role in manipulating events on Horizon. Next, they discuss Harbinger and how effective a villain he is. They also talk about the creepy Collector constructs and how terrifying it must be to be paralyzed and abducted by the Collectors. Finally, they evaluate the final firefight over the transmitter.

Finally, they talk about the side quest where you lead the mech to get platinum using power cells, and praise how the side quests in Mass Effect 2 all feel varied and not cookie cutter.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2wg

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#25: Illium Part I: Shepard, This is Your Life

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:32:54 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back this week to talk about visiting Illium. They point out that this is the earliest they could go there, as it only opens up after Horizon. After a brief interaction with Careena, an administrator present on behalf of Dr. Liara T'soni, Shepard learns that Liara has waived all docking fees and that slavery (well, indentured servitude) is permitted on Illium. Shepard enters the city proper and the guys compare Illium with Omega and the Citadel. Garrus points out that the city is a gilded version of Omega, and just as dangerous. They also talk about how indirect the layout is and how it lacks a central corridor.

They talk about a questline that involves encountering Shiala, the Asari who served as the voice of the Thorian back on Feros. She is green now, and the colonists at Zhu's Hope are suffering after their time controlled by the Thorian. They have made a deal with Baria Frontiers to do some medical scans, but now Baria wants to do more invasive procedures, which the Colonists are against. Shepard has to talk to Erinya, the Baria vendor, to negotiate a better deal. Baria, after the death of her children, is explicitly racist against humans and must be dealt with as only Shepard can.

They then talk about running into an Asari who is a representative of the Rachni Queen. They talk about Sovereign's role in instigating the Rachni war, and if the reaper had a direct hand in the Rachni Queen winding up in Noveria. They speculate if the Rachni's song-based form of communication made them especially vulnerable to indoctrination.

Next, they run into Gianna Parasini, also last seen on Noveria. She's back on an undercover mission and Shepard can help out (or not). Gianna might be getting a bit too friendly with Shepard, as she parts with a kiss on the cheek.

Finally, they head into Eternity, the bar on Illium. There, they find a Turian failing to woo a Quarian, and a multi-species bachelor party which leads to speculation about how Asari are able to enter relationships with so many relationships.

Next, they meet CONRAD F***ING VERNER! He's back now acting like Shepard trying to stop a red sand dealer on Illium, except that red sand is legal on Illium. Shepard has words with the weapons dealer that started the whole situation, and Verner goes off to start the Shepards program for orphans.

Finally, they talk about Aetheya, the matriarch who is also the bartender and owner for Eternity. They talk about Asari as they age and also suggest that she may be more involved in the story than she appears.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2wn

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#26: The N7 Day Teaser Image

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 07:22:30 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are here with a short episode. Real life intervened and prevented a full episode this week, but they were at least able to get together to put out a quick episode on their toughts on the Mass Effect teaser image that was released for N7 day. First, Nick and Kura agree that 10/7 should be Mass Effect Day, not 11/7. Then they talk about how the image looks like the Geth and what they expect out of any future Mass Effect game. The gang will be back next week with a regularly scheduled episode as they continue their discussion on Illium, talking about recruiting Samara and Thane.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2wu

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#27: Illium Part II: The Justicar and the Assassin

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:16:51 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their time on Illium. This week, they get into the two recruiting missions to meet Samara the Justicar and Thane Krios the assassin. They begin by talking about the word Justicar and whether it originated from Mass Effect or not, as Justiciar is a real word. Then, they get into talking about how Samara is presented as a badass. They also talk about her task oriented, professional nature and how that can affect the ability to romance her. Next, they discuss how being a Justicar works with her recruitment onto the Normandy. They also talk about the possibility of Justicars going rogue and how that compares to being a Spectre. They also talk about her low-cut outfit.

Regarding the mission, they examine the relationship between Detective Anaya and Samara, as Anaya is putting herself in danger just by doing her job. They talk about Pitne For and whether or not they threw him under the bus, and have fun talking about the drunken Niftu Cal. They also talk about Elnora and whether they fell for her ploy or killed her outright.

Next they talk about recruiting Thane, and talk about how Chip finds him to be a boring character. Nick talks about how he's more fascinated by Thane's relationship with his son. They talks about how Thane was ready to die on the Nassana Dantius mission and was all too grateful for Shepard to come along and recruit him. They also mention the quick-time event with the mercenaries, and appreciate how smoothly Thane is able to kill Nassana. They also review Shepard's history with Nassana Dantius, as she is another character from Mass Effect 1 to appear.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2x1

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#28: Reunions (On Liara and Tali)

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:01:54 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their ongoing experiences in Mass Effect 2 as they play through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they finish up their stay of Illium (for now) by finally heading up the stairs and into Liara's office. But first they talk about how Liara is threatening to kill someone when you meet her. Then they wonder if the color of the Asari is based on their genetic heritage. Nick then talks about how nice it is for Liara to greet Shepard warmly as opposed to other members of the Normandy who treated Shepard with some coldness.

They talk about some of the quests that Liara sends you on, including the quest where you learn that Liara's secretary is planning to kill her. That leads to a discussion of whether the Asari are the most duplicitous race in the galaxy. They also talk about how much more mature Liara is dealing with Shepard this time.

Kurabara brings up that the stocks for the Dantius corporation went up after Thane killed Nassana on a prior mission. They also talk about the encounter with Charr, the Krogan poet who is trying to woo an asari who seems to like him but is questioning whether she should stay with him. This leads to a discussion about Krogran relationship considerations with respect to the Genophage.

Finally, they head to Haestrom to meet Tali. Nick talks about how Kal'reegar got him to go Paragon on his playthrough. Then they talk about the radiation mechanic that requires players to hide in the shade or suffer constant damage to their shields. Nick talks about how Tali is glad to see Shepard and they tease her feelings for them. Kura brings up the Dark Energy subplot that pops up at points in Mass Effect 2. They also revisit Tali's rebuff at the beginning of the game.

Nick also brings up that Kelly Chambers will tell male Shepards that Tali has a crush on you. Kura also brings up the fact that this is one of the few missions that involve Geth. Nick talks about the level design, and they also talk about the drones that Shepard encounters. They also talk about Jacob's hostility towards Tali once she joins the crew. This leads to a discussion of Jacob's role on the crew and his intended purpose, and how Mass Effect was developed with a straight, male eye.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2x9

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#29: The Collector Ship is Being Filled

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:25:04 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their encounter with the Collectors aboard the Collector Ship, and all the surprising reveals they learned along the way. First, Nick complains that five missions after Horizon, you HAVE to meet with the Illusive Man whether you want to or not, and talks about how he was in the middle of doing missions on Illium when he got pulled away for this mandatory meeting.

Then, after recapping the mission, the guys get into discussing the nature of the Collectors. Then they talk about how obvious it was that this should was a trap. Kura asks about the construction of the ship which Nick compares to a mudwasp structure. Chip compares the Collectors to the Keepers given their buglike nature.

Then they get into the fact that the Collectors are effectively husk Protheans, having been genetically modified by the Reapers through the ages since the Prothean extinction. The guys try to parse out how the Collectors evolved from the Protheans yet the Collector ship matches neither Reaper technology nor the Prothean architecture from Mass Effect 1.

Kura brings up the creepy nature of the pods in the ship and compares It to a horror movie. This transitions into Nick asking if Bioware has an M. Night Shamyalan problem by comparing the twists from each of the various games and how the big twist in each game seems to be less impactful as they progress.

They talk about the history of the Collector Ship, having blown up the first Normandy and then been chased off of Horizon. Kura asks about the size of the ship given it was supposed to be able to abduct the population of Earth. The squad tries to do some math to figure out how big the ship needs to be to abduct everyone. This leads to the theory that the Collectors would have to liquefy several of their victims to reduce storage space.

They also talk about the betrayal by the Illusive Man, that he knew it was sending Shepard into a trap.

Chip brings up the weapon specialization skill that becomes available after the mission.

They then talk about the next mission, which is to get a Reaper IFF from a derelict reaper.

Finally, they talk about two side quests. First is the one to get some encrypted data from Eclipse mercs, and then Shepard has to solve a puzzle.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2xf

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#30: All the Best Cerberus Agents Have Daddy Issues

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 08:19:21 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back and ready this week to begin talking about the loyalty missions! This week, they focus on Miranda’s and Jacob’s missions. Nick mentions that he was about to do Miranda’s loyalty mission on Illium when the Illusive Man rudely sent him to check out a “derelict” Collector vessel. First, they give a brief overview of the loyalty missions. Then, they jump into some of the new quests available on your second trip to Illium.

On Illium, Shepard encounters a Quarian struggling with the concept of indentured servitude with the Sirta Foundation. They discuss how Illium allows for legal slavery. Kura mentions that he would have welcomed another quarrian onto the Normandy. Kura talks about how she gambled her way into her servitude situation. This leads to a discussion of Quarian gambling and an attempt to understand Quarian poker. Chip compares the Quarian to Draenai from Warcraft, which is logical since both are based off Eastern European culture.

Next, they get into Miranda’s mission. After reviewing the mission, they talk about Niket’s betrayal and how much of a surprise that was. They wonder why Miranda didn’t just bring in a trusted Cerberus agent to help her, but Chip points out that Miranda has trust issues. Kura brings up that Enyala, the Eclipse mercenary, is terrible. Chip talks about how he let Miranda kill Niket while Kura did not. They talk about how Miranda struggles with her self-image and is cold to everyone as a result. Kura and Chip struggle with Niket’s motivations. They all agreed that Miranda needed to talk to her sister after the mission. Nick appreciates the Jack-Miranda rivalry. They finish up discussing the mission by talking about an asari trinket that is discovered on the mission.

Finally, they discuss Jacob’s loyalty mission to track down the crew of the Hugo Gernsback. They review the mission and then Nick talks about Jacob’s cynicism. Kura talks about the dawning realization of what is going on with the crew. Chip mentions how easy it is to skip checking out the ship itself and getting additional background information. Kura compares the events to what we’ve recently been learning about some developer corporate cultures. Chip brings up the absurdity of Jacob’s father surviving ten years on rations. They wonder about why there are no children on the planet after ten years, and also wonder if cannibalism occurred. They talk about the different outcomes for Ronald given Shepard’s paragon and renegade choices. Kura points out the meaning of the name Hugo Gernsback.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2xk

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#31: Tough Love (On Samara and Jack)

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 05:49:06 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about the loyalty missions in Mass Effect 2. This week, they discuss Samara and Jack. They begin by talking about the strength of the characters biotics, and Kura talks about an achievement you can get by using Miranda and Jacob’s biotics together.

As Samara’s loyalty mission brings Shepard back to Omega, the guys talk about some of the missions that are now available upon your second visit. They talk about Ish and Sel, two Salarians who ask Shepard to retrieve some packages. After discussing how odd the quest is, they realize that the quest is bugged and talk about its proper completion. Next, they talk about some odd dialog with Captain Gavorn about the Vorcha, although it is not clear if there is an associated quest. They also talk about the Patriarch questline which has Shepard talking to an old Krogan and learning about Aria’s history on Omega.

After reviewing the Samara loyalty mission, the guys all admit that they chose to stick with Samara instead of choosing Morinth. Kura comments how choosing Morinth can let Shepard romance her which leads to Morinth killing Shepard. They talk about how tragic Samara’s backstory is, and Kura talks about how tragic the story of the girl Morinth killed is. They also talk about the mechanic of having to get Morinth’s attention at the bar while not getting kicked out. They discuss the lack of combat in the mission. Nick appreciates the way the final dialog with Morinth plays out by using your paragon/renegade options. They also talk about attempting to romance Samara.

Finally, they talk about the Jack loyalty mission. Nick brings up the explosion that Jack triggered and talks about its magnitude. Then, Nick wonders just how effective Jack’s return to the Cerberus facility was for her. They talk about Jack’s feeling towards Cerberus and Chip admits he brought Miranda on the mission. Nick says Jack needs some empathy. Nick wonders if Jack or Miranda are more high maintenance. They talk about Jack as a representation of abuse.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2xy

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#32: Law & Order: Citadel (On Thane and Garrus)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:32:55 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to talk about the Mass Effect 2 loyalty missions. This week, they talk about the Thane and Garrus loyalty missions on the Citadel. But first they talk about some of the other goings on there.

They begin by discussing the Salarian game salesman and how he is a parody of Gamestop. Kurabara mentions a good deal he once got at Gamestop and they discuss our evolution of gaming habits and how that should project into 2184. Nick and Chip shill for Xbox Gamepass. They move on to talking about Khaleesa Al-Jilani and when its best to punch her. They also talk about gotcha journalism. The follow up on the two Krogans who want a fish from the Presidium.

Next, they talk about Thane’s loyalty mission. They talk about how Thane is responsible for Kolyat’s situation. They mention Bailey’s connection to Thane as they are both struggling fathers. Chip revels in Bailey’s first name being Armando. They talk about Mouse and what his existence suggests about life on the Citadel for the underclass. Chip asks for an Arkham-style game set on the Citadel. They talk about the potential of Bailey working for Cerberus. They also discuss how Bailey praises Thane’s prior work without knowing it. Nick speculates that Kolyat could join C-Sec. They talk about the corrupt politician Jorim Talid, and their thoughts on the mission to track him from the rafters. Nick asks about how they dealt with the kid in the rafters. They return to talking about Mouse and the Shepard VI. They conclude by talking about the efficacy of Thane’s loyalty mission.

Then they talk about Garrus’ loyalty mission and how this is also the return of Harkin. They agree that he does not deserve the name Fade. Nick talks about mistaking Harkin for Bailey initially. Chip shares that he let Fade die, while Kura did not. They talk about the decision for Garrus to kill Sidonis or not. Kura mentions that Sidonis is wracked with guilt. They talk about the Illiusive Man and how he’s thriving in the wake of Shepard’s actions. They talk about Garrus’ reaction to Sidonis and also Garrus’ thoughts on the mission.

Finally, they talk about an Asari that is stuck in C-Sec on a no fly list, and how Shepard can help with some forged documents.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2yd

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#33: Tuchanka Too Furious (on Mordin and Grunt)

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 08:57:44 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they continue their journey through the loyalty missions in Mass Effect 2, visiting Tuchanka, home of the Krogan, where Mordin and Grunt have unfinished business.

But first they give their initial impressions of Tuchanka and talk about some of the characters that can be found there. They talk about how (non)-welcoming the Krogan are, and how Grunt is ill-received by them. There is one Krogan who can be overheard saying that he might be a dad, and this leads to a discussion about the lack of children in Mass Effect. They also talk about the two Krogran who are always chatting about beating up the other races. Kurabara points out that the Krogan love how run down their planet is. Next, they talk about Wrex’s arc, as he is still alive and leading the Urdnot clan in everyone’s games. They also examine the Varren pit and its accompanying mini-game. They talk about the Pyjak in the science lab, as well as the pyjak shooting mini-game. They discuss the evolution of Krogan society and how its likely that most of the non-warrior Krogan were killed when the bombs went off. They also mention the return of Charr, the Krogan poet from Illium.

Next, they discuss Mordin’s loyalty mission, as he searches out his student Maelon. They talk about how rapidly Mordin processes grief and how that may lead to him not fully processing it. They talk about what Krogan society could look like without the Genophage. This leads to a discussion about uplifting races and the Reapers’ motives. They talk about Maelon’s fate and how Mordin claims he is not a killer (except that we’ve seen him kill.) Nick also mentions one of his favorite moments in the game: when he gets to blow up the Weyrlock speaker. They also talk about Mordin’s love of musicals.

Finally, they review Grunt’s mission. They all claim to have killed the Thresher Maw, and wonder about how the keystone was able to summon the specific beasts in the proper order. Kura mentions the breeding requests for Grunt and Shepard. They talk about headbutting Uvenk, and discuss the villain further. They also talk about Shaman and how unique he is.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2yk

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#35: Vengeance and Grief: On Zaeed and Kasumi

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:44:16 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing Mass Effect 2 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they continue looking at the loyalty missions as this week the characters in the spotlight are Zaeed and Kasumi.

First, they talk about Zaeed’s mission. They discuss Zaeed’s secret: that he founded the Blue Suns. Kura mentions that he did the mission too early once and didn’t have the Paragon points to calm Zaeed down. They consider Vito’s fate when his ship is shot down. They talk about how the fire is a symbol of Zaeed’s rage, and his need for vengeance against Vito is the source of his anger. Kura calls Zaeed a human Krogan. They compare Zaeed’s mission to Jack’s mission. They talk about how you can leave Zaeed to die and speculate on his age. Nick wonders how much of the Blue Suns are left after Mass Effect 2. They mention that Zaeed should have told Shepard about the vengeance part of the mission first. They talk about pyjaks and the difficulty of the final fight.

Next, they talk about Kasumi’s mission. Her fight itsn’t too difficult, but they still value waiting to do her mission as you can hear more gossip that reflects Shepard’s exploits. They review the items that Hock has in his vault. They consider Shepard’s alias, Gunn. They try to figure out Hock’s accent. They discuss Kasumi’s personality in the mission and reflect on the inability to romance her. They talk about Keiji’s greybox, and the morality of the decision to let Kasumi keep it or not.

Finally, they talk about two side quests. There is the quest to search the ruins of a downed Quarian ship for a lone survivor. Then, they talk about the quest to shut down a missile from hitting either a population center or a military target.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2yz

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#35: Fire Walk with Me

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 07:06:32 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue discussing their playthroughs of Mass Effect 2. However, they are moving on from the loyalty missions for an interlude to talk about the Firewalker DLC and some gang-related side quests.

They begin by discussing the order of the Project Overlord and Firewalker DLC, and how Firewalker should be done first even though they can be done in any order. They also talk about the value of the DLC and discuss the role of vehicles in Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2. They also get into a side tangent about graphics in games from 2007 to 2012.

Finally, they dive into the Firewalker content. They review each of the missions and talk about the data collection mechanic. They also discuss the platforming mini-game of driving the Hammerhead. They talk about how the Hammerhead is intended to handle in cold weather, and review the backstory of the questline featuring Doctors Cayce and O’Loy.

Next, they talk about the Blook Pack questline. They review the quest to track some beacons through the fog. They talk about the Klixen and the dragon-like beast that accompanies them but never fights Shepard. They talk about the mission to scale a cliff face and take out a Blood Pack base. They talk about the backstory between Salamul and Kalusk, two of the Krogan mini-bosses for these missions, and their relationship to Garm, the Blood Pack leader Shepard defeats in the Archangel recruitment mission on Omega.

Lastly, they review the Blue Suns questline. This starts with finding an Exogeni base that the Blue Suns have overrun. They talk about Vido Santiago’s involvement (after encountering him on Zaeed’s loyalty mission.) The questline takes Shepard to the MSV Strontium Mule, and the guys talk about the layout of the ship and navigating it during a fight. Finally, they track down a false Blue Suns distress signal and disable it.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2zd

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#36: Lawnmower Rain Man (On Project Overlord)

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 08:08:44 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their playthrough of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition! This week, they talk about their experience playing the Project Overlord DLC. First, they recap the story. Then, Kura mentions the World War II connections between the names Overlord and Normandy. Chip talks about how the mission affects your War Resources for Mass Effect 3. They talk about why you should do this after Firewalker, as it assumes you are familiar with the Hammerhead. Kura didn’t care for the directional arrow that was supposed to help while traveling around.

They talk about the horror elements of the game, including the weird AI screams and the eyes that track Shepard. They talk about how David and Gavin both have VI in their names. Nick goes into the Greek mythology behind he station names. They go over the mission at the Prometheus station and how the Geth are visible on your journey in so you know what you’ll have to face on the way back. Chip talks about how the concept of David being trapped in the machine is similar to Lawnmower Man. They consider the torture David was put through by his brother, and they evaluate how they handled David’s fate. They also talk about how when Shepard interacts with the VI, it is like the Matrix. The conclude by evaluating the value of the DLC.

Next, they talk about the Infected Mech questline, which Chip appreciated for the opportunity to endlessly kill mechs. They also talk about Robot Indoctrination.

They also talk about the MSV Estevanico mission and how Shepard should not be out on such a hazardous mission.

Finally, they talk about the Reaper indoctrination mining colony mission, and how it just leads to Shepard fighting more husks.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/2zl

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#37: Dead God Dreams (The Reaper IFF)

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:24:34 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition! This week, they tackle the mission to breach a reaper corpse and get the IFF needed to safely enter the Omega-4 Relay.

After recapping the mission, the guys begin by discussing what death even means to a Reaper, since there was still some activity on the dead one they just encountered. They talk about how the Mass Effect engine was keeping it going. Nick posits that indoctrination emanates from Reaper material, dead or alive. Kura and Chip talk about a planetary entry that mentioned that a high power rail gun killed the Reaper 37 million years ago but also hit a planet. Nick says that he thinks the Reaper was left as a trap as the Reapers should have cleaned it up on one of their galactic sweeps.

Then they talk about the horror aesthetic inside the reaper. They talk about the bloody bodies and terror of indoctrination. Chip wonders about the scientists not leaving. Kura asks about the origin of the exploding husks.

Next, they discuss the geth sniper that appears. They talk about the value of getting Legion earlier in your playthrough at the expense of saving the crew later. This leads to a discussion about multiple playthroughs and save editors. They also mention that the ME:LE is now on Gamepass.

Nick compares the screens at the terminals to his Amazon Echo. He also compares the relationship between people and Reapers to bacteria or microbes and people. Husks are like white blood cells. They then talk about the final fight against the ME core, with husks attacking from two sides. They conclude discussing the mission by talking about Shepard jumping to the Normandy.

Next, they discuss how they handled recovering the Geth sniper’s body, and whether they woke it up. They talk about Legion’s speech. They weigh the options of Jacob’s “space it!” plan versus the Illusive Man’s offer to pay cash.

They talk about how EDI will be busy for two missions with the AI core.

They wake up Legion and talk about the difference between Heretic and Good geth. There is a virus that is making the Geth worship the Reapers and Nick speculates that is just their form of indoctrination.

Lastly, they talk about a mission in the Hourglass Nebula to save some Cargo from three heavy mechs.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/306

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#38: You Can't Handle the Geth! (On Tali & Legion)

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:52:39 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they are finishing up the loyalty missions by finally visiting the Quarian Flotilla to help Tali, and the Heretic Geth station to help Legion.

First, they discuss the decision behind getting Legion so late and waiting for him to do Tali’s mission. Then, after a recap of the mission, they talk about the irony of bringing a Geth to a trial for bringing live Geth parts into the Flotilla. Nick praises Shoreh Aghdashloo’s performance as Shala’raan. They get into a lengthy discussion of Quarian pregnancies and population control. They talk about the council members that Shepard must interact with: Admiral Gerel, Admiral Koris, and Admiral Xen. They also discuss the ship names and some of the jokes that follow. They mention that Veetor and Kal’reegar from earlier in the game can reappear if you protected them.

Next, they head to the Alarai which is the ship where Tali’s father was performing his experiments with Geth technology. They talk about how much of the crew were able to leave final messages to their loved ones. They talk about their decision for what to do with Tali’s father’s research. They consider how Tali’s father was absent in her life. They talk about the different outcomes that can happen at the trial, including an outcome where Tali becomes bitter and depressed. They mention that Tali’s trial is just a proxy fight for the real decision which is how to engage with the Geth. They talk about the combat on the mission. Kura mentions that Claudia Black voices Admiral Xen. They talk about Xen’s decision to continue the experiments.

Next, they discuss Legion’s mission to stop the Heretic Geth. After a recap, they talk about how the mission involved destroying hubs to stop the Geth. Chip goes deep on AI theories and insists that Geth are people. Nick compares the Geth to the Protheans. He also comapres the virus to indoctrination. They talk about how the Geth learned to lie and how that is a problem. They talk about the massive info dump that Legion’s stories are. They compare their decisions for how to handle the Heretic Geth. They talk about the Tali-Legion conflict upon returning to the Normandy, and learn some neat facts about Soveriegn.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/30f

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#39: Human Reaper

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 08:50:24 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue their journey through Mass Effect 2. This time, it is the big finale as they head through the Omega 4 relay! What awaits them on the other side?

First, they talk about the Collector’s invading the Normandy while Shepard along with all 12 team members are on assignment. They discuss the various Collector forces aboard the ship, and how they are forced to watch some of what happens from the shadows. They share their disbelief that this was happening. They talk about how they could track Joker’s movements on the loading screens. They consider the hubris that EDI could handle the Reaper IFF without consequences like these, and the compare that with the hubris of Joker unshackling EDI’s AI. This leads to comparisons of EDI to the Geth. Nick talks about how he got stuck in the Eezo Core and was overwhelmed by Collectors and lost the game. They discuss how this sequence is one of the iconic Mass Effect sequences.

Then, they wonder about Shepard and his crew, and if Shepard always takes the entire team with him in the shuttle when going on missions. They point out that none of the team members are helping to run the ship. Next, they talk about the timer that requires they go through the Omega-4 Relay within two missions or they start losing people. Loyalty missions and all upgrades must be done by now. This leads to a consideration of save scumming.

Of course, they go through the Omega-4 Relay, having completed all other missions in the game (with two DLC exceptions). They talk about crashing on the Collector base and how you can lose team members throughout the flight if you haven’t upgraded the Normandy throughout the game. They talk about fighting the Orb in the cargo bay. They wonder about going through the relay without the IFF.

Next, they start talking about the decisions for how they picked their teams and assignments. They also talk about how someone gets hit while the text expert is closing the door, but that person’s survival depends on who was doing what. They find Lilith from the Horizon colony and watch her be liquified. Then they talk about the decision for which biotic will maintain the barrier against the swarm. Nick talks about losing Garrus at this juncture. Shepard gives a final speech and takes their favorite two squad mates to face off against a human reaper. After discussing the fight, they talk about the falling platforms and if anyone survives. They mention the final reveal that Harbinger is actually a Reaper (that was controlling a Collector), and Shepard has one more chance to make a patented running jump to board the Normandy.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/30k

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#40: Broking Bad: On the Shadow Broker DLC

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:21:43 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experience playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they approach the end of Mass Effect 2 as they discuss the Shadow Broker DLC.

They begin by talking about the order of the Shadow Broker DLC and the Arrival DLC which will be covered next episode. Then, they recap the events of the first part of the DLC. They talk about how Liara recovered Shepard’s body for the Illusive Man. They discuss the Drell and their relationship to the Hanar. They talk about Tela Vesir, the Spectre working for the Shadow Broker who is trying to kill Liara, and debate if Shepard is the only uncorrupted Spectre. They evaluate Liara’s apartment and how it provides insight into her personality. They wonder if she’s a good information broker. They talk about Liara’s obsession with Shepard and consider if she would be a paragon or a renegade. They talk more about her obsessive nature as it applies to the Reapers. They talk about her possibly being a love interest, and compare that to her role as Shepard’s friend. They also talk about the car chase sequence and the luxury erotic hotel where the final confrontation with Vesir takes place. They talk about how Vesir takes a random passerby hostage, and how she calls out Shepard’s action as she is dying.

Next, they recap Shepard and Liara’s assault on the Shadow Broker. They contemplate the newly introduced Yahg race. They talk about how the Shadow Broker’s identity makes it too easy to assume the mantle. They discuss the planet that the ship is orbiting. They talk about having to fight around the lightning capacitors. They talk about the Shadow Broker fight itself. They discuss Feron and Liara, and consider what a Liara dating sim would play like. They talk about the convenience of the Shadow Broker ship once it is unlocked. They also discuss hooking up with Liara if you are romancing her. They review the videos that were spying on the various NPC’s, and talk about the Shadow Broker’s drone.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/30q

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#41: Reapers Arriving, Mass Effect 2 Departing

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 09:25:36 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to finally finish up talking about the Mass Effect 2 leg of their journey through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they dive into the final part of the game: the Arrival DLC. They begin by talking about having to sneak into Batarian space without getting caught. Kura brings up that this mission makes sense for a Spectre due to its infiltration aspect.

After recapping the mission, they talk about the Reapers arriving. They talk about how the Reapers planned to enter the galaxy, and Nick points out a recent article that says that a cuttlefish design is more efficient for motion. They mention eavesdropping on the Batarians as a way of gathering information with respect to Kenson and her plans for sabotage, and also how there are hints that Kenson may be struggling to hold it together. They talk about the nature of Spectres to work alone, and Chip points out that this is a solo mission because they didn’t want to pay for other voice actors. Nick mentions a gap that Shepard can’t jump over, and they talk about the Batarian base being in a state of disrepair. They discuss Batarian society and compare it to real world countries. They mention the appearance of Harbinger and compare it to the reveal of Sovereign in ME1. They talk about doing the mission earlier in the game. They note the consistency of Batarian DLC involving asteroids.

They wonder about the timer on Kenson’s base, and mention their experiences trying to win the fight that you are supposed to lose. They talk about the feasibility of having a spare relay in the middle of nowhere. They ponder Kenson’s indoctrination, and comment on the personalization that was given to the guards. They talk about blowing up the Batarian system and the concept of the needs of the many vs. the needs of the few. They wonder if the Batarians, generally presented as vicious, are worthy of empathy. Chip points out that Harbringer appears as the Collector General if you do the mission earlier. They talk about the nature of Reaper indoctrination and can it be avoided.

Finally, they wrap up Mass Effect 2, by trying to figure out where it stands in the pantheon of games of the 2010s.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/30z

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#42: On Paragon Lost

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 07:31:19 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week but they are NOT talking about the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Instead, they are taking a week to talk about Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, the anime movie that falls in between Mass Effect 2 and 3.

They begin by talking about its run time (about 90 minutes), and get into talking about the production values and the voice actors. This is a movie that is about Vega, a character from Mass Effect 3, and his backstory. They debate if this is worth watching. They talk about the 3D CGI sequences. They consider James’ viability as an NPC, and talk about the animation style.

After recapping the beginning of the movie which details a Blood Pack attack on the colony of Fehl Prime, Nick comments how the Krogan second-in-command Brood looks like another anime character. They comment that they struggled to learn everyone’s names. Kurabara brings up Essex harassing Camille, and that leads into a run down of the characters. They discuss Milque and Vega’s conversation about choice. They talk about the Blood Pack forces and how Milque survived getting shot. They talk about the shuttle crash.

Next, the story advances two years, and they talk about the Collector attack on Fehl Prime. They wonder about Shepard’s status during these events, and Chip points out that there is a ME2 reference to Fehl Prime. They talk about how the Collector threat is obscured initially. They discuss how the antidote research is the unmentioned reason why the crew is stationed there. They consider the James and April relationship, and then look at the James and Treya relationship. They talk about their initial reaction to Messner, and the convenience that the APC wasn’t working right when the Collectors hit. They evaluate Liara’s cameo, and discuss how the collector pods work. They talk about everyone’s disbelief in the Reapers. They consider Camille’s fate and talk about the Collector Ship and its guns. Kura wonders about James’ decision to leave April behind. They talk about Messner and Cerberus and the return of Brood.

Finally, they talk about Vega’s assault on the Collector Ship. They talk about Brood’s many guns. They talk about how the biotic powers are well represented in combat. They talk about Messner turning on Brood, and Vega’s earlier ploy with the antidote. They mention the Prothean Beacon, and Vega failing to save Treya when she was in the pod with the data. They wonder about the number of Collector Ships and mention that Vega and Shepard are the only two people to destroy a Collector Ship. They evaluate Vega’s decision and talk about Vega flashing through the consequences at the end. They compare Vega’s choices to those made by Shepard. Chip points out that Vega is getting Renegade points for what he did. They talk about how Shepard would have fared with the same choices, and how the movie ends with Vega reporting to Vancouver.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/316

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#43: The Beginning of the End

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:13:34 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back and they are finally ready to talk about Mass Effect 3. They begin by talking about the new systems in the game and the ability to jump over objects. Planetary scanning is generally regarded to be worse than ME2, but the combat is better. The guys go over how much better leveling feels, and talk about some builds as well as discuss some loadouts. They talk about the removal of multiplayer and the lack of mobile missions, and how neither are now required to get Galactic Readiness. They talk about the return of weapon mods. They also look at the evolution of the conversation wheel. Nick talks about a prior experience that leads to a discussion about when to do the Leviathan DLC.

Finally, they get into talking about the game proper. After a recap of the events of the opening chapter, Nick talks about how the intro gutted him, while Chip argues that it felt like a cheap emotional ploy. They compare the Earth to the Presidium on the Citadel, and Kura reveals his box from when he bought the game in 2012. They talk about the old Kinect voice commands for Xbox. Kura also shares his Cerberus Access Card. This leads to an off-topic discussion about manuals. They return to talking about the game by discussing Shepard’s connection, or lack thereof to the kid. They compare the human Council room to the Council room on the citadel. They argue about the futility of asking Shepard for help when the Reapers are imminently bearing down on them instead of planning for a solution while there was time. Nick wonders about Hackett’s role and if he has any ulterior motives.

They look at the rate of the Reapers moving from the moon to Britain to Vancouver. They compare the video from Britain with Ashley’s video from Eden Prime in ME1. They discuss the return of Anderson and he serves as the tutorial. Shepard can now make jumps! They get into the return of Kaiden or Ashley, and talk about Ashley visual improvements. They discuss whether the dialog makes more sense based on if Shepard was in a relationship with the characters. They talk about meeting James in game, and how it differs based on whether or not you’ve seen Paragon Lost. They talk about being sent to Mars next.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/31g

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#44: Mars Attacks!

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:01:50 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they make a quick stop on Mars as they flee the Solar System after the Reapers invaded. But first, they wonder briefly about what a Mass Effect prequel game could look like. Then they talk about how they keep getting more and more data from the Prothean Ruins.

After a recap of events, the guys talk about getting a chance to have Kaiden or Ashley join up with Liara for a Mass Effect 1 reunion. Then they talk about Liara as a stone cold killer who’s been hardened and likes killing Cerberus as she has been running up against the Illusive Man. Kura wonders where these troops were when we were with Cerberus. They consider Kaiden or Ashley’s mistrust of Shepard. They talk about how obvious it was that Dr. Eva was sabotaging the facility. Kura points out the brutality of Cerberus. They talk about Cerberus’ lack of morals as compared to Shepard (even renegade Shepard). Chip talks about the atmosphere of the base with the lights off. They discus how the combat feels in Mass Effect 3. Chip likes it with more open environments. Nick points out the opportunities to turn the tables on Cerberus. Kura mentions that the shield troops are annoying.

Next, they discuss how Hackett knew Liara was the Shadow Broker, and they evaluate Liara’s abilities as Shadow Broker. They consider the potential of a Mass Effect game set after a Reaper victory, where you are a lone colony left to begin reorganizing the universe. Liara wonders about these being the last days. They talk about Shepard’s confrontation with the Illusive Man and wonder about his super agent. They talk about the Illusive Man being angry about Shepard and Kura wonders if the Reapers got to the Illusive Man already. Nick comments that the Prothean Artifact looks like a PS4.

They talk about James crashing the shuttle and wonder if he has a deathwish. They discuss Dr. Eva’s manhandling of Kaiden or Ashley. Nick compares his interactions with Kaiden to his interactions with Ashley as a love interest. They talk about the Prothean blueprint that was discovered. Chip notes it is a macguffin. They wonder if the Reaper IFF is still aboard the Normandy.

Finally, they talk about an email that Shepard gets about Rana Thanoptis who was indoctrinated and killed some Asari generals.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/31l

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#45: Back Again for the First Time (on the Citadel and Normandy)

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:32:31 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition! This week, they talk about their first return to the Citadel. Nick decides to dub either Kaiden or Ashley “The Major” while Chip argues they should just be called “Virmire Survivor.” Then, after recapping events, they talk about Diana Allers joining the Normandy in Zaeed’s old quarters. Next, they talk about the return of Bailey, now a Commander with C-Sec, and discuss the recurring theme of military officers hating politics. They review the expansiveness of the Citadel compared to the cramped quarters it was given in Mass Effect 2. They mention how the Citadel is away from the fighting in the galaxy as opposed to becoming a central hub at the end of Mass Effect 1.

They talk about visiting the hospital to check in on how the Major is doing. Although they aren’t awake yet, the guys talk about the gift giving mini-game that is present here. Kura comments on Kaiden’s nipples. They talk about Shepard cheerleading their comatose friend. Nick comments on the aesthetics of the Huerta logo on the windows. Kura mentions there is a lack of privacy in the hospital. They point out that all the rooms are the same, like in real hospitals. Kura talks about a soldier getting his leg amputated and then grown back.

Next, they visit the Embassy Suites. They meet Dominic Osoba, human ambassador to the Citadel. This leads to a discussion about bugs on the Citadel. Nick points out that Hackett is on an Alliance billboard. Also, C-Sec is advertising jobs in internal affairs. They visit the Spectre Station and compare the layout of the embassies to the quarters in Mass Effect 1. They talk about how the offices have moved.

Also on the Citadel, they mention the Blasto ad you can find which tells the story of the whole movie. They also wonder about the massive pits at the entrance to Purgatory. They discuss how Udina is now councillor regardless of your decisions from Mass Effect 1, and compare Earth and Citadel politics. They talk about how James is coming around to agreeing with Shepard, and how Dr. Michel is now running Huerta Memorial. They discuss the possibility of getting Dr. Chakwas.

Next, they finally get the chance to explore the Normandy. They talk about the scanner room hiding a loading screen. They talk about Traynor, who is now the major domo of the Normandy. They discuss Liara’s quarters, and try to understand the bed situation on the ship. They talk about Adams and how engineering is at risk of a plasma vent from the Mass Effect Core. They wonder if EDI could be indoctrinating the crew. They resume talking about Diana Allers’ quarters. They also mention new crew members KEI-9 and Steve Cortes, and finish by evaluating their sparring session with James Vega in light of Paragon Lost.

Finally, they talk about the Dream Sequence and the burning child, and try to evaluate Shepard’s psyche.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/31x

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#46: Menae for Nothing, and the (Robot) Chicks for Free

Mon, 02 May 2022 07:34:22 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they visit Menae, moon of Palaven, the Turian homeworld, where on a mission to recover the Turian Primarch they find an old friend.

They begin by talking about the return of Garrus Vakarian, and how it is foreshadowed by Liara worrying about him on Palaven. The guys talk about the shuttles and Steve Cortes who is one of the non-team member relationship options. They talk about how Garrus commands respect upon appearing and how he is advising the Turians on fighting the Reapers. They talk about how you are forced to bring James and Liara, and then have Liara leave the party right before Garrus shows up. They discuss how the aliens all speak English.

They talk about the Turian husks called Marauders. They also look at the brutes, which are part Turian, part Krogan. They talk about the Turian order of succession and mention again how military officers dislike getting promoted into politics. They talk about the new Turian Primarch Victus and how he is regarded as a wild card. They discuss their fights agains the brutes and comment on the view of Palaven and Reapers in the background. They mention that the Reapers are slow and methodical in their conquest of the galaxy. Chip asserts that combat is the best in this game.

As the crew heads back to the Normandy, the guys mention the jokes about Garrus calibrating the guns. They talk about the random characters that Shepard is assembling in the War Room. They talk about how crew members move around the ship this game, giving them a more lifelike feel. They consider Garrus’ role among the Turians and then talk about Shepard unloading their burdens on Garrus. Kura speculates on what space twitter would be like.

They also talk about EDI’s transition into the body of Dr. Eva Corre, making her a full-fledged party member. They wonder about the Normandy being part of EDI’s body. They talk about how EDI is sexualized in her return, and also by the male members of the crew.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/322

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#47: The Only Living Prothean on Eden Prime

Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:56 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. This week, they discuss the mission to Eden Prime to recover Javik, the dormant Prothean who joins the team. They begin by talking about the last time they were on Eden Prime back in Mass Effect 1. Then they discuss the fact that this mission was DLC and not included with the base game, which is a shame because Javik is such a valuable party member. They agree that he should not have been locked behind a paywall. This leads to a discussion of the price of games over the years. They also talk about the importance of bringing Javik on several missions, as his Prothean insights are informative for a game that has focused on the remains of Prothean civilization so much.

They discuss the concept of the Protheans as a character in the game (similar to the Normandy or Citadel being characters in their own right). They look at Javik’s relationship to Liara and how that changes as she gets to know him. Kurabara mentions that Javik’s voice actor also voiced Knack. They talk about how Javik’s opinions of other races are colored by his knowledge of those races from their earlier evolutions. They consider how the Protheans conquered the universe, and how Javik sees everything through that prism. They talk about his empath skills, and how being born during a Reaper invasion will affect one’s outlook on life. They discuss the evolution of the Protheans into the Collectors, and talk about how it must suck to then wake up in the next Reaper invasion. They wonder how we didn’t find Javik on our first visit to Eden Prime.

They consider the mission to Eden Prime, and mention that EDI references Jenkins before landing. They talk about Cerberus taking over the colony. They mention the sportsball reference in the game. They consider how much of the Prothean empire was preserved, and again wonder about the Reapers and the Thorian on Feros (also located in Prothean ruins). They talk about how the Eden Prime colonists become a War Asset once they are freed from Cerberus. They talk about Javik eventually getting annoyed with Liara, and how his biotics are green.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/32a

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#48: On Sur'Kesh

Mon, 23 May 2022 04:50:53 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they are talking about Sur’kesh, and why we’re going there. They discuss the Krogan leader’s insistence that the genophage be cured. Nick brings up the Yahg that appears early in the mission, and they speculate on how the Yahg would fare against the Reapers in 50,000 years. They wonder if the Yahg can do poetry.

Wrex is back and they talk about the cure coming from Maelon’s research, and how Wrex has a mole in Sur’kesh. They talk about the logic of unleashing the Krogan is if a Krogan war truly is inevitable. They compare the decision to using your pitchers in game 7 of a baseball series. They consider the threat and how some of the characters are acting like the threat is theoretical.

Kurabara mentions this was the demo level for the Xbox.

They talk about Wrex getting off the shuttle and getting aggressive with the Salarians. They discuss Mordin’s reappearance. They talk about the pressure Mordin puts on himself and his path to atonement. They discuss Mordin’s decision to use human religion to name Eve. They wonder about what would have happened if Shepard did not survive Mass Effect 2. They mention the Liara-Wrex meeting. They talk about Padon Wix who serves as the Mordin replacement if he is not available. Kura talks about pressing the button. They mention that Major Kirrahe is back, and consider how all the characters are climbing the ranks together.

They talk about Eve handling herself in combat and how the Krogan females will help repopulate the species. They consider the Eve-Mordin relationship. They talk about how the mission escalates as Cerberus shows up. They mention that James wants to go to Tuchanka and he’d be a good fit. They discuss the Mordin-Javik conversation.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/32k

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#49: The Ballad of Little Vicky (on Tuchanka)

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 05:54:28 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk more about the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they are heading to Tuchanka to start working to get the Krogan on their side. They talk about Tuchanka and Kurabara once again compares it to Detroit. They mention the mission Primarch Victus sends them there for: to find a crashed ship that had his son aboard.

After hearing the details on the mission, Nick tries to track how many Harvesters they fought. They talk about the Harvesters relationship to the Reapers, and the various other Reaper forces encountered. Chip wonders what Volus and Elcor Reaper forces would be like. They talk about the layout of the mission from a combat perspective. They talk about Lieutenant Victus’ abilities as a leader and wonder if he got the job because of nepotism.

Next, they discuss the Tuchanka Cannon mission, which they quickly establish as filler. They wonder why Cerberus is present on Tuchanka. They point out that this is a multiplayer map reused for a single player mission. They talk about fighting Cerberus troops. They also evaluate the vanguard Shockwave ability, and also the utility of grenades.

Finally, they discuss the mission to defuse the giant bomb on Tuchanka. They debate if Victus died a hero’s death, after pointing out how his plot armor kept him alive earlier. They mention that failure to disarm the bomb has severe consequences, including Eve’s death. They wonder why Cerberus is involved again. They evaluate Cerberus’ handling of the Reaper threat and discuss the hubris of the Illusive Man. They transition to talking about the planet scanning mini-game, and Nick complains about finding destroyed fuel depots. They talk about trying to find downtime during an all encompassing Reaper invasion, and they admit they want a Gwent or Pazaak mini-game. Back on the topic of the bomb, they wonder how it was hidden for so long. They wonder if Lt. Victus should have been a Normandy crew member. After the mission, they talk about Shepard being rattled by all the death, and how Shepard has to yell at Wrex and Primarch Victus for bickering. They discuss Shepard not telling Wrex about the Turian bomb earlier.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/32t

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#50: Sex and the Citadel

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:04:34 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they return to the Citadel for a breather before continuing on with the Tuchanka missions. Nick begins by recapping their experience last week with Lieutenant Victus, and they discuss Primarch Victus’ feelings towards the situation.

On the Citadel, they begin by talking about the now awake Virmire survivor. This is when Shepard is able to bring Kaiden or Ashley a gift, be it wine or a Tennyson book. Udina is there and has promoted them to Spectre status. The guys discuss which crew members would have made a better Spectre, namely Garrus. Thane is also at the hospital, as is Dr. Chakwas and Dr. Michel.

The guys also discuss the backstory for President Huerta, the namesake of Huerta Memorial Hospital. They also talk about a nurse that needs medi-gel, and this leads to a discussion of the side quest system in Mass Effect 3. Nick and Chip agree that the Journal sucks. Chip points out that unobtainable items from earlier missions are available at the Spectre Requisition terminal. Nick says the journal makes it hard to track where you are in a mission.

Next, they discuss the strange Barla Von mission, which Liara could have handled herself. This leads to a discussion of how Shepard overhears people to get side quest missions, and how awkward that is. They talk about running into Aethyta again, and this time confirming that she is Liara’s father. They also mention the Shepard VI in the docks, as well as Cortes being by the Memorial Wall. Miranda is around and Nick finds that awkward. James is in Purgatory encouraging Shepard to drink. They talk more about the side quests and that leads to a discussion of war resources.

They mention the triumphant return of Refund guy. Michael and Rebecca are also back with an update on her baby. They consider the beginning of the EDI-Joker coupling. They also talk about Aria T’loak and her missions involving the gangs from Mass Effect 2. Kasumi also appears for a mission and Nick falls for her fake death. Finally, they talk about Domonic Osoba looking for his son, and the related mission on Benning.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/335

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#51: Tuchanka Fight Night: Thresher Maw vs Reaper

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 04:34:03 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their time playing Mass Effect 3 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they return to Tuchanka to take care of the Krogan genophage once and for all. They begin by reviewing the overall impact of the mission, and then talk about Mordin’s choice regarding the suicidal nature of the mission. They do point out there is a way to keep Mordin alive, and discuss the pain of making relative decisions.

After a recap of the mission, they check back in with the crew of the Normandy before they head to Tuchanka. They talk about meeting with Liara and her plan to leave small computer consoles around the galaxy, similar to the Prothean beacons. They discuss the nature of time capsules as a result. They also look at Dr. Chakwas and how she is (or is not) holding up. They also talk about Daniels and Donnelly, with Donnelly being his usual crude self towards EDI.

Next, the return to discussing the outcome of the Shroud mission. They talk about Shepard having to advance while dodging Reaper fire to activate the hammers. They talk about Kalross and her fight against the Reaper. They mention the plants that are growing around Tuchanka and how this, along with Eve, are a sign of hope for the Krogan race. They also consider Eve’s role as moderating female for the Krogan. They discuss the purpose of the Shroud, and compare Mordin’s death to the mission we do upon meeting him.

They also discuss the return of the Rachni. They consider how this game often negates the decisions made in the the first game. They talk about fighting the brutes. They again talk about the moment when Mordin acknowledges he is going to die. They praise the banter between Shepard and Wrex. They give a nod to Urdnot Wreave. They again talk about Mordin’s last moments and how Wrex will name a kid after him. They appreciate Eve sharing her true name with Shepard and Kura points out that after all this you don’t get Mordin to work on the Crucible.

They mention the Dalatrass’ subterfuge and whether Shepard shares it with the others or not. They talk about Garrus checking in on Shepard, and discuss Shepard having another nightmare.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/33b

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#52: F*** These Guys (The Cerberus Coup)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:50:52 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they continue their journey through Mass Effect 3 as the Citadel comes under attack from Cerberus.

Nick and Kurabara begin by admitting they get the Salarian Councillor and the Dalatrass confused. They they talk about the Councillor’s request to meet regarding suspicions of corruption. They get into a discussion about how mission availability changes as the story advances, and in particular Nick mentions losing access to Barla Von. They talk about the quest log, but appreciate the map. They mention that it is hard to tell if you have a given quest item.

Getting back to the mission, Nick talks about struggling to follow how Shepard deduced that Udina was behind the attack. He then eats crow, admitting his earlier defense of Udina was flawed. They revisit the decision between appointing Udina or Anderson as the first human councillor. They talk about Udina being a prick. Chip points out that this mission feels different in our current time. They speculate on why the Reapers are ignoring the Citadel, and consider how Cerberus infiltrated the Citadel and C-Sec. Chip and Kura talk about sniping a mech pilot to take control of a mech.

Nick mentions that you can kill the Virmire Survivor on this mission (namely, Kaiden). They evaluate if they are worth saving. Kura gets angry about the elevator part of the mission. Kura and also Chip get angry about Kai Leng and his lack of buildup. They wonder about why Cerberus chose to keep Kai Leng away from the ME2 suicide mission. They review Thane’s confrontation with Kai Leng, and mourn Thane’s death. Chip is surprised that you can miss Thane’s death if you delay visiting the hospital. They talk about how the mission plays out if Thane isn’t available. They appreciate that Bailey survives his injuries, and Kura is surprised how quickly the Presidium shops reopen.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/341

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#53: As Seen in the Movies (On Jack and Jacob)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 07:10:57 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through Mass Effect 3 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they handle some side quests involving Grissom Academy and some Cerberus Scientists, and come across some familiar faces while doing so.

They begin by talking about Traynor picking up a Turian signal regarding Grissom Academy, and she’s able to determine that it’s a trap. They talk about her humility and self-deprecation after doing a good job. Then they talk about Kaiden’s educational history. After recapping the events at Grissom, they discuss Jack having hair now. Kurabara points out that this mission was based on the mansion attack with Wolverine protecting the kids in X-2: X-Men United.

They review Jack’s changes in behaviour and attitude, and evaluate if she has a satisfying character arc. They talk about Jack’s focus on protecting the kids, and how this mission also gives her the ability to directly fight Cerberus. They talk about Jack punching Shepard and the information that Cerberus wants to reprogram her and indoctrinate the kids. They consider Cerberus’ actions in ME2 and how they seem to be an aberration in hindsight. They also try to consider Cerberus’ moral philosophies.

They talk about Kahlee Sanders and her relationship with Anderson. Nick dubs them Sanderson and stumbles into what may happen. They talk about Anderson’s four book saga and the age difference between Kahlee and Anderson. They get back to talking about Grissom Academy and they discuss the auditorium section of the mission. They also talk about the chance to get in the mech. They mention that, if you saved him in the Project Overlord DLC, David Archer is here, counting the number of days since Shepard freed him.

They talk about some of the kids on the mission including a couple that Nick struggles to recognize as flirting. They talk about Ensign Rodriguez beginning to buy into the Cerberus propaganda. They talk about the Phantom Initiative. They mention this must be done before the Cerberus Coup and whether or not they put the kids in a support role at the end.

Next, they talk about the mission to evacuate the Cerberus scientists. They talk about immediately running into Jacob. Chip reveals he does not like Jacob and they talk about how if you romanced Jacob in ME2, this is your first sign that he has blown you off. They talk about how Jacob is reacting to his father’s abandonment, including his trip to the beach after ME2. They mention meeting up with Jacob later in the Citadel for him to reveal that Bryn is pregnant. They wonder if Jacob even likes Shepard, and compare Jacob and Shepard’s outlooks on family.

They debate Jacob vs. Kaiden as characters and wonder if Kaiden can get a date? They talk about Cerberus being evil for evil’s sake and how they are murdering the scientists at the conclusion of their research. Kura mentions how this mission is a homage to the Hoth evacuation sequence in Empire Stikes Back. They mention that Gavin Archer is here and Nick enjoyed telling him right off. They talk about how Jacob admits that he missed when they Illusive Man tuned evil, which only further fuels Chips dislike of the character.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#54: For the Children (On Grunt and Samara)

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 05:44:16 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they are looking for some lost Krogan in Rachni space and then check up on an Asari Ardat-Yakshi Monastery. But first, Bud Ness tweets to let the guys know that Ashley is not a Major but a Lieutenant Commander, and this leads to a discussion about military ranks.

Next, they talk about Wrex sending Shepard into Rachni space. Chip doesn’t like the mission, but says that hanging out with Grunt is fun. The main problem with the mission is that your decision from Mass Effect 1 regarding the Rachni Queen is rendered moot. Kura loves the flamethrower in the mission, as does self-proclaimed arsonist Chip. Kura mentions finding the body of Charr, noted Krogan poet. Nick talks about returning Charr’s last poem to his wife on the Citadel.

Nick mentions being excited that Grunt would join your party at the end of this mission, and his subsequent disappointment when that did not happen. They talk about Grunt’s potential demise. They also discuss ME3’s racial party composition. They talk about the replacement Rachni Queen that you find if the original Rachni Queen did not survive ME1. Nick wonders if the Rachni are immune to indoctrination. They talk about the introduction of the Ravagers and how they are Reaperized Rachni. Nick complains that they don’t feel like Rachni. They talk about how no one trusts the Rachni even though this situation is not their fault. Nick likes Grunt in this mission more than in ME2. They talk about the Rachni working on the Crucible and wonder how Rachni build things.

Finally, the guys talk about the Ardat-Yakshi Monastery that is under Reaper attack. Nick likes the horror aspect of the mission, and they talk about how you can hear the Banshees before you see them. They discuss the size of the banshees and their elongated nature. Kura points out that the Asari Commandos hate the Ardat-Yakshi. Nick brings up Yaris, the Ardat-Yakshi who is too romantic and still a danger. They talk about Morinth despite her not being here.

They discuss Samara and her other two daughters, Reela and Phelair. They talk about how Samara was on the verge of killing herself because Phelair no longer has a monastery to remain exiled in. Then, they evaluate Phelair’s decision to remain behind in the ruins of the monastery. Nick brings up encountering Samara again on the Citadel, and Kura mentions she says the Justicars may not survive. They also talk about using the flashlight in the dark sequences. They mention that Liara shows her racism by only considering the Asari people, and Javik is becoming a bit one note.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/34h

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#55: DOCTOR CONRAD MOTHERF***IN' VERNER!!!

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 04:19:54 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they return to the Citadel to check how it is holding up after the Cerberus Coup, and they run into a few familiar faces in the process.

First, they talk about the visible damage on the Citadel after Cerberus’ attack, especially around the Presidium. They talk about the evolution of the Citadel throughout the game. Then they take a few moments to complain about the quest log, and the nature of overhearing quests to be resolved through planetary scanning. They mention the Cerberus Comms recovery mission in relation to this. Chip points out that Bioware has done this in other games, and they compare it to the old RPG method of allowing (requiring) the player to talk to everyone in a location. They talk about how some of what you overhear is resolved in the Spectre office, which leads to the discussion that there should have been a Spectre Secretary. The dismiss the shooting gallery and speculate on who would make a good ‘Specretary.’

They discuss telling Garrus about Shepard’s decisions regarding potentially killing Kaiden or Ashley. Kura brings up that Bioware was caught off guard by the romantic interest in Garrus. They also discuss Tali as a love interest. They consider Cortes as a character as well. Next, they get to the reappearance of Conrad Verner. Nick and Kura disagree over the order of events, but they consider whether Conrad would make a good Specretary. Then, the move on to talking about Ghorek, the Batarian Terrorist who is dying. Nick recounts his encounter with Khaleesa Al-Jhilani. Then they discuss a quest that starts by tracking a hacker and completes with the re-emergence of Balak from Bring Down the Sky. Finally, they talk about the economics of war, and that the Alliance must defeat the Reapers fast, lest society run out of money.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/34p

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#56: Legion is the new Archer

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:00:40 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect 3 part of the Mass Effect Legendary edition. This week, they check in with the crew on the Normandy and then visit the Quarian Fleet to recruit them to the war effort.

First, they run through the various interactions with everyone on the Normandy after the recent events on Tuchanka and the Citadel. They talk to Hackett who reveals that the Crucible is 50% done, and they consider how that is possible, and compare that with the rate of Reaper progress in dominating the galaxy. They talk a little about Kai Leng’s run ins with Anderson and Chip once again points out that Kai Leng sucks. They discuss Kaiden mentioning that EDI looks good even though she is in the same body that nearly killed him.

They talk about Traynor coming up to Shepard’s cabin and how that can go awkwardly for a male Shepard. They also talk about the possibility of hooking up with Diana Allers after she interviews Shepard regarding their exploits so far. They talk about how odd it is to hook up with a digital character based on a real person, and how extraneous Allers feels as part of the crew. Next, they discuss James coming up to Shepard to talk about being invited to join the N7 program. They also mention the James and Garrus one-ups-manship that occurs in the mess hall where they try to outdo each other with their exploits.

Next, Shepard directs the Normandy to check in with the Quarian Fleet. Tali is an admiral, and Kurabara talks about his experience being in a relationship with Tali through this mission. They talk about the return of Legion and Chip mentions he doesn’t understand why Legion was trapped in the ball like he was. They talk about the escape sequence from the Dreadnaught, and they point out that the Geth fighter makes little logistical sense as far as serving as an effective escape vehicle.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/35v

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#57: Philosophy Goals

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:00:43 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary edition. This week they make it to Rannoch, the Quarian long-lost homeworld, and contend with the Geth that have taken it over.

First, they discuss the mission to save Admiral Korris after his ship crashed during the confrontation with the Geth Dreadnaught. They talk about the prevalence of turrets and how you have to defend the base after initially assaulting it. They talk about how the interference affects the Normandy’s communications and how they try to reflect that with EDI, but for gameplay reasons leave it less impactful. They discuss Tali’s lack of reaction to being on Rannoch (for this mission at least), and how Rannoch seems to lack cities, instead feeling like the American Southwest. Kura complains there are no ruins to be found in this mission. They review having to convince Korris to join Shepard or not and the possible consequences of that discussion. They talk about how characters still need to learn to trust Shepard despite the Commander’s ongoing success. They consider how the Reapers have genetically modified each race they come across except for the Geth where they only enhance their minds. \

Next, they discuss Shepard’s foray into the Geth Consensus. Nick is underwhelmed by the mission, and he and Chip review several of the explanations for why the Consensus appears how it does to Shepard, and while they are logical, they still leave the experience falling flat. They talk about the Geth sense of nostalgia, and Chip is impressed by all the lore included in this mission. They evaluate Shepard’s hesitancy to join the Consensus and talk about how that should be common in this time frame. They review the debate around whether the Geth are alive. They talk about Tali finally reacting to Rannoch like the tourist she is.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/35y

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#58: Canadian Lager

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:06:55 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about their experiences playing Mass Effect 3. This week, they continue through the Rannoch storyline, looking at the crew’s reaction to what is going on. First they talk about Tali joining the Normandy and taking Wrex’s spot in the Command center. They discuss bringing her on missions at this point, though she hasn’t properly joined the crew. They talk about Legion and Garrus interacting, and again lament that you spend so little time with Legion throughout the series. They observe that Shepard is the first organic to treat the Geth with respect, which is notable against the isolation of the Geth. Garrus talks about his family while Javik doesn’t care for any current relationships. Next, they debate if EDI can be trusted. Then they talk about the K-9 robot dog in the bay. There’s a sly crack from Cortes to Vega about bears. They mention that Vega calls Tali 'Sparks'. They also mention the stress that Tali is under as Admiral.

Discussion shifts to the Citadel, and they reference the interaction with Javik and the Hanar on the Citadel, which leads to a discussion of Prothean influence upon the current races. There’s a meeting with Miranda. Also, Zaeed re-emerges. James confirms he is joining the N7 program. Kaiden awkwardly prompts Shepard for a date and talks about Canadian lager. Joker and EDI appear to be together now, and Garrus goes skeet shooting with Shepard.

Back on the Normandy, Joker makes a questionable joke, and Javik again questions EDI’s intentions. Daniels continues to embarrass himself, and the gang compare the Mass Effect 3 interactions with the chatter from Mass Effect 1.

After the Geth consensus, Admirals Xen and Shala’raan have an argument. Joker questions Shepard’s senses, and EDI gets really awkward with Shepard. Javik continues to be an asshole and Donnelly continues to be a horndog.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/369

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#59: Keelah Se'lai, Motherf***er! (On the Rannoch Finale)

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:34:10 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue their journey through Mass Effect 3. This week, they finish up the missions on the planet Rannoch, facing down a Reaper and deciding just how the Quarian-Geth conflict should end.

First, they talk about the reveal of the Reaper and their reactions. They wonder about how the reapers of different sizes are made, and consider why Reapers are made to look like their original race when they are then stuck in a shell. They talk about Shepard fighting the Reaper with a pistol, and then review the speed and mechanics of the fight. They mention the pointlessness of the railgun on the shuttle evading the Reaper, and then talk about the utility of the gatling gun early in the mission.

Next, they discuss Shepard’s conversation with the Reaper. They talk about how Harbinger has been mentioning Shepard by name. They discuss the difficulty or ease of killing various reapers, and then talk about the Reaper’s opinions of the Geth. They talk about the goals of the Reapers and evaluate how the Reapers interact with various “lesser” lifeforms. They bring up the renegade option of Shepard shooting the Reaper again. They consider the Reaper outlook that organics and synthetics fundamentally cannot get along.

Then, they talk about the various outcomes for the Geth-Quarian conflict. They discuss Legion’s sacrifice. They talk about Tali imagining building a home, and the romantic potential that implies for Shepard. Chip mentions the requirements for brokering a peace between the two factions. They discuss the outcome where Tali dies. They review the statistics for most selected outcomes. They talk about the situation where you have to kill Legion. They talk about Tali’s inability to call off the fleet in the Quarian destruction scenario. They reflect on hearing Tali’s voice without a filter, and her move back onto the Normandy and into engineering. They wonder about whether the outcome of individualizing the Geth means that we killed the Geth Consensus.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/36g

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#60: Asari, Not Asari

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 07:00:08 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they begin their discussion of the mission to Thessia, where everything goes wrong and the Asari knowledge of their history gets turned on its head.

The discussion begins with Kura asking why the Asari Councilor wants to meet in Udina’s old office. Then, they follow up on the Rannoch missions by reviewing the crew’s reactions to the end of the Geth-Quarian War. They talk about Kaiden and Vega playing poker. Then they wonder about why the Quarian are letting the Geth into their quarantine suits. They talk about how Javik is antagonistic towards Shepard for making the peace deal. This leads to a discussion how the Prothean’s galactic dominance may have made it easier for the Reapers to defeat them. They also consider Tali’s style of diplomacy.

Next, they talk about meeting with the Asari Councilor and the revelation that there’s a Prothean artifact on Thessia. After a summation of the mission events, they evaluate the fight leading up to the temple. They wonder about the pit underneath the temple. They debate Liara’s reaction to the destruction of her planet, and talk about Javik being self-aware of how callous he can be. They talk about the Reapers pitting children against parents.

They evaluate Javik’s attempt to coach Liara through her grief, and consider that Javik is at his most humane on this mission. Then, they review the Javik-Liara screaming match. They discuss Shepard sensing the Prothean beacon, and consider Javik’s revelations that the Protheans were behind the Asari religion. They talk about how the Asari were effectively the Prothean’s last hope, and now the Asari have to process this information. Lastly, they discuss the origins of the Crucible.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/36j

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#61: Prothean Cerberus!!!

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 08:00:04 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about the Thessia mission in Mass Effect 3. They begin by talking about the revelation that the Prothean had their own rogue group like Cerberus that prevented them from defeating the Reapers. They look back at Saren and his rationale for working with Sovereign in Mass Effect 1 for comparison, and then briefly review the history of Cerberus. They talk about the Illusive Man and how he fits into Cerberus.

They also consider the Reaper battle plan and how they manipulate their way to success. This leads to a discussion about how to survive the Reapers and they wonder if the beacons Liara made will work for the next cycle. The evaluate the Yahg who seem to be poised to evolve into the next great civilization of the next cycle. They talk about how one of the reasons the Reapers are successful are that no one ever believes the Reapers are real.

Next, they talk about the appearance of Kai Leng and his interruption of the history lesson from the Prothean VI. They note that the VI confirms Kai Leng has been indoctrinated. Chip mentions his disgust for the character. They talk about how this is a fight that you cannot win, which Chip also does not like. They wonder about why the Temple was built over a bottomless pit. Kura compares Kai Leng to an internet troll. They then compare Kai Leng and the Illusive Man in their roles as foils for Shepard. They wonder if Kai Leng was necessary in Mass Effect 3. They discuss how the narrative of Mass Effect 3 strains at certain points when events must happen regardless of choices the player has made.

Nick appreciates that the Illusive Man comments on Liara and her lousy Shadow Broker skills. They also mention that the Illusive Man insists that he is not indoctrinated. They then talk about Shepard losing this battle and compare it with other times Shepard may lose due to poor decision making.

They discuss returning to the Normandy and how it feels different. They review how the mission goes if Javik is not there. They mention that James compares this battle to the events of Paragon Lost, which is harsh. They wonder about obtaining Javik from Eden Prime after Thessia, and then complain about Javik being DLC despite being such an essential part of ME3. They review talking to the Asari Councillor who is also dealing with the fall of Thessia. Then they talk about how Anderson has to cheer up Shepard despite struggling to save Earth.

Nick gushes over Traynor as she finds a way to track Kai Leng to the Horizon system. They talk about Shepard being in foul mood with EDI and Joker, and how Joker has to put Shepard in their place. They discuss how the crew is as concerned about Shepard as Shepard is about the crew in this game. They mention the crew is also concerned about Liara, and then end on a lighter note as Daniels finally stands up to Donnelly and things seem to be changing for the young couple.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/36q

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#62: Big Mouth Hugo Husk (Leviathan Part 1)

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:04:57 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary edition. This week they begin their discussion of the Leviathan DLC in Mass Effect 3.

They begin by talking about how there should be a non-SPECTRE based Mass Effect game, arguing that either it should be based on the Citadel as a crime fighting experience, or focused on the underbelly of Omega, set in the smuggler or outlaw genre. They get into a discussion of Nick doing the Leviathan DLC early on his first playthrough and getting stuck on the mission outside the asteroid mining facility. They then discuss the family-centric nature of this mission, as it involves Dr. Bryson and his daughter. This leads to a debate about who would be better at childcare: Shepard or Jack. They consider how critical the Leviathan DLC is to the overall story, and they mention how they prefer DLC to fit in after the main narrative instead of during it.

Next, they begin discussing the first mission in the DLC, which is the search for Dr. Garneau. They talk about the best way to handle the combat at the T-GES Mining Facility, which everyone struggled with. Nick complains that Shepard should be used to dealing with brainwashed people by now. They discuss why the artifact has been controlling the facility for a decade, and how the victims are completely unaware of the events of ME1 and ME2. They talk about the map used to locate the asteroid.

Next, they discuss Bryson’s lab and what is found there, including the screaming husk head. Nick wonders about a strange alien picture on the wall, and that leads to a consideration of the Yahg as a villain race. They resume talking about Dr. Garneau and enjoy the twists of his story.

They then discuss the next mission to the archeological dig site in search of Ann Bryson. They talk about the murals that appear to feature reapers being worshipped. They comment on the jumping puzzles in this section. They evaluate the various Reaper forces, and then return to talking about the husk head again.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/36v

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#63: Under the Sea (Leviathan Part II)

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:00:25 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they finish their discussion of the Leviathan DLC for Mass Effect 3.

After a recap of the mission, they talk about the Leviathan race and how there are at least three beings down at the bottom of the ocean. They talk about the final fight and how you can’t kill all the enemies and instead must focus on the objective of charging the batteries at some point. They talk about the reveal of the artifacts aboard the vessel and the space horror vibe of the mission. They consider if the deep ocean is scarier than space. They talk about jury-rigging the mech and then plunging into the depths with it, and just how smart that seems. They mention the pulse that keeps shooting at the shuttle when Cortes tries to leave. Nick compares the underwater section to Dear Esther.

They talk about the history of the Reapers, and the repeating logic of making AIs to fix problems. They talk about the Reaper strategy to prevent another Ai from emerging. They wonder what Leviathan ships look like, or if they even use ships. They talk about the Leviathans as apex predators and discuss the Leviathan taking out a Reaper.

They talk about Shepard as an anomaly, and discuss the Protheans getting their message through. They talk about how society can help or hinder resistance to the Reapers. Nick wonders about the Leviathans being bored on the ocean floor. They talk about how the Leviathan have been beaten down. They discuss the revelation of Harbinger as the first Reaper and how this seems to be getting personal. Nick wonders how often Harbinger gets this involved in a harvest. They talk about whether the Reapers have a consensus or if there are Reaper politics to navigate. They consider that Shepard stopping their invasion of the Citadel in ME1 is uncharted territory for the Reapers. They compare the Reapers and the Geth.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/379

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#64: Don't F*** with Aria! (On the Omega DLC)

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:00:26 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they focus on the Omega DLC for Mass Effect 3.

They begin by talking about Aria and the current status of Omega under Cerberus occupation. They consider the relationship of the DLC to the Citadel as a hub for all additional content. They mention Bray, Aria’s second in command, who is a rare friendly Batarian. This leads to a comparison of Aria to the Batarians in general. They review the car ride where Aria introduces the mission and its protagonist, General Petrovsky. They consider how the regular crew is not involved in this mission, as it is only for Shepard.

They evaluate Petrovsky as a Cerberus agent and then opine on the confrontation with Petrovsky at the end of the mission. They compare Kai Leng and Petrovsky as high level Cerberus agents of variable effectiveness. They talk about Petrovsky’s quick surrender once the final battle is over, and discuss the chess motif that he is depicted with. They compare outcomes for Aria’s attempt to choke Petrovsky, and whether they had Shepard intervene or not. They consider Petrovsky’s value to the war effort.

They also discuss how Aria tends to approve of Shepard’s renegade decisions. They review the decision when Shepard has to shut down the power or try to reroute it first. Nick wonders if Aria can die. They talk about the introduction of Nyreen, the first female Turian we meet. This leads to a discussion of females in various races. They discuss Nyreen as Aria’s ex, and also look at Aria’s foul language. They mourn Nyreen for her sacrifice, and point out how that lead directly to Aria running into Petrovsky’s trap.

They mention Nyreen’s fear of Adjutants, and this leads to a discussion of the horror-game elements in the DLC. Nick brings up the Doom flashlight again. They talk about the nature of the horde style fights, and the various difficulties they are playing on. They talk about the art and style of Omega. Finally, they mention the return of Aria’s couch as well as other prominent Omega community members from Mass Effect 2.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/37g

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#65: Horizon: Zero Deal

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:40 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they discuss the mission to Sanctuary on Horizon, where the Reapers have flushed out Cerberus secret experiments and Miranda confronts her mad scientist father.

First, Nick talks about finally beating Mass Effect 3. Then, they discuss how Sanctuary was hinted at from early chatter on the Citadel. They mention their proximity to endgame, and Nick notes that he did the Citadel DLC prior to this mission.

After a recap of the mission’s events, Nick says he is disappointed we didn’t get the see the Sanctuary façade that Cerberus was engaged in. Kurabara says the mission started off creepy but that shifted, and Chip compares the whole mess to Soylent Green. Nick posits that this should have been Miranda’s loyalty mission, and they talk about the cartoonishly villainous nature of Cerberus. Chip dislikes that the Reapers cleared out the facility before we could arrive, while Henry Lawson is grateful to Shepard. They discuss Kai Leng as a foil for Miranda. They mention Alan Dales brief cameo as Henry Lawson, and then discuss Miranda murdering her dad. They review the possible outcomes of the encounter, including Miranda or Orianna dying. They talk about the indoctrination of Cerberus and how much control the Reapers actually had over them.

Next, they review crew reactions to Horizon. Traynor is upset because she is from Horizon. EDI learns significantly about human behaviour. Kal Reegar’s fate is revealed. Kaiden and Ashley are irritated. Tali get drunk because she is comparing herself to Miranda. Javik lets his guard down the slightest and faces some harsh Prothean memories.

Other crew moments include Joker and Liara discussing escapees from Joker’s home colony. Tali and Garrus are getting closer and closer. Daniels and Donnely appear to be hooking up. Tali and EDI discuss the Quarians value to the Reapers.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/37l

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#66: Attack of the Clone (Citadel DLC part I)

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 09:28:28 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue their journey through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they begin their dive into the Citadel DLC for Mass Effect 3 that involves Shepard getting an apartment and the ensuing hijinks.

They start by discussing the reasons for the DLC, as people were left underwhelmed by the series’ finale. This DLC was intended to provide more closure for the various relationships Shepard had built over the years. They also briefly mention that patch to improve the ending sequence.

After an interlude with Nick recapping his acquisition of MELE through PS+, they get into the Citadel introduction which has Anderson bequeathing his apartment in the Presidium to Shepard. They discuss the layout of the apartment and the legality of the transaction. They talk about Keith David’s performance for Anderson’s memoir recordings and mention some other items found in the apartment.

After recapping the clone plot, the guys talk about how each of the characters are introduced with a hero moment. They consider the concept of a Shepard-clone and how that could have been worthy of its own game. Chip mentions the plot is ridiculous and played for laughs in a good way. Everyone recounts being caught off guard by the clone reveal. They review the sushi restaurant combat sequence and discuss the encounter with the used car salesman. They appreciate the return of Wrex. They consider the holograms in the Archives. Nick admits to being blindsided by Brooks’ reveal. They talk about Shepard and team getting stuck in the archives.

They revel in Traynor’s moment with her toothbrush, and marvel at the fight in the CIC on the Normandy. They discuss the mirror match against the clone in the shuttle bay. They ponder what makes a Shepard a Shepard, and then review the various outcomes for Brooks.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/37q

Hosts:

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#67: Party Time! (Citadel DLC Part II)

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:43:10 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they finish up talking about the Citadel DLC by chatting about the big crew party at Shepard’s new apartment.

They begin by talking about the nature of this part of the DLC, focusing on the crew and the relationships Shepard has been forming over the years. Nick talks about how there are two parties you can experience based on what mood you choose to set. He also credits Glyph for his bowtie selection. They talk about how various characters are given the opportunity to interact with each other, especially characters that were featured in different games who otherwise would never meet. They talk about Miranda and Jack bonding, Grunt serving as doorman, and Javik praising Zaeed.

They also comment on the Silversun Strip where some of the single character missions take place, like Traynor’s strategy game tournament. They laugh about Shepard rejecting the Towers of Hanoi, and discuss the arcade combat simulation which allows for endless Mass Effect. Chip enjoys Zaeed’s fascination with the claw machine, and the guys talk about arcades in general. Chip comments how this DLC was written with care and affection, and how it is fan service done properly. They mention Grunt’s run-in with C-Sec. Nick talks about Shepard and James’ pull-up challenge, and how Shepard’s pull-up style is dangerous. They talk about the Officer complaining about whatever class Shepard is as a way for Bioware to acknowledge issues with their own gameplay design. They appreciate the encounter between Javik and Blasto. Nick is confused by Shepard playing Garrus’ wingman.

They talk about the party proper, and how it hits the right notes as an office party. Nick is disappointed in the lack of Dr. Chakwas. They talk about many of the character interactions and jokes that are experienced throughout the events, and consider how different crew members play the roles of various people you encounter at parties, including who can and can’t hold their liquor. They gush over Mordin’s recordings and review who is unable to attend the party regardless of their survival status. They talk about some of the dating scenarios since this is the last chance for romance, and go over some of the post-party character missions. Finally, they give their thoughts on the value of this DLC.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to @squadgoalsN7 on twitter or email us at squadgoals@mash.gg before January 8th, 2023 when we will be recording a mailbag segment for an upcoming episode.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/37w

Hosts:

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#68: Family Ties (on Cerberus HQ)

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:00:22 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their experiences playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week, they are approaching the end of Mass Effect 3 as they head to Cerberus Headquarters to confront the Illusive Man.

They talk about how half the map is Reapers as they head to the base. They wonder why Liara, as Shadow Broker, doesn’t know where this is and take more shots at Liara. After recapping the mission, they use notable Martin Sheen roles of late to evaluate the Illusive Man. They also compare the Illusive Man to tech-billionaires like Elon Musk. They talk about the Illusive Man’s desire for humanity to dominate the galaxy, and consider whether he is more fanatic or pragmatic. They react to the revelation that the Cerberus Troops weren’t all volunteers, and debate when the Illusive Man decided to control the Reapers. They mention the Human Proto-Reaper’s heart is just out in the open and wonder just how indoctrinated the Illusive Man and Cerberus were.

They then get into the series of console videos that reveal some of the relationships between EDI and Shepard and the Illusive Man. First, they talk about EDI being the AI from the moon in Mass Effect 1 and how EDI’s presence in all three games now aligns more with Shepard. Nick considers EDI and Shepard as siblings, with the Illusive Man in a patriarchal role. Chip points out that going to kill their father is like a Greek tragedy. Then they talk about the Lazarus Protocol and Shepard’s reaction to watching the Illusive Man rebuild them. They take a brief intermission to talk about Shepard trying to apologize to Joker. They then consider the creation of EDI and compare it with the news about Google potentially having created an AI with a soul. They talk about how EDI saves Shepard and team from being ventilated out of the bay into space.

They talk about the Kai Leng fight and how underwhelming it was, although it felt good to have him defeated finally. They talk about the final revelations of the mission: that the Citadel is the Catalyst and it is now near Earth in heavily controlled Reaper space. Finally, they go over the last interactions with the crew on the Normandy before deciding to head for the finale on Earth.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/383

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#69: The End of the End

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 08:00:53 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to finish up talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect 3 in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This week they are finally up to the controversial end of the trilogy.

Nick begins by talking about how he didn’t understand how to make the choice – it wasn’t apparent to him that there were three pathways, and he just walked straight ahead into the beam and got the Synthesis ending. Next, they quickly talk about the Failure ending and how Liara’s beacon project is prominent in that ending. They discuss how galactic readiness can affect your choices. Nick wonders is Synthesis is the so-called “best” option. They talk about how Shepard’s relationship with Synthetics, particularly EDI, weigh on them regarding the Destroy option.

They talk about the monologues being added at the end. They talk about the original endings to the game. They mention that the Husks show emotion in the Synthesis ending now. Kura discusses how he perceives the endings as he is colorblind. They try to relate the red and blue choices to the Paragon and Renegade decision paths, but observe that they seem backwards.

Nick talks about saying farewell to the crew in the London base, and mentions that he missed Kaiden. They discuss the prominences of telephone booths in 2186 London, and talk about old technology in use beyond its time. They evaluate the base and mention how it establishes just how dire the circumstances are.

Nick says that the true ending of Mass Effect, for him, is the Citadel DLC party. They talk about the reappearance of Primarch Victus and talk about how Javik should be proud they got so far by virtue of the knowledge gained from the Prothean Beacons. Chip mentions his dissatisfaction with the game starting and ending on Earth. They talk about the Shepard-Garrus friendship. Nick mentions that since he pursued Samara who is not a love interest, in the sequences that would have involved a love interest, he got Javik. Nick wonders about the possibility of EDI evolving into a hostile AI, and wonders if we could tell the difference between a benevolent or malicious AI at this point?

They wonder about what happened to everyone who was on the Citadel when it was taken. They talk about the final battle against the Reaper forces and having to shoot the missiles. Nick wonders if the Reaper that hits Shepard at the end is Harbinger. They talk about the Anderson-Shepard-Illusive Man confrontation.

Finally, they talk about the Reaper AI appearing as the kid from Shepard’s visions. They wonder if Shepard was indoctrinated. They discuss how the Synthesis option is offered out of nowhere. Finally, they talk about the final scene of the game with the old man and the grandkid recounting the story of the Shepard, and wonder if Shepard was just a myth?

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/38c

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#70: Looking Back at the Trilogy

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:00:46 GMT

This week, Nick, Chip, and Kura are joined by producer and editor Jarret who to look back at the entire Mass Effect Legendary Edition and trilogy. They begin by talking about Jarret’s role in forming the show. Then they talk about how Nick would mispronounce names regularly. Jarret then shares his thoughts on the ME3 finale. They talk about how several sequences in the finale are the same with a different color tint. They talk about how the ending didn’t land right and compare it to other notable finales from games and shows. They discuss how difficult it is to create a satisfying ending. Nick shares some statistics for his playthroughs of the trilogy. They wonder about which ending will be made canon in the next Mass Effect game. Nick wonders how the Geth will fit in since there were two decision points that could have wiped them out. They debate if the next game will kick off another trilogy.

Next, they discuss how the game industry evolved during the development of the trilogy, and how that impacted each of the games as they were released. They mention that Mass Effect 5’s development will cost more than any of the prior games. Jarret points out that the community was riled up around ME3’s release since that was around the time of gamergate. Chip mentions that people were upset about Jessica Chobot’s inclusion in the game. They discuss the vocal minority driving the conversation. The consider how Gamestop influenced the series, and argue that Javik should not have been a pre-order bonus or DLC. They remember midnight launches and how digital versions have changed that. They talk about various strategies for getting players not to trade in games like multiplayer passes.

They then talk about playing through the MELE knowing how decisions in ME1 would affect ME3 and war assets in particular. They talk about how ME1 suffers in comparison to ME2. They mention the evolution of Bioware’s development around the dice-rolling RPG. They also talk about how television technology changing affected the series.

Jarret talks about several of the decisions that affected him. Nick mentions his love for the Citadel DLC. They consider Kaiden, and talk about the evolution of the characters over the course of the trilogy.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/39g

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Jarret Redding
bsky.app/profile/jaastradam.us

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#71: Emails, Character Tiers, and Farewell for Now

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:00:56 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara welcome Jarret back to close out this era of Squad Goals. They begin by reading several of the emails they received throughout the series. They talk about talking down the Batarian hostage takers on Omega. They talk about other ways to deal with the Batarian bartender in Afterlife that tries to poison Shepard. They revisit Zaeed’s secret history with the Blue Suns. They further discuss Liara as the Shadow Broker and how sloppy she is at keeping her secret. This leads to a quick tangent about the Mass Effect teaser from November which mentioned Liara’s future in a redacted role, and speculation about what that could be.

Next, the guys get into a discussion ranking the various characters of Mass Effect. Of course they start the discussion talking about Kaiden and how Nick warmed up to him while everyone else remained cool. Then they discuss Kelly Chambers and her role in Mass Effect 2, and the importance of taking care of the fish. This leads to a direct comparison between Kaiden and Kelly. Then they wonder which humans would have made good Spectres. Next, they examine Donnelly and his arc through Mass Effect 3, and evaluate his relationship with Daniels. They question the purpose of Morinth as more than just a dark Samara. Then they look at Pressley and Kasumi before getting into a discussion about Diana Allers and her role on the ship. They wonder if a war journalist could properly work on the Normandy.

They debate where Jenkins should rank, and then struggle ranking Legion given how little he is actually involved in the game. They rank Ashley, Javik, and get involved in a discussion ranking Garrus, as he is one of the few characters that is useful in every game. They then consider the Garrus-Shepard relationship. They talk about how to rank Joker, Mordin, and Jack before going on about Tali at length.

Next, they discuss some of the notable minor characters, with particular emphasis on Captain Bailey and Conrad Verner, of course. Then they rank the villains. They compare Kai Leng and the Shepard clone. They rank the Illusive Man, Harbinger and Sovereign, and the original Shadow Broker. Then they discuss if Leviathan even counts as a character, let alone a villain.

Finally, they wrap up the series with a discussion of the future. Could an Andromeda play through be coming?

Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter. We may not talk about them in a future episode (or will we?) but we will reply to any feedback we receive.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! We hope you enjoyed your time traveling the galaxy with us!

Episode URL: mtb.gg/39n

Hosts:

Jarret Redding
bsky.app/profile/jaastradam.us

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Chip Locke

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

N7 Day 2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:45:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are checking in from their hiatus to talk about the recent N7 about the recent Mass Effect teaser and ARG that Bioware released on November 7th, N7 day.

The guys talk about the countdown leading up to the trailer and how the bits of the trailer were released throughout the day leading up to the assembly of the full trailer at the end. They then recap the trailer and Chip talks about how people had to decode clues to unlock the parts of the trailer. He also points out that the ARG started with a distress signal from Andromeda. Nick wonders if these trailers could be endlessly merchandised without ever requiring a game to come out.

Chip talks briefly about how Bioware had been releasing games early like Anthem and Andromeda. They then wonder about how long its going to take for Mass Effect 5 to be ready. They reference an article about how long it is taking for Bioware to get Dragon Age Dreadwolf out, with that taking precedence before the next ME game. They talk about how long six years can be in video game time, with studios rising and falling and vast changes in hardware to come between now and 2029.

Nick talks about the theory that Liara accidentally got pregnant from Shepard and thus the main character of the next game would be Shepard’s secret asari daughter. Then, they start trying to figure out how the Andromeda distress signal would work reaching the Milky Way Galaxy. Nick talks about the meta-context of a distress signal back to the original trilogy characters after the problems of Andromeda.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals - A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Look for more Squad Goals next year sending distress signals from the Andromeda galaxy!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3fg

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#72: Welcome to Andromeda!

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

WELCOME TO ANDROMEDA!!! Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back after quite the hiatus to finally talk about Mass Effect: Andromeda! They begin with Nick admitting that this will be his first playthrough of the game so he will be looking to Chip and Kura to guide him as they go. Chip and Kura admit that its been a while and they do not remember everything that happens.

First, they talk about character creation and how the appearance you choose for your Ryder impacts the appearance of Ryder’s dad. They talk about how they are in a localized area in the Andromeda galaxy and not exploring the whole thing (and speculate that DLC or expansions may have intended to cover that space). There are no Mass Effect Relays, so the game does not feel quite like the original Mass Effects, but there are callbacks and easter eggs to find.

They mention that you should be able to purchase the game on sale or get it through EA Play or Gamepass. They talk about how some of the graphical jank at release affected the game’s reception. Chip mentions that he still liked the game enough to beat it, and on his replay he will try to see how long he can go without using mods. They complain about the inventory but praise the vehicle controls. Chip says the combat may be the best form of Mass Effect combat.

They talk about structural problems for the game, as the main story is loose and there is too much of an open nature, that it is easy to loose the plot. Chip talks about liking all the characters and even when he disliked a character they were still interesting. They compare Ryder as a nepobaby with Shepard as a military superstar and discuss how that affects your reaction to your character. They discuss the crew and the various relationships you can have. They compare the crew members to Garrus and Tali or Kaiden.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on twitter.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3kp

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#73: Prologue: Who is the Jenkins?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:43:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to finally start talking about Mass Effect Andromeda proper. First, they talk about the game having multiplayer and how it is not required like it originally was for Mass Effect III. Chip confirms he is not yet playing with mods. They discuss how the multiplayer can help you get resources, but there is some resource scarcity in the game. They also mention that there is an app you can download to help track your playthrough of the game on your phone. Kura downloaded some shady software on his computer to play it.

After a recap of the introductory tutorial and the first mission, the guys start discussing Andromeda. Nick points out that he was unable to save freely during the priority mission, which was a problem because he needed to stop playing to deal with his kids. They also mention this will affect their ability to savescum, which was probably the point. Nick complains that as a podcaster, he likes being able to quickly go back and see what the other outcomes a decision might have so he can discuss them.

Chip asks Nick if he did everything on Habitat 7 and Nick is unsure. They talk about the chances of going back to Habitat 7 to get all the optional stuff that they may have missed.

They start talking about the system and Kura compares the scanner to the tool in Metroid Prime. Nick complains that the escape key does not put the scanner away. Nick also had some problems adjusting to playing on an Xbox 360 controller. He also complains that they changed the space bar from cover to jump and fly.

They talk about the changes to the dialog options, with the conversation happening through an emotion-based click-wheel. They talk about how this builds a psychological profile of your character.

They mention that the only relevant fact from the prior trilogy was the gender of Shepard. They talk about combat and cloaking, hovering, and grenades. They compare their Ryders.

They compare the new crew to the old cast from the prior Mass Effects. Nick wonders who is the Kaiden and the Ashley, but concludes that Kirkland is the new Jenkins.

They talk about Alec Ryder and Chip complains that he makes stupid decisions. He also complains they should have had spare helmets.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3kz

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#74: Planetside: Habitat 7

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to continue talking about their experiences playing Mass Effect Andromeda. They begin by Chip resuming his point from last week that Alec Ryder is stupid for rushing to get everyone on the planet. Every decision Alec makes leads to problems on the planet.

Chip does not understand how the long range scanners from the Milky Way could even work. They talk about how the planets are named like Habitat 7. Chip talks about how they scanned these planets 600 years ago when it’s a distance of 600 light years. Kura responds with an explanation that the Geth had the technology for scanning deep space.

Nick points out that the cryo chambers look like cars. They discuss how you can overhear other characters conversations as a way to learn about the world. They complain that sometimes an action can cut off someone’s dialog and the rest of that conversation is simply lost. They consider how everything in Andromeda changed in the 600 years between scanning it and their arrival.

They talk about the reckless decision made by Alec to go planetside so quickly after awakening the team from the pods. They talk about their first impressions of Cora and Liam. They discuss SAM filling role of team AI, like EDI. They talk about the angry robot on the planet. They question the decision by Alec to let SAM interface with the alien triangle computer, and the various risks of letting an AI interact with unknown alien technology.

They talk about the designs of the aliens and how they remind everyone of Destiny. They talk about how the Kett follow the same design principles as the Milky Way characters. They wonder if we’ll ever have a meaningful conversation with the Kett. And wonder if the Kett will be in ME5.

They share their reactions to the arks and compare the arks to the Collector ships. They evaluate the strength of the graphics.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on X.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3l2

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#75: Nexus Beings

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. This week, they begin by talking about Habitat 7 and what name it was supposed to have. Then, they discuss the cinematic that introduces the Kett leader. They talk about his appearance with a halo and a cape and what looks like a ghost from Destiny. They then try to rate him as compared to prior Mass Effect villains. They also talk about their interest in Alec Ryder after he interfaced with the alien technology.

Next, they discuss the arrival of the Hyperion on the Nexus. They compare the Nexus to the Citadel and talk about how we are still seeing it being constructed. They talk about how the Hyperion fits into the Nexus and how the entire structure is a feat of engineering.

They then start discussing several of the characters you meet on the Nexus, such as Director Tann, who was just an accountant and is now in charge of the place. They also talk about Addison who is one of the more unlikeable Mass Effect characters. They also talk about Nakmoor Kesh, the Krogan in charge of security, and this leads to a discussion of how the game handwaves away the genophage. They then discuss how the facial graphics don’t seem quite right. They talk about Kandros’ cousin being Nyrene from ME3 and Kura suggests that other such easter eggs will be found.

Next, they discuss the origins of the word Kett, as Kandros simply identifies them as the alien race from Habitat 7 without explaining how we learned that name.

They talk about Tann assigning Ryder to find a Golden World as the situation is getting dire on the Nexus. They talk about meeting privately with SAM to start recovering memories from Alec Ryder.

Finally, they discuss some of the quests on the Nexus, including one to solve a murder and one to find a saboteur. They also talk about Cora being an Asari Commando which confused Nick.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Legendary Edition Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7 on X.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3l1

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#76: Strange Bedfellows

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about their experiences playing Mass Effect Andromeda. This week, they finally get to board the Tempest and meet the full crew.

They talk about getting the Tempest on the Nexus. Nick brings up the first person navigation through the galaxy and how it is unsettling, while Chip appreciates it. They compare the design of the Tempest to the Normandy and complain about the size of the ship. In particular, they discuss the quarters assigned to Ryder as being large. They also mention how the characters migrate around the ship and how the map portrays the different levels.

They start talking about their interactions with the crew by bringing up the message board. They talk about Liam and the saga of his couch. Chip mentions that Liam can be a hothead. They talk about Peebee being direct and get into a discussion about her eyeblack.

Nick gets confused and thinks Kallo sounds vaguely like Seth Green. They talk about Kallo and Suvi playing off each other in the cockpit. They talk about the romances and how some of them progress rapidly in the early game. They discuss how easy it is to accidentally flirt with some of the characters such as Suvi in particular. They talk about her thoughts on religion and science.

Chip talks about feeling bad for Cora. They talk about her biotic powers and her relationship with Alec, and how that affects her relationship with Ryder.

Chip and Kura debate how memorable the characters are. Nick points out that the Tempest has minimal crew. They contrast Lexi with Doctor Chakwas. They mention that people without families are more likely to try to come to Andromeda.

They discuss their interactions with Gil and try to parse his accent. They then wonder about how alien accents work. They talk about Vetra and her relationship with Ryder. Nick complains about the graphics. They are excited you can climb on the Tempest.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3la

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#77: FIEND!

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:16:04 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about their experience playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. They begin by revisiting their opinions on the first person travel on the Tempest, as Nick is starting to warm to it. Chip compares it to Star Wars Squadrons and they all want VR mode for Mass Effect 5.

After a recap of events on Eos, they talk about meeting Peebee and several other characters in what is supposed to be an abandoned settlement. They talk about acquiring the Nomad and compare it to the Mako. They wonder about its restriction from driving through water and consider the strength of the radiation on Eos. Chip and Nick talk about being lured out of the safe zones by the murder quest assigned on the Nexus. Nick talks about how the combat here is when the game starts to feel like Mass Effect.

They talk about their experience around the entrance to the vault. Nick got his Nomad stuck and Chip walked right into the deadly goo. They talk about how the Kett are already starting to feel like standard video game enemies. They discuss the encounter with the Fiend.

They talk about the Monoliths and get into a discussion of whether the glyph system of locking the remnant technology makes sense. Nick compares the Remnant to Zereth Mortis in World of Warcraft.

After a recap of the vault, Nick shares that he did not like the jumping puzzles. Kura says he got annoyed by the enemies. Chip argues that the mini-map should be more useful. They wonder about the creation of the Vault and Chip compares the Remnant to the Geth.

Chip updates the status of his mod-less playthrough. Then they talk about Drack and his armor and his age.

They look at the Eos architecture and compare the Vault technology with the Shroud on Tuchanka. They debate if Eos should host a science or military focused base.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky. FIEND!

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3le

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#78: CSI: Nexus

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kura are back to continue talking about their experiences playing Mass Effect: Andromeda. This week, they return to the Nexus and check-in with everyone there now that Eos has been properly settled.

But first, Nick talks about the murder mystery that was one of the tasks to be addressed on Eos. They talk about how Nilken, a turian, was arrested for killing his commander in a sandstorm while the kett were attacking. They review following the trail on Eos and finding the omni-tool recording that indicates Nilken tried to kill his commander and failed because the Kett did kill him. This leads to a discussion of how Nilken should be handled back on the Nexus and how the game does not allow for this to be addressed properly.

Next, they talk about Ryder’s post-Eos call with Addison, who faintly praises the Pathfinder. Nick speculates if Addison is the Udina and the guys get into a discussion about what sort of ambition would drive someone to leave their life to colonize another galaxy. Chip wonders if the Initiative brought enough people. Everyone agrees they do not like Addison but they wonder if she could be redeemed.

They discuss how the immigration queue is starting to bustle now that more cryo pods are awakening to support Eos. They talk about a power issue caused by a Pyjak that gets to join the Tempest crew. They talk about the Jien Garson VI in the cultural exchange center which doesn’t acknowledge that she’s dead, and the Ryder VI that you need to prepare. Nick complains about the pronunciation of Sajax. They discuss the Apex Missions on the mission table and how you only have to worry about equipping Ryder in this game.

Nick brings up Drack’s loyalty quest and how it doesn’t seem to make sense since you confront everyone before you have evidence. They talk about the AVP system for awakening cryo cells and then admire Tann’s upgraded office. They discuss how SAM is able to let Ryder to talk their unconscious sibling.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3ll

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#79: Angara Management

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:50:51 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. After a recap of the events leading to their meeting with the Angara on Aya, they begin by discussing how translation works in this game, since the Kett didn’t understand them on Habitat 7 but now the Archon can talk with them. They also point out that the Angara didn’t speak English until suddenly they did. Chip observes that its funny that AI is banned in the Milky Way in the future despite the push for its use currently. They also debate how the Archon understood what Ryder meant when they called themselves The Pathfinder. They discuss how the Tempest was able to dodge the Scourge and talk about Asteroid Field density.

They compare arriving on Aya to Cloud City from Star Wars. Nick comments that he enjoyed Ryder’s pep talk. They question the comment that Ryder is “a human from another galaxy,” as its poor phrasing suggests certain interpretations. They wonder about the lack of a first contact protocol. They also consider why the Reapers never tried to come to Andromeda.

They talk about Aya and how it is not the original home planet for the Angara. They wonder about its size and remark on how well protected it is by the Scourge. They talk about how the Angara love the Moshae. They talk about how the Angara absorb sunlight and speculate that they might be descended from plants. They wonder if the names we have for Andromeda planets come from the Angara, and talk about how technology can be used for translation purposes.

They talk about how they board or enter the Tempest. The consider Kallo’s comment that Aya reminds him of Surkesh.

They then discuss some of the quests that arise on the Tempest, such as the extra 70 kg that turns out to be a mech melded in to the hull, and Liam and Jaal being weird with each other.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3lo

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#80: Welcome to the Jungle

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect: Andromeda! This week they venture to Havarl, the Angaran homeworld. After a recap of events, they talk about how the vault felt like a quick coda to the story on the planet, which no one is complaining about, since the planet story felt longer. They talk about how the Nomad is not used on Havarl and Chip says that makes it annoying to get around. The area you have to explore is small, however. Nick compares Havarl to his concept of what Tuchanka should have been. They talk about the encounter with the Eiroch.

Next, they discuss how Turians are on Havarl. They are impressed by Ryder’s quick jump from ‘grey spiky aliens’ to Turian. They talk about how we would have walked all over the Turian wreckage during our initial survey of the area. They mention Amitus Rix who is the interim Turian leader since they are looking for their Pathfinder. He makes Nick run down a list of all known Spectres.

They talk about the Roekarr who are the hostile Angaran, and wonder how the Turian learned the word scourge if they were cut off from communications. They also wonder about how the Turian are surviving with their strange diet. They talk about how the hostility of the Kett lead to the hostility of the Roekarr lead to the suffering of the Turian.

They talk about the missing monolith being hidden underground. They wonder about the capabilities of the monolith.

They talk about the flying creatures that hover over the planet. They mention that Havarl would have been Habitat 3.

Nick talks about struggling to get to Mithrava and the guys argue about jumping puzzles. They talk about the myth of Zorai and the gauntlet relic. Chip compares Zorai to Javik (and not just because they have the same voice actor). They talk about Angaran reincarnation and wonder about the metaphysics behind it. They talk about the strange colonial vibes of the Initiative. They conclude by talking about the game performance on various systems.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3lr

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#81: Ah S***, Here We Go Again

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:46:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue their discussion of Mass Effect: Andromeda. They begin by Kura talking about respeccing his character. He and Chip discuss the Tech tree and the drone skills. Chip praises the profile system and the two discuss combos and detonators.

Nick mentions the Mass Effect crossover with Destiny 2 from last year. He talks about buying the pricey armor and getting some skins for his ship, sparrow and ghost.

After a recap, they discuss the primary mission on Voeld, the frozen planet. They compare the planet to Hoth in Star Wars. They discuss Angaran physiology and speculate on which Milky Way species would survive on the Andromeda planets. They talk about the lookouts Tseek and Beniska who provide some comedy. This leads to a discussion about how well the Angarans know the humans, since they have been studying them for over a year before ‘first contact.’ This leads to the Angaran understanding what it means why Ryder identifies as a pathfinder.

Nick talks about how he left the Angaran base and then returned to do the quest. Kura complains he can’t differentiate between the Angaran. Nick complains about the female Angaran design, while Chip dislikes the Angaran neck flap. Nick talks about struggling with the emoticons in the dialog circle. They mention Liam’s lack of a shirt and Suvi licking rocks.

They then discuss the mission to save the Moshae. They talk about finding the classroom and how the stasis pod evoked memories from Mass Effect 2. They compare the Kett and the Collectors. They marvel that the Kett have cubicles.

They then bring up Jaal’s reaction to the reveal of the exaltation. They discuss the fight against the Cardinal, and the subsequent choice Ryder has between saving the Angaran and blowing the base up. They talk about the Moshae’s passive aggressive disappointment if you save the Angaran. They compare the Asari and the Kett, and then compare Exaltation and Indoctrination. They highlight how the Kett titles like Archon and Cardinal make their society feel cult like. They consider how the fact that the player is most likely familiar with Mass Effect 2 means they are having different reactions to the Kett information than the characters who left the galaxy just as the Collectors were emerging.

Finally, they talk about Gil and his PTSD.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3lv

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#82: Return to Eos

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:04:41 GMT

This week Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. They begin by wondering about the Kett opinions about how they make more Kett. Then they attempt to evaluate if the number of Kett makes it more or less likely that a given individual is killed by the Pathfinder.

They start to talk about returning to Eos, and joke about Ryder and the Kett getting high. They talk about Cora and her lack of self-confidence. They pursue her leads on the Asari arc but are directed to Voeld to continue the quest.

The guys debate the best way to approach all the side quests in this game. Then, they talk about the Additional Tasks in the journal and how most of those quests can be ignored. They also discuss the psychology of nudging players to explore new places.

Next, they talk about the Seismic Hammers quest that begins with a request to tap into some aquafers. Each hammer attracts more and more remnant until the last hammer triggers a giant remnant beast called an Architect.

After Kura shares a bad fight experience, they talk about assaulting the Kett Power Facility, where Ryder faces off against the Invictor. They also discuss how the various regions of Eos were named. Then they talk about encountering Bain Massani, who is Zaeed’s child.

Nick comments on all the fiends wandering Eos. He also compares scanning for minerals in the Nomad to the manual scan from the Normandy in Mass Effect 2. They consider how adding weapons to the Nomad would change combat.

They talk about the questline that involves listening to logs from a technician who placed several beacons and how he had a sick child. They also talk about Tech Danny Messier who bumbles his way across Eos. Nick compares him to Conrad Verner.

They talk about how the Kett were studying the Turian for Exaltation and bring up human genetics. They talk about the Kett fascination with human tech. They also discuss the dialog about how much Milky Way history should be taught in school. Finally, they talk about the obvious conclusion to the request to seek out an engineer who believed they could control Remnant.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3lz

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#83: Baby, It's Voeld Outside

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:04:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week with an extra long episode about Voeld. They begin by talking about how many quests there are on Voeld and argue about the concept of 100% viability. Then, they discuss the merits of doing the vaults early on a given planet.

Next, they talk about their experiences playing the multiplayer. They talk about Origin and the EA app the problems they had connecting. Nick mentions that he didn’t know he could revive himself in multiplayer. They were glad it was PVE and not PVP.

Then the guys return to talking about Voeld. Nick got chased by an Eiroch, and he and Kura both parked on top of a glyph they needed to scan. They also talk about radioing with a sniper in a Kett minefield.

They bring up the outpost on Voeld and how when it appears, the NPCs act like they have been there a while. Chip mentions there’s a large Angaran city on Voeld that we never see. They compare the sub-freezing temperatures with the beach climate that was expected.

Next, they discuss a quest to track poachers. Ryder has to choose whether to allow the poaching to continue for science, or turn her in and end her studies. Everyone complains about SAM constantly interrupting to report that the temperature changed. They also talk about a quest to stop some younger Angara from getting themselves killed because they believe too heavily in reincarnation.

Then they review Cora’s quest to track the Asari ark. They also discuss a quest involving a meteor that is jamming signals and affecting the wildlife. They also mention a quest where the Kett abducted an entire Angaran family, and talk about the Kett fascination with genetics.

Next, they talk about how the outpost scientists were studying some seismic anomalies, and of course this leads to a confrontation with the Voeld architect.

They also talk about a quest to seek out some mercenaries in search of a map, and another quest where Ryder must decide whether torture of the Kett is acceptable. They also talk about how several quests reuse the same location but you can’t always complete all the quests on your first visit.

They talk about how the Archon is not relaying all his findings back to the greater Kett empire, and then discuss the Angaran AI that was hidden on Voeld. They also mention some additional tasks that can be completed on Voeld.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#84: You Give Us 102 Minutes, We'll Give You the Nexus

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. Nick starts off by mentioning the Moshae has been stuck on his ship for a while now, and then the guys follow up on their multiplayer discussion from last week. It turns out the multiplayer plays better when you have four people. (Thanks, Jerry!)

Next, the guys get to their main topic: returning to the Nexus. (Sorry, Moshae!) They talk about a guy who is into Gil, and Nick rants a little about Suvi. Then they discuss the Vortex and the bartender who asks Ryder to get several ingredients. They mention open mic night and talk about the poker game against Gil, and his reveal that he has a friend named Jill.

They talk about the crowd in hydroponics that is protesting because their family members have yet to be awakened. This leads to Ryder having a face off with management and making a decision about who to back. The guys discuss the peculiarity of aging past family members in cryo.

Next, they mention Liam’s idea for a movie night and his request for Ryder to download a movie from the security terminal. They wonder why there is neither a space internet nor a general store that would have movies.

They also talk about Davis Qar, who is single-handedly running HNS news. He asks Ryder to put receivers by each of the outposts, so back to the planets we will be going. The guys talk about the repetitive nature of the news reports in public. Kura compares HNS news to tik-tok.

They talk about Peebee’s surprise for Ryder at her apartment. Nick thinks that making the Remnant into a pet is a bad idea, but Chip and Kura approve. They also discuss Peebee’s ex-girlfiend Kalinda showing up to cause drama.

Next, they talk about a quest from Dr. Aridana to have SAM run some equations. This leads to SAM fending off a hacking attempt and Ryder confronting a compromised AVINA station that is hostile to AI.

They also discuss more of Alec Ryder’s unlocked memories. After wondering why the memories are just out in the middle of nowhere on these planets, they consider how strange it is for Ryder to see themselves in the memories. They also begin speculating on who the mysterious benefactor could be, and review the timeline linking Andromeda to the main trilogy. This also leads them to an investigation into Jien Garson’s death, and the reveal that she was murdered, but left a secret room behind.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3m5

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#85: The Vault with our Stars

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back once again to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda! This week, we finally take the Moshae back to Aya after she’s been sitting on the Tempest for ages.

They begin by talking about the what Angarans eat and wonder about getting solar lamps on the Tempest. After a quick recap of events, they discuss the big revelation from Aya’s vault – that there’s a control center for the vaults named Meridian, and they need to get the location from the Archon. They talk about how the vault was just a cutscene and not an actual location with combat and puzzles.

Next, they discuss using various profiles for different activities and talk about biotic jumping. They also talk about leveling up their skills.

They wonder about some open questions that would have been left for Andromeda 2, and observe that much of the lore is accessible in terminals that are easily missed. Chip points out that interactive objects should trigger on the scanner. They also discuss the speed of the story and much of the open world of the game can be skipped.

They compare their time on Aya being able to freely travel against their prior visit when they were escorted. Nick mentions the overlook where you can see storms and tornados in the distance. They discuss the Tavetaan and compare it to a bar or bistro. They wonder if it would be possible to meet every remaining Angara. They talk about the Angaran lottery to live on Aya.

Next, they talk about finding the crew on Aya. Cora is watching the Resistance train. Peebee is getting drunk in the museum. Liam encourages Ryder to get in trouble. Jaal is getting the attention of some female Angaran.

They also discuss some of the side quests, such as collecting messages from the Angaran for Director Tann. They realize that the so-called First Contact with the Kett on Habitat 7 was not first contact. They wonder about eating food from a different galaxy, and how convenient it is that all these planets are mostly hospitable for humanity.

They discuss Angaran society some more, and then mention that their next goal will have them going to Kadara Port.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3md

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#86: Temu Furiosa

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. This week we head to Kadara Port, seeking a traitorous Angaran who helped the Kett abduct the Moshae. After a quick recap of events, the guys are free to venture out into the badlands of Kadara.

The start by talking about Vehn Terev and his broken transponder. They talk about how there are a ton of side quests on Kadara and the best way to approach it. They observe that the toxic water makes navigation annoying and the Nomad cannot simply drive through any of the lakes or puddles. They talk about Kadara Port’s location on the map and complain that to get to the planet you have to enter through the port proper.

They review the history of the Port going from Angaran control to Kett occupation to Exile territory. They discuss Sloane Kelly who Chip does not care for. Nick wonders about the Collective leader the Charlatan. They compare Kadara Port to Mos Eisley.

They discuss Reyes Vidal, the Resistance operative who is helping Ryder. They further discuss Sloane and compare her to a Mad Max character. The guys wonder about how populous the outcast raiders are given that they all had to come via ship from the Milky Way. They discuss Kaetus’ mission to have Ryder cover up some Kett stragglers on Kadara, and debate whether that makes Sloane look weak.

They mention finding a guy that died because he didn’t believe the warnings that the water was poisonous. They talk about the Tartarus bar, and one of its inhabitants, Cassandra Verner. They talk about the outcast physician Dr. Nakamoto. They discuss if they flirted with Reyes, since everyone has that option. They talk about the Collective hideout in a cave.

Next, they talk about the monoliths and vault on Kadara. They observe that the Eirochs on Kadara are annoying and respawn too quickly. They wonder if the planets would have been better (and less repetitive) with two monoliths. They discuss options for changing the gameplay of the vaults and why they might not have been chosen. They talk about the styles of fun as it applies to Andromeda.

Finally, they talk about some side quests. They mention having to choose between justice and credits. They get into a discussion of cannibalism and how it applies to aliens. And they conclude with a quest that features scientists too extreme even for Cerberus.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3mf

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#87: Badlands, Good Times

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing Mass Effect Andromeda! This week, they continue their journey in the badlands of Kadara.

First, they talk about spawn rates and Nick complains the Eirochs spawn too rapidly. They talk about the number of outlaws that are dropped out of shuttles, and this leads to a discussion of how many exiles fled the Nexus, and how many people were brought as part of the Initiative to begin with. Then they try to account for all the ways people can die (including death by Pathfinder) to determine if they brough enough people.

Finally, they get into Kadara proper, with a look at Dr. Nakamoto, renegade outlaw physician. He sends them to recover a drug from his lab, where players meet Dr. Farenth, and players must choose which story to believe.

Next, they talk about the power station where several scientists who found themselves caught up with the exiles are running a power station to support the port. They talk about recovering parts and getting wrapped up with a shifty vendor.

Then they discuss the mission from Kaetus to root out any remaining Kett. They talk about the caves in Draullir, including the one where they find the Kett. Sloane shows up and they talk about her again.

They also talk about the secret Collective base in the main Draullir cave. They talk about the imposter posing as the Charlatan, and point out that it would not be so easy to impersonate the Charlatan if they let people know who they were. Nick again complains about Eirochs.

They talk about the mission from Reyes about the dead Angaran. That leads to a confrontation with the Roekarr. They talk about the settlement with naturally filtered water. They also talk about the broken questline that has Ryder trading UV lights for a plant to save a Turian, although the quest turn in is bugged.

Next, they head out of the Badlands and wrap things up with Dr. Nakamoto, and also deal with a delusional prisoner who wants us to relay a message to his not-quite-girlfriend.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3mh

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#88: Still on Kadara

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:13:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about their experience playing Mass Effect Andromeda. This week, they finally finish up their time on Kadara!

They begin by explaining that in order to get the outpost on Kadara, you need to resolve the conflict between Sloane and the Collective. They discuss how to progress the story, you need to leave Kadara and return to the Tempest. Once aboard, Drack calls a meeting which opens up several new destinations and also unlocks the next step on Kadara. In particular, this includes part of Drack’s loyalty mission to implicate Spender is working against Addison and the Initiative.

Nick mentions a quest that had him speak with Reyes, but required him to video chat despite visiting him in person. They complain about how email is handled in the game. They talk about Sloane’s party that Reyes was invited to and whether Ryder’s behavior is appropriate. They discuss Umi Henon, the bartender, quizzing Ryder. They talk about Reyes and Ryder stealing Sloane’s whiskey and bonding, and how this is to set up conflict for Ryder later.

They talk about the confrontation between Sloane and Reyes and which choice each of them made. Kura was not ready for a Quick-time event and had a choice made for him. They debate whether Sloane or Reyes would make the better outlaw leader.

They discuss the need for outposts in Andromeda. They also debate if buying other Bioware games will help Mass Effect under EA’s stewardship.

They talk about Ditaeon, the Kadara outpost, led by Christmas Tate. Nick talks about how obvious the “old Skinner” quest was as the Architect. Chip enjoyed the fight as it felt better at a higher level.

They discuss respeccing Ryder and some of the combos you can achieve. They mention that for some fights it is essential to bring the right party.

They talk about some additional side quests like the ongoing movie night questline (Vetra wants Turian popcorn) and Drack finding some crumbs leading to a new pet for Ryder. They also recap Gil and Ryder turning on the Kett Transponder that we were looking for way way long ago on Kadara to set us back on the path of searching for the Kett.

They discuss an argument between Kallo and Gil that Ryder has to resolve. The mention Peebee wants to build a Remtech scanner as part of her ongoing questline, and talk about some emails including Drack falling for the Andomeda equivalent of a Nigerian prince.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#89: Trouble in Every Bubble

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 21:24:33 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their playthrough of Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they visit H-074C, which used to be a planet until the scourge destroyed it. They talk about how this was intended to be the Turian homeworld but in its current state it is comparable to the Earth moon. They discuss the various chasms and craters which can be jumped in the Nomad because of the low gravity. They wonder about the Exiles ability to build bridges and domes, and wonder why these domes were not available for deployment on Eos. They wonder if anyone on the Nexus knew of the Angara before our so-called first contact.

They talk about the ongoing quest to visit each dome to get part of the passcode for entry into the final dome. They mention how the final boss, a Krogan named Krex, ties back to a shadowy character on Kadara, Elora.

They also talk about the Remnant vault with the Tiller inside which allows for an increase in helium production. Kura mentions that he dislikes the Remnant aesthetic. They talk about what is arguably the hardest fight in the game against the Progenitor.

Next, they discuss Vetra’s loyalty mission. Nick mentions that he had unusual expectations for Sid. They talk about Drack protecting Sid during the combat. Chip mentions the villainly was cartoonish. They discuss the mechanic of looking into the next room and choosing whether to make the fight easier or not. They talk about how Vetra is overprotective of Sid. They wonder about Vetra’s expectations for bringing her sister to an uncharted galaxy. They speculate that Vetra would be protesting if Sid was still in cryo.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#90: Mr. Bad Decisions and Lil' Miss Cultural Appropriation

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

This week we discuss Liam and Cora's loyalty missions. Liam's adventure delivers laughs with sci-fi references and unexpected twists aboard an abandoned Kett ship, while Cora's journey forces tough decisions when her Asari hero reveals significant flaws. Throughout both missions, we examine how Andromeda's unique character dynamics differ from the original Mass Effect trilogy.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3mq

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#91: Jaal Vs. the Quicktime Button

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back talking about Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they return to Aya where the Initiative has arrived and conflict is brewing! They talk about some of the Angaran wanting to stay on the Nexus and the system that keeps the Angaran on Aya. After going over some other quests, they then talk about Jaal's loyalty mission. Then they get into a tangent about the economics of the Andromeda galaxy.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#92: Back on the Nexus Again

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue their journey through Mass Effect: Andromeda. This week they return to the Nexus to check out how it has been handling the latest developments across the cluster. The Asari from the Leusinia have made it there. So too has Knight of the anti-AI group the Firefighters, and Ryder must deal with her attempt to blow up the Nexus. Angaran diplomats have also arrived. They also talk a little about Spender and his corruption, and then depart the Nexus to track a sick lady and protect everyone from infection. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3n7

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#93: Welcome to Paradise

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about Mass Effect Andromeda! This week, they finally arrive on Eladaan, home of the people too evil for Kadara and also the Krogan! They talk about the worm that roams the deserts, as well as the big Remnant ship that crashed here. They talk about how clearing the vault clears the tempertature threshold issue. They also talk about the fight against the architect outside New Tuchanka's outpost.

They discuss how the Krogan chose to name an outpost New Tuchanka as opposed to the entire planet, and review the narratives from the terminals found there. They then talk about the genophage. They also discuss how Tann is feckless and speculate on the role of the Pathfinder beyond Andromeda. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3nb

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#94: Tuchanka to Paradise

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they continue their discussion of Eladaan, or Superhell, as Nick calls it. They begin by discussing a quest about two fueding Krogan who are threatening to tear the colony apart, so Ryder is forced to fight some Fiends alongside them. Then they talk about how Annea is hording all the water on the planet, and what Ryder does to remediate that. They also discuss the assault on the Flophouse and the quest to find the Halsey sister. Lexi asks Ryder to scan some exiles in a broken quest. Ryder also saves a lady from a sinkhole and her own bad decisions. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3ng

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#95: Old Soldier

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:15:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to talk about Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they are looking at some longer side quests and Drack's loyalty mission. Nick begins by admitting he finally beat the game and and they discuss the viability of Andromeda's multiplayer. Then they follow up on the Rorik and Lieta quest from Eladaan that takes the player to Colt Dalton on Kadara and then to find Lieta on Aya. Next, they discuss the Three Sabers quest that has the player choose between Sid's civic naivete and Addison's practical calculus. Finally, they get into Drack's loyalty mission which is both fun and touching. They talk about the dastardly Spender and speculate on his true role in Andromeda. They discuss Vorn and how he fits among the Krogan. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3nn

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#96: The Floor is Lava

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:32:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about Mass Effect Andromeda. This week, they dive into the Peebee loyalty quest that has her follow a remnant signal into a volcano, where her former girlfriend and current nemesis Kalinda is waiting for her. The guys discuss how Ryder resolves this love-hate relationship and then considers how employment works on the Tempest. Next, they recap the story of Zoey Jean Kennedy and her pregnancy which has Ryder tracking satellites to locate the expectant mother. Then they talk about the Heskarl quests on Voeld and fighting more Eiroch and Remnant. They also discuss finding the Turian ark and Liam and his desire to play soccer/football. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3ns

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#97: RYDER DIE

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they venture into the Tafeno system where the Archon has his ship with the relic that Ryder needs to learn about Meridian. The guys begin by talking about the decision to save the Salarian Pathfinder or the kidnapped Krogan. Nick compares this mission to Virmire in Mass Effect 1, with that decision recalling the Ashley or Kaiden dilemma. They talk about the timeline of the Salarians encountering the Kett. Then they discuss SAM killing Ryder which leads to a discussion about SAM appearing in Mass Effect 5. They talk about how the Kett evaluate each of the Milky Way races. Nick complains about a lack of Behemoths but Kurabara has an explanation. Then they talk about how this mission opens up several new side quests while also pitting Ryder in a race against the Archon to locate Meridian. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3nx

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#98: Knives Out

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

This week, Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to talk about playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. This week they talk about the after effects of Ryder temporarily dying on the Kett ship. Nick talks about failing to romance Suvi. They also talk about the possibility of romancing Drack. They travel to Eos where Gil introduces Ryder to Jill and Cora plants some seeds. They discuss Lexi being angry with SAM. They also talk about Vetra inviting Ryder rock-climbing. They talk about meeting the family of Jaal and Chip does not like Jaal. Finally, they discuss the quest to track down the Primus and whether or not they cut a deal with her. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3ny

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#99: Don't Go Chasing Rabbit Holes

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back this week to continue talking about their experience playing Mass Effect Andromeda. They begin talking about how the council wants to block their mission to Meridian, so the Pathfinders help the Tempest crew get around their superiors. Next, they discuss the Saelen and Dr. Aden quest regarding the Salarian response to the Kett invasion. Then they discuss Alec Ryder's memories and the revelation that Ellen is alive and that Alec knew the Reapers were coming.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3o4

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#100: angara.rev02.1.final.FINAL-FINAL

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back for the 100th time to continue talking about playing through Mass Effect, and specifically Andromeda. After a recap of events on Meridian, Nick discusses his choice to bring Drack and Vetra over Peebee and Jaal. Chip points out that Jaal keeps providing input even when not in the party. They talk about the Jardaan and the timeframe of their arrival and development. They discuss the Scourge as a weapon. Next, the review the revelation that the Angara were created by the Jardaan, and wonder how the Angaran AI on Voeld fits into this. They wonder about the relationship between the Jardaan and the Kett. They talk about the Kett fighting the Remnant in the Remnant City. Finally, they consider the quote "the machine of life is everything." Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3o8

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#101: Movie Night (Finally!)

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:16:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about Mass Effect Andromeda! This week they wrap up all the outstanding questlines before they head off to find Meridian proper. They talk about the plan to calculate the location of Meridian, and how new systems have now opened up on the cluster map. They talk about Tann finally accepting and approving of the plan. They also consider the news of Kallo coming into money.
They also talk about the romances available, as Chip explored the Cora romance while Nick and Kura were involved with Vetra. They go on a tangent about SAM being involved in the bedroom. Then they discuss the relative ages of several of the characters.

Next, they discuss the ongoing Movie Night questline that finally wraps up, and compare it to the Citadel DLC.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3oe

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#102: Finally. . . Meridian!

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to continue talking about their experiences playing through Mass Effect Andromeda! This week they encounter the Archon on Meridian in the big final battle for the Heleus Cluster! Nick begins by comparing the Kett attacking the Hyperion to the Reapers attacking the Citadel. They talk about the geography and geometry of Meridian as a Dyson Sphere. They lament that they could not explore Meridian more. They talk about Ryder getting cut off from SAM and having to play as the other Ryder with no powers. They discuss Ryder communing with the Remnant without SAM. They discuss the fate of Captain Dunn. They also discuss the other characters that appear during the battle. They discuss the fight against the Archon and the Architect. Finally, they talk about the Hyperion being stuck on Meridian and if that will replace the Nexus as the major hub of the cluster. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3of

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#103: Epilogue

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back to finish talking about their experience playing through Mass Effect Andromeda. This week, they complete the game as they discuss the epilogue questline on Meridian. They talk about the fallout from the Archon fight and the difficulty of that battle. They also discuss the Primus surviving and the tease of further involvement from her. They talk about the fate of Captain Dunn, and who is left aboard the Hyperion. They also discuss the effects of controlling the Remnant on Ryder. They review their choice for who should be the Heleus Ambassador. They also talk about the Second Wave Operations that are now coming online. They discuss the return to Habitat 7 and some of the quests left on the Nexus. They talk about the finality of the game and the viability of Andromeda 2. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

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Episode URL: mtb.gg/3om

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#104: Andromeda as a Whole

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back again to wind down their discussion of Mass Effect Andromeda. They talk about getting stuck inside Meridian, and then dive into the crafting system. They consider the aesthetics of Kett gear and evaluate the function of crafting. They also discuss RPG inventory philosphies. Then, they talk about the upgrades available for the Nomad. Chip gets an opportunity to review his list of mods.

Next, they discuss the placement of the Angaran creation revelation, and if that fit within the story. They try to decide if the Kett ever felt like enough of a threat. Nick wonders about Architects on Aya and Havarl. They talk about the Havarl map compared to the other planets. Then, everyone once again speculates on the identity of the Benefactor.

They evaluate the structure of the show as a function of completing planets in order. Nick shares some notes from a new playthrough. They discuss their strategies for creating new characters. Finally, they discuss Bioware's ability to put out different Mass Effect games, and lament the state of the industry.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or ⁠@squadgoalsN7.mash.gg⁠ on Bluesky.

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

#105: The Great Mass Effect Draft and Farewell

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are back for one final time to look back on the Mass Effect games. They begin by talking about the qualities that make a Mass Effect game to determine if Andromeda met those, as established by the trilogy. They discuss when Andromeda felt like a proper Mass Effect game, and evaluate if it lived up to the legacy of the trilogy.

Then, they discuss the length of the game and how much can be considered filler. They talk about the strength of the game being the characterization of the crew. They also consider the quests available throughout the game and if they were worth the effort. They discuss the evolution of the game world and whether Andromeda was a great game or simply a good game. They then share their rankings for the four games, and debate whether Andromeda would have been better served with a Paragon/Renegade system.

They then engage in the Mass Effect Draft, drafting teams for an unspecified galactic mission from all possible Mass Effect characters.

Finally, they talk about the end of the show. Thank you for listening to Squad Goals!

Episode URL: [episode_short_url]

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord

On Bioware

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Nick, Chip, and Kurabara are here for a special episode talking about the recent restructuring at Bioware. But first, they talk about their plans for an upcoming multiplayer night where they’ll be streaming themselves playing the Mass Effect Andromeda Multiplayer and playing alongside anyone from the community willing to join. The event will be March 1st at 10:00 pm EST at twitch.tv/mashthosebuttons. Check the discord for more details.

Next, the guys get into talking about the recent Bioware news. They talk about how the studio has gone down to under 100 employees after pretty much everyone that worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard was either laid off or sent to other studios at EA. They talk about Veilguard’s reception and how it seemed like it was well received (except amongst parts of the community primed to dislike it) and wonder if EA’s expectations were what was off. They talk about its struggled development being made as a live-service game and then being reworked to not be a live service game.

Next, they discuss what this means for Mass Effect 5 now that it is fully the focus of those left at Bioware. They talk about how Mass Effect 5 must be a success or Bioware is done. They talk about the struggle that new games face upon release as the market is squeezed by all the ongoing live-service games, including Fortnite, World of Warcraft, and Final Fantasy XIV. They talk about Anthem and Andromeda’s struggles and Chip wonders if Andromeda is due for a legendary edition. Nick points out that if they can get ME5 done in two years, it will still be ten years since Andromeda was released.

Thank you for listening to Squad Goals – A Mass Effect Andromeda Podcast! Please send any comments or questions to squadgoals@mash.gg or @squadgoalsN7.mash.gg on Bluesky.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3mb

Hosts:

Nick Zielenkievicz
twitter.com/WookieeBH

Chip Locke

Cory Treadway
twitter.com/kurabaras

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Website: https://mashthosebuttons.com Discord: https://mash.gg/discord