February has long been known as a romantic month thanks to Valentine’s Day, but the month is also known as “Creative Romance Month.” One franchise that’s known for its creative romance storylines is BioWare’s Mass Effect series. Players could romance humans and aliens just the same, but some storylines stand out above others in the sci-fi RPG. Though the first Mass Effect game only had three romantic options available, Mass Effect 2 opened up the door for a lot of other romance options that players had requested.
One of these romance options was none other than the Normandy’s resident turian, Garrus Vakarian. He was introduced in the first Mass Effect game, but not as a romance option. In the follow-up game, Garrus becomes a romantic interest for the female Commander Shepard, leading to some of the most heartwarming (and heartbreaking) moments of the original trilogy. Garrus was a fan-favorite before his romance story, but his newfound role of boyfriend in addition to deadly sniper made many fans swoon.
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Garrus makes it through the first game relatively unscathed, but his reintroduction as the "Archangel" in Mass Effect 2 leads to him having a close call with death. Though he lives, Garrus has a permanent scar across almost half of his face, which he remarks that some women love scars — even if most of them are Krogan. Even Garrus’ Funko Pop captures his scar details, but he’s also known for his smooth, rumbling voice.
It’s not until after players help Garrus take down Sidonis that they discover some romance dialogue options with the turian. When he talks about a previous sparring match before a big mission with C-Sec, things get a bit flirty with talk of “reach” and “flexibility.” Later, Garrus questions why Shepard would want to be with him, but she comforts him and says she doesn’t want just anyone — she wants him.
Once players select the proper dialogue to lock Garrus in as their romantic interest, Shepard will continue to talk with him about “blowing off steam.” Later, salarian Dr. Mordin Solus will approach Shepard and warn her about some chafing and other medical issues that could occur during her time with Garrus. It’s hilariously awkward dialogue, but Mordin is just looking out for Shepard in the best way he knows — science.
The night before the Suicide Mission, Garrus arrives to Shepard’s room with wine and turns on some mood music. He tries to compliment Shepard by saying her waist “is very supportive,” being both endearing and awkward all at once. The culmination of Garrus’ romance in Mass Effect 2 isn’t nearly as explicit as other romance storylines but it’s clear he cares deeply for Shepard, even if he’s not a smooth-talker, which makes him one of the best romance choices for Female Shepard.
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Assuming Garrus survives the Suicide Mission of Mass Effect 2, he’ll reappear as a companion in Mass Effect 3. Initially, Shepard and Garrus are reunited with a handshake/hand-hold situation, but players can make clear they’re still interested in him romantically not long after his reappearance. The paragon action will allow Shepard to interrupt Garrus with a kiss, and the two make clear that they’re still interested in each other, despite the tumultuous state of the galaxy.
Later on, Shepard has the option to honestly tell Garrus that things have gotten tough to deal with. He'll remind Shepard to “come up for air,” not just because others are relying on her, but because he needs her too. Cue the heart eyes toward one of Mass Effect fans’ favorite companions and romantic interests. Garrus also decides to take Shepard to the top of the Presidium, someplace he always wanted to go but never did because it was against regulations. There, players can lock him in as their romantic interest for the rest of Mass Effect 3.
The Reaper War weighs heavily on both Garrus and Shepard. Players watch them become even closer over time as they discuss the morality of it all, along with Shepard always asking if Garrus has finally heard from his family on Palaven. The Citadel DLC also provides some new moments for players to experience between Garrus and Shepard, which are sure to give players that warm-and-fuzzy feeling through their laughter.
Much like the other Mass Effect games, the night before the final mission leads to a night of passion for Garrus and Shepard. Though again, it’s not as explicit as some other scenes. That night, they have another heart-to-heart about what’s to come, which makes the finality of the last few scenes all the more real for players. In their final conversation, Garrus asks her to forgive his “insubordination” and gives her an order to come back alive because, as players know, “there’s no Shepard without Vakarian.” And it was in that moment that fans' tears could be heard ‘round the world.
Commander Shepard isn’t Garrus’ only option for love by the time Mass Effect 3 rolls around. If neither Garrus nor Tali’Zorah are being romanced by Shepard, players can stumble upon different conversations between them, some of which get very flirty. Garrus and Tali bond over being the only dextro-protein aliens on the ship, with Garrus going so far as to find Tali a chocolate bar suitable for quarians.
These two don’t get the same treatment as other romance storylines, so there’s no “night before the mission” scene, but there is a moment where Shepard can catch Garrus and Tali kissing in the Main Battery. It’s a bit of an awkward exchange, but it’s cute to see the two of them bashfully explain themselves to Shepard.
It’s clear why Garrus Vakarian made his way into the hearts of players everywhere. He’s genuine in his affection, but sometimes fumbles the execution when it comes to romance, which makes him all the more endearing. Players definitely have a lot to look forward to reliving when Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releases this year.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.