History Heartwarming / MassEffect1

-->'''Asari commander:''' It's the Alliance!\\
'''Asari captain:''' Thank the Goddess!

* There's lots of stuff in the first game that becomes HarsherInHindsight or HilariousInHindsight, and of course plenty of [[FunnyAneurysmMoment "Funny Aneurysm" Moments.]] But there's also a bit of [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Heartwarming in Hindsight]] with Tali. In a few conversations, she mentions that she's under a lot of pressure because there are high expectations for an Admiral's daughter, and she doubts she'll ever be able to live up to her father's example. She also states that her people's greatest desire is to get their home world back. Playing this again after ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', in which she not only [[spoiler:becomes an Admiral but can also play an instrumental role in winning back her homeworld, most certainly doing her late father proud in the process,]] is absolutely heartwarming. I'm so glad I could make your dreams come true, Tali.

** Hugging her is perhaps the sweetest thing Colonist!Shepard will ever do.

** A Paragon Shep can feed their Renegade thirst a little and push the official around, and Rene!Shep threatens to storm in and take the body, willing to gun down anyone they need to if that's what it takes. Between the number of ways Shepard can be a JerkAss or evil it says a lot.

* When Ashley asks a Shepard with a Spacer background if they joined the Alliance because of their parents and to uphold the family tradition, one of the responses has Shepard admit with complete sincerity, [[WideEyedIdealist "Humanity's future is out here. There's so much we have yet to see."]] When you remember that Spacer Shepard was literally born in Space and grew up on starships, they've come to literally see being amongst the stars as being ''home''.

* Talking down Wrex using the Paragon direction. You're doing something that he to his very bones thinks is wrong (destroying the genophage cure), but he tells you that you've done more for him than anyone ever has, including his family, and he'll follow you on blind faith. (Thankfully, ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' and ''[[VideoGame/MassEffect3 3]]'' get you to reward Wrex for that faith.)

* [[PacifistRun Knocking out instead of killing the people of Zhu's Hope]] [[spoiler: after the Thorian commands them to kill you]]. Yes, it's frustrating. Yes, you'll probably have to resort to SaveScumming. Yes, nothing will beat the WarmAndFuzzyFeeling you get when you see the [[VideoGameCaringPotential 32 Paragon points]] you get for doing so.

* Earthborn Shepard’s personal mission has a criminal named Finch attempting to {{Blackmail}} Shepard into freeing a xenophobic buddy of his, imprisoned for attacking turians. However, when Shepard flat out refuses to abuse his/her Spectre authority like that, what the nearby turian C-Sec Officer says takes the cake. It shows just how much respect and admiration even aliens have for Shepard. This statement is powerful considering during the events of the first game: Turian-human relations is still tense due of the First Contact War and Shepard's actions at the endgame will either improve or worsen their relations. At the first game, Shepard's achievements are already seen and praised by humanity, but even before the sequel and the finale kick in where s/he rallies the rest of the galaxy, there are already aliens who are watching at Shepard with awe.

* Earthborn Shepard’s personal mission has a criminal named Finch attempting to {{Blackmail}} Shepard into freeing a xenophobic buddy of his, imprisoned for attacking turians. However, when Shepard flat out refuses to abuse his/her Spectre authority like that, what the nearby turian C-Sec Officer says takes the cake. It shows just how much respect and admiration even aliens have for Shepard.

* It's a very small detail, but in the embassy section of the Presidium there is a side office that houses both the Volus and Elcor ambassadors. The Volus, Din Korlack, is curt and unfriendly, but the Elcor Ambassador Calyn is quite the opposite, delighted to welcome Shepard to his office and answer questions about his species. Everything he says is extremely warm-hearted and friendly, not only to Shepard personally but to Humanity in general, and the translator that automatically tells you his tone of voice shows you that it is sincere. Amongst all the anti-human fear, suspicion and occasional outright racism, it's really nice to meet someone who is genuinely happy to have humans around, and who doesn't try to maneuver for some sort of concession with the same breath. And if you finish the sidequest involving the Elcor diplomat Xeltan, Calyn will congratulate you on doing so, and when Din inevitably claims you're only doing this for money, Calyn will tell you it was a good thing you did regardless.

** You get the same message if you took the "ToughLove" Renegade route. Even when Shepard's not sweetness and light, s/he's just as good at saving people.

** A Paragon Shep can feed her/his Renegade thirst a little and push the official around, and Rene!Shep threatens to storm in and take the body, willing to gun down anyone s/he needs to if that's what it takes. Between the number of ways Shepard can be a JerkAss or evil it says a lot.

---> '''Tali''': You've been good to me. A lot of people treat quarians like second-class citizens. They just want us to go back to our fleet and disappear. But you've treated me just like everyone else on your crew. Like an equal. That means a lot, and it says something about you. Whatever happens, I just to say thank you for that.\\
---> '''Shepard''': I'm going to miss you when you go back to your own people, Tali.\\

* Tali and Shepard talking about her pilgrimage and her need to return to the Fleet:
--> '''Tali''': The only thing I can offer in return is what you already have: My solemn promise to stay with you until Saren and his Geth armies are defeated.\\
'''Shepard''': I'm going to miss you when you go back to your own people, Tali.\\
'''Tali''': That won't happen for a while yet. I'll be right here any time you need me.\\
'''Shepard''': I never wanted anything more.
** If you took the RelationshipUpgrade in the second or third games, this exchange takes on some interesting subtext.
** Especially with the subtle CallBack it gets near the end of the third game, slightly over three years later in-universe:
-->'''Shepard:''' We've lost so much already. Sometimes I don't know-
-->'''Tali:''' ...if what will be left will be worth the fight? I know. And when I feel that way, I reach for you.
-->'''Shepard:''' ...Thanks.
-->'''Tali:''' Whenever you need me.

* It's a very small detail, but in the embassy section of the Presidium there is a side office that houses both the Volus and Elcor ambassadors. The Volus, Din Korlack, is curt and unfriendly, but the Elcor Ambassador Calyn is quite the opposite, delighted to welcome Shepard to his office and answer questions about his species. Everything he says is extremely warm-hearted and friendly, not only to Shepard personally but to Humanity in general, and the translator that automatically tells you his tone of voice shows you that it is sincere. Amongst all the anti-human fear, suspicion and occasional outright racism, it's really nice to meet someone who is genuinely happy to have humans around, and who doesn't try to maneuver for some sort of concession with the same breath.

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