The Dream Sequences

[Syrdeth]

So... it's been a week. I didn't intend for it to be a week, but I had been working on this for some time. Trying to make my thoughts coherent.

 

This started out as a reply to Sage Queen's excellent blog post, but it morphed into something of its own. Go read it if you haven't already. In fact, go read all of her posts on ME3. I'll wait.

 

Oh, you're back? Ok, good. Cause here we go.....

 

It doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyways. Major Spoilers ahoy!!

 

I took a film study course back in college, back when we used stone tablets and bearskins. I don't claim to be an expert on it, in fact I barely remember anything from the course. The one thing I DO remember is what our instructor drilled into us starting on day one: Making films is very expensive. It costs resources. Those being: time, money and personnel. If the director puts something on the screen, especially if the camera focuses on it, they think it's important. They want you to see it. Yes, there are some directors out there that will do red herrings, but those are rare.

 

This can also apply to video games. They also cost resources. So, if something is in the game, especially in a cutscene, the developers want you to see it.

 

Which brings me to the dream sequences. Why are these in the game? I'm not going to touch the Indoctrination Theory angle, which while not a full on "I fully 100% agree with this with all my heart" subscriber, I am a fan of it. I just mean in general. These sequences cost resources. They weren't something easily put in. And, we got three of them. A whole new area had to be built. One that appears nowhere else in the entire game. I've never played Dragon Age 2, so I don't know if they reused an area from that for this or not, but even if they did, they still had to fiddle with it to get it to work in the game. Again, resources. And not just the area, the visuals, the sounds, the "Shepard running like she's in molasses". All of it took resources. So, is Shep dreaming about the kid she couldn't save? Or is it something more? I don't know. I am certainly NOT an expert on dream interpretation on any level.

 

And, then we get to the Third Dream sequence. You know the one I'm talking about. Where the kid finally runs to someone's arms, and you see it's your Shepard. Here's what I saw:

 

 

 

Notice something unusual? No? Then how about this set:

 

 

 

Do you see it now? You would NEVER have noticed this unless you play as a Renegade, and one who didn't repair her scars. The "Dream Shepard" does NOT have the Renegade scars. Why is that? All they had to do was reuse the face that you have in the game when he dream started. It's not that hard, is it? Yet, they did something different. Why? I don't know. But it is obvious to me that it is significant because of resources. It had to have been done intentionally.

 

Also, Shepard is wearing the same casual outfit that Traynor wears. I NEVER put Kendra in that outfit. She wears the hoodie:

 

 

Why didn't they just reuse the whole model from when the dream sequence started. Why make a "new Shep" model, as it were? I don't know. I wish I knew the answer to that. But, it is very interesting. And in my case, it was very jarring when I first saw it.

 

Am I reading way too much into this? Am I overreacting to something that is probably insignificant in the grand scheme of things? Probably. But, still, it has given me something to think about. And, hopefully, for you as well.

[NoisulIvone]

Very good blog post. Actually, I had discovered all those points which handles the post. Only the definition of crucible had escaped me for the details of the translation. But this, I am more sure that what happens at the end is a test. If it is real or just passing Shepard's head depends on the person or of future disclosures. Thanks for sharing the article.  

[Syrdeth]

You're welcome. Thanks for your comment!

[Evan]

that's interesting, I want to add that the area in the dream sequence isn't from DA2 and according to the art book the kid is "the face of the people on Earth whom Shepard could not save".