10 Best Sci-Fi Video Game Characters Of All Time

Though Commander Shepard, leader of the rag-tag ensemble of intergalactic heroes, is a person that can be moulded somewhat according to the player's preferences, there are many character staples that simply cannot be altered.

Shepard is strong-minded, calm in the face of overwhelming adversity and, though their diplomatic skills can leave much to be desired if they go down the Renegade path, they never get overwhelmed if a situation becomes hostile.

Shepard can be both male or female, and have physical traits that are at the discretion of the player. Their backstory can be altered and decisions can be made on a dime to alter the course of the narrative, yet the 'bend, but don't break' formula that developer BioWare deployed means they are never short of being an efficient leader, a heroic force for good, and an admirable teammate.

From their defeat of Saren in the 2007 original, an untimely death in the sequel's opening scene, or a devastating (if a little underwhelming) conclusion in the third entry, Shepard is a character that we saw grow into something far more than themself.

A Spectre for the Alliance; a dubious Cerberus ally; a galaxy-wide hero.