10 More Secret Video Game Shortcuts You DEFINITELY Missed

The original Mass Effect put players in the shoes of Commander Shepard. As humanity's first Spectre, he was tasked to hunt down Saren, a Spectre-turned traitor. To aid in the mission, the Commander recruited allies of different races to stop the alien's plan.

You eventually squared off against Saren in the game's final hours which can be challenging as the Turian can incapacitate your teammates. But if you put the work into the game, the boss fight can be skipped entirely.

Shepard can convince the Turian to stand down with enough Paragon or Renegade points. In the resulting cutscene that plays out, Saren realizes he has been a pawn all along and shoots himself.

Using the dialogue options in the game is one of the best aspects of Mass Effect, as it can lead to multiple outcomes. Having enough points can not only persuade NPCs, but even skip challenging combat situations, such as this.

From a narrative perspective, this shortcut also adds depth to the villain's character. By being convinced to stand down, Saren regains the agency to die on his own terms.