Mass Effect: 8 Weirdest Enemies (And What They Represent)
6. Architect
Appearing in Mass Effect Andromeda, the Architects crop up across various golden planets in boss-level battles.
Much of Andromeda mirrors the earlier games in the series - like the Kett being stand ins for Collectors, the NOMAD being the new Mako, and the Remnant themselves another spin on the old Reapers - it feels like the Architects are the upgraded version of Thresher Maws.
Thresher Maws are a gigantic nod to the sand worms of Dune and the Sarlacc of Star Wars, which the Architect mirrors as a synthetic that burrows through the sky instead of the ground.
On a more debatable level, the Architects could be argued to be inspired by yet another sci-fi work - The Little Shop of Horrors.
Rearing up as massive mechanical interpretation of the flesh-eating flower at the centre of the musical, both with tendril-like arms surrounding a deadly 'face'. Architects bear terraforming wishes that are akin to the plant Audrey II, with hers revealed at the end of the theatre production as being intent on Earth's domination by destruction and growth through other plants. Of course, the Architect can create other Remnant.
Audrey II is from outer space, which of course the Remnant is as an alien life form too. That it's shot into orbit once Ryder hacks into it just reinforces its otherworldly capabilities.