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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In Mass Effect 3, start a new game and choose Male or Female, then select Role-Playing or Story mode to reach Shepard’s creation screens. You can choose a voice only through that gender selection: the documented creator does not offer a separate voice picker. Action mode skips character creation and begins the game.
How to create or customize Shepard in the original Mass Effect 3
- From New Game, select Male or Female to begin a new Shepard. To continue a completed Mass Effect 2 career, choose Import ME2 Character instead.
- Choose Role-Playing or Story mode to enter the creation screens. Action mode skips them. The manual notes that combat difficulty and conversation mode can be adjusted in Options after starting.
- Work through the available identity and background choices: first name, appearance, military class, personal history, service history, and combat losses.
- At Review, confirm your choices. Until confirmation, you can return to earlier screens and revise them.
The original PC manual names Appearance as a category but does not list individual sliders, hairstyles, facial features, or presets. The exact appearance controls therefore should not be assumed from the manual alone. EA’s Mass Effect 3 PC manual describes the creation flow and import options.
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Mass Effect Trilogy - Playstation 3 (Renewed) | $36.81 | Buy on Amazon |
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Mass Effect 3 | $15.75 | Buy on Amazon |
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Mass Effect Legendary Edition - PlayStation 4 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Mass Effect 3: Prima Official Game Guide | $29.24 | Buy on Amazon |
Can you choose Shepard’s voice separately?
No separate voice selection is described in the documented original-game creator. The manual has you select Male or Female before creation, and official credits identify Mark Meer as male Shepard and Jennifer Hale as female Shepard. In practice, the voice performance is tied to the gender choice in this documented flow; it is not presented as an independent setting that can be swapped while keeping the same gender selection.
BioWare’s Making the FemShep Trailer identifies Mark Meer as the “voice of Male Shepard.” The credits in the Mass Effect manual list Jennifer Hale for Commander Shepard (Female) and Mark Meer for Commander Shepard (Male). Those credits establish who performs each role, not that one performance is objectively better.
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- Over 75 hours of story content, plus Mass Effect 3's critically acclaimed multiplayer mode
- Create and customize your own character with his or her appearance and skills, then play your Commander Shepard through all three Mass Effect games
- Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome
- Build a personalized arsenal with powerful weapons complete with their own upgrades and modifications
- Unleash devastating abilities and skills as you command and train an elite squad
What carries over from Mass Effect 2?
Choosing Import ME2 Character carries forward Shepard’s level and story-impacting decisions, according to the Mass Effect 3 PC manual. The manual also lists Import ME3 Character as an option that becomes available after you complete Mass Effect 3.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the Legendary Edition creator differs
These added and unified appearance options apply to Mass Effect Legendary Edition, not automatically to the original 2012 release. EA says it unified Shepard’s customization across the trilogy and added options including skin tones and hairstyles. It also says a creator code can be used across all three games, so you can keep an appearance consistent or change it at each game’s start.
Rank #2
- IMMERSIVE STORY: Dive into the Mass Effect universe as Commander Shepard, leading a squad through a Cerberus cruiser to unveil secrets before a massive storm hits Hagalaz.
- DYNAMIC GAMEPLAY: Experience a unique card-driven AI and evolving story that alters based on your choices, ensuring a different gameplay experience with each session.
- DEEP CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION: Equip and upgrade your squad, including iconic characters like Liara and Garrus, with powerful abilities and gear as you progress through the game.
- COOPERATIVE MISSIONS: Engage in a co-operative, narrative-driven campaign for up to four players, featuring optional loyalty missions that unlock special powers for each squadmate.
- MULTIPLE ENDINGS: A branching narrative with a variety of endings based on your decisions, enhancing replay value and player engagement.
Legendary Edition uses the Mass Effect 3 FemShep as its default female option throughout the trilogy, while the original FemShep design remains available as a preset. EA’s Gameplay Calibrations article describes these Legendary Edition changes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced.
- Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
- Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, including promo weapons, armors, and packs - remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD.
Rank #3
- Battle as Commander Shepard on many worlds across the galaxy as you unite the ultimate force to take back the Earth before it's too late
- Enormous enemies and take on a smarter type of foe that will consistently challenge your best combat tactics and put you on the edge of your seat
- Customize your Commander Shepard, your squad and weapons to engage the enemy on your terms
- Allows the option to import decisions from both of the previous games and supports optional use of the Kinect Sensor for Xbox 360
- Experience a new emphasis on melee combat, movement and an improved cover system
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
