Played this a bunch of times as default male Shephard, mostly because all other character models look way worse. Really trying to force myself to play as female this time around but man I just can't get into it. She looks weird, and her voice is not Shephard's voice in my head. Also Kaiden is lame-o as a romance.

Maybe male Shephard is just your preference.

Its vice versa for me. I have a hard time playing the male Shepard as I just see the character as female.

I made my first Shepard look like me if I was actually cool, and I can't bear to play a different-looking one since finishing that play-through. Doesn't matter male or female, it has to be that one specifically.

The identity of Shepard for you has probably been imprinted and reinforced through those repeated campaigns to the point where literally anything different will set off the "something's amiss" alarm bells in your head.

The legendary Jennifer Hale! Big fan of her voice acting.

Played both male and female Shepard when the games first came out. Much preferred female Shep personally, for both Paragon and Renegade.

Just replaying this myself and although I enjoy her voice acting in ME1, there is a clear jump up in quality when starting ME2, maybe stick with it?

Also, dont go with Kaiden, romance Liara! Then in the next games go with the correct choice.....Tali!

Originally posted by Crossgen:

Maybe male Shephard is just your preference.

Its vice versa for me. I have a hard time playing the male Shepard as I just see the character as female.

I know, you're not alone!

Originally posted by ghost reveries:

The legendary Jennifer Hale! Big fan of her voice acting.

Played both male and female Shepard when the games first came out. Much preferred female Shep personally, for both Paragon and Renegade.

Just replaying this myself and although I enjoy her voice acting in ME1, there is a clear jump up in quality when starting ME2, maybe stick with it?

Also, dont go with Kaiden, romance Liara! Then in the next games go with the correct choice.....Tali!

I know, right?!

Originally posted by Dread Swoop:

The identity of Shepard for you has probably been imprinted and reinforced through those repeated campaigns to the point where literally anything different will set off the "something's amiss" alarm bells in your head.

Yeah I think this is the issue. I could keep going and try to power through, but then the more I play the more I'll have to repeat if I start over. Arg.

Originally posted by ghost reveries:

Also, dont go with Kaiden, romance Liara! Then in the next games go with the correct choice.....Tali!

I've done the Liara stuff a bunch of times as a male, I wanted something new. But yeah Kaidan's a wet blanket, which is a shame since I like his voice actor from KotOR.

Originally posted by StingingVelvet:

Also Kaiden is lame-o as a romance.

I just started my first Femshep run (second time playing the trilogy at all, actually), and I'm avoiding all romances until Garrus opens up in ME2.

...In fact, I'm probably gonna let Kaiden die again. XD I've just never really liked him as a character, even though his personal drama in his past IS pretty neat.

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Originally posted by StingingVelvet:

Also Kaiden is lame-o as a romance.

I just started my first Femshep run (second time playing the trilogy at all, actually), and I'm avoiding all romances until Garrus opens up in ME2.

...In fact, I'm probably gonna let Kaiden die again. XD I've just never really liked him as a character, even though his personal drama in his past IS pretty neat.

Kaidan's motto: "Thank goodness for Jacob!" ;-)

Renegade Femshep is the one that hooked me, I love how Jennifer Hale brought Commander Shepard alive.

Originally posted by Aegix Drakan:

Originally posted by StingingVelvet:

Also Kaiden is lame-o as a romance.

I just started my first Femshep run (second time playing the trilogy at all, actually), and I'm avoiding all romances until Garrus opens up in ME2.

...In fact, I'm probably gonna let Kaiden die again. XD I've just never really liked him as a character, even though his personal drama in his past IS pretty neat.

Same here. Garrus is peak choice.

I'd recommend using the original model. The ME3 FemShep that was retroactively added to ME1 and ME2 is ugly as sin.

I started a FemShep as a Renegade. I'm definitely a male Shep choice first but there's some dialogue that's different for females, like with how certain men treat you.

It gives it a kind of a life that keeps it fresh for me.

femshep i find is better for paragon, male shep for renegade, now tbf the voice actor for male shep, wrote a lot of the renegade dialogue. i feel like femshep just didn't know that the renegade lines were designed to be more comedic, and misses the delivery.

also, i always kill of Kaiden, never liked him.

One thing I really think ME2 improved on besides combat is paragon responses.
In ME1 they often felt kinda naive and cheesy but at least in me2 shep muscles up at times to be pacifist.