Citadel (Mass Effect)

Last updated
The Citadel
CitadelMassEffect.jpg
The Citadel, as shown on the galaxy map in Mass Effect 2 (2010)
First appearance Mass Effect: Revelation (2007)
Last appearance Mass Effect: Foundation (2013)
Created by BioWare
Genre Role-playing video game
In-universe information
Type Space station
LocationWidow system
Population13.2 million

The Citadel is a fictional space station and megastructure in the Mass Effect franchise of video games developed by BioWare. An ancient station supposedly constructed by the long-dead Protheans, it serves as the hub of interstellar politics and society in the Milky Way galaxy due to its status as the capital of the Citadel Council, the dominant galactic polity within the Mass Effect universe. The Citadel was praised by critics for its design, lore, and the diversity of its inhabitants enhancing the game world.

Contents

Characteristics

In series lore, the Citadel is one of the largest artificial structures in the galaxy, with a population of 13.2 million intelligent beings from across the Milky Way galaxy, and uses centrifugal force to create artificial gravity for its inhabitants. Initially, it was discovered by the asari and the salarians, the earliest post-Prothean races to discover the mass relays - megastructures scattered throughout the galaxy that facilitate FTL travel. Following this, an executive committee known as the Citadel Council was created, with the station functioning as the seat of galactic government. [1] The Council holds great sway in the galaxy, and are recognized as an authority by most of explored space. [2]

The Citadel is capable of transforming from an open space station into an impenetrable shell, with each of the five sides containing a "ward" region about the size of Manhattan, while the middle ring contains a hub area known as the Presidium. [3] The Keepers, an enigmatic non-communicative species of green insectoid creatures, are exclusively found on the Citadel and are constantly preoccupied with the ongoing maintenance of the station and its systems. [4] The Citadel's denizens are instructed never to interfere with their maintenance work within the inner systems of the Citadel.

Citadel society

Avina, a non-sentient VI hologram integrated into various Citadel information terminals. Avina, Mass Effect, Second Life.png
Avina, a non-sentient VI hologram integrated into various Citadel information terminals.

Three politically dominant species make up the Citadel Council at the inception of the series: the asari, a feminine species who favor centrism, republicanism, diplomacy, biotic abilities and guerrilla warfare tactics over raw military power; the salarians, an amphibious species who have an aptitude for liberalism, technocracy, technological research, espionage and unconventional warfare; and the turians, a proud avian-like species known for their conservatism, stratocracy, disciplined honour culture and military-industrial capability. Membership of the Citadel Council is eventually expanded to include a human representative by the end of the first Mass Effect. [5] [6] Associate races who have embassies on the Citadel include the volus, a client race of the turians who always wear full-body environmental-suits outside of their homeworld; the hanar and the drell from the ocean world of Kahje, who associate with each other in a long-term, intimate symbiotic relationship called the Compact; and the elcor, a ponderous species resembling a cross between a manatee and a gorilla, who preface everything they say with the intended emotion due to their lack of vocal inflection and discernible facial expressions. [5] [6] [7]

A few alien races are depicted as formerly part of the Citadel space community during the series: the krogan, a hardy and warlike reptilian species in decline in the aftermath of the Krogan Rebellions against Council authority; the batarians, an isolationist people who recalled their embassy staff from the Citadel in protest against the integration of humanity into interstellar society; and the quarians, a race of immunodeficient nomads who were forced to flee their homeworld Rannoch on a migratory fleet of ships when their development of advanced networked synthetic intelligence created the sapient geth, who warred with their creators. [5] Due to this, Citadel jurisdictions place strict limitations on their reliance of artificial intelligence by using "virtual intelligence" (VI) that lack self-awareness, and the quarian Migrant Fleet is shunned in most of Citadel space. [5]

Development

According to project director Casey Hudson, the Citadel space station is the ideal setting for expanded universe projects in other medias because it serves as the cultural, financial, media, and entertainment capital of the Milky Way galactic community. Describing its concept as an expansive and highly livable setting, Hudson made an analogy to the New York City borough of Manhattan as a place populated with numerous cultures and where "thousands of stories" could be told. [8] As the Citadel represents the seat of power for the Council, the developers determined that it is the level most representative of Mass Effect's architectural style and should aim to define the look of the series. [3]

The Citadel's appearance was influenced by the art of Syd Mead, such as his design for NASA concepts like the Stanford torus. [9] The outline of the Citadel's shape, based on a sculpture that had five sides and a ring, consists of large swooping curves cutting across vertical lines. [3]

Plot

While most beings in the series initially believe that the Citadel is a Prothean space station that was abandoned for unknown reasons, Mass Effect reveals that the Citadel was in fact constructed by the Reapers, an ancient race of machine lifeforms that periodically cull the intelligent species of the galaxy. The mass relays are intended to guide species which have attained spaceflight technology to the Citadel, itself a tremendous relay that allows the full force of the Reapers to invade the galaxy. It was made to be habitable as a trap to encourage it to be used as the seat of galactic government, allowing it to be quickly wiped out by the Reapers. [10] However, the Protheans also recognized the Citadel as a potential weakness of the Reapers, and created plans for a device, the Crucible, to co-opt it as a countermeasure against them. In Mass Effect 3, the races of the Milky Way galaxy collaborate to construct and deploy the Crucible, using it to either destroy, gain control of, or merge with the Reapers, though the Citadel is heavily damaged, and possibly destroyed in the process.

Reception

Alex Meehan of GamesRadar+ called the Citadel "a realistic way of bringing all the different elements of Mass Effect's world under one roof", saying it was "chock-full of interesting people and exciting encounters". Commenting that the station's reveal is "unapologetically indulgent", she states the scene "completely epitomizes all the ambition and wonder behind the first Mass Effect". [11] Contrasting the Citadel with other games' "vast and impressive locations with nothing to do in them", she stated that the Citadel feels like "a real place inhabited by real people", but criticized the Citadel in Mass Effect 2 and 3 for lacking as much immersion as its first incarnation. [11]

Ari Notis of Kotaku remarked that the Citadel was beautiful, comparing the interior of the station to a landscape from a "well-crafted JRPG", and stating that it inspires travel envy. In particular, he noted the Presidium's signature color scheme of "Aegean blues and Caribbean greens". [12]

While the Citadel is notable for how it brings together most of the intelligent alien races in the galaxy, astronomer Seth Shostak has criticized it for encouraging an unrealistic concept of how humans and aliens could co-exist, arguing that in reality, there would be far too many physical and mental obstacles for such divergent species to share the same living space. The fact that all alien races are younger than 50,000 years old due to the Reapers' past actions is noted as what allows the aliens on the Citadel to commiserate in such a way. [13]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<i>Mass Effect</i> (video game) 2007 video game

Mass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare and originally released for the Xbox 360 in 2007. It is the first game in the Mass Effect series, and takes place within the Milky Way galaxy in the year 2183, where civilization is threatened by a highly advanced machine race known as the Reapers. The player assumes the role of Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier who must stop a rogue agent from carrying out the Reapers' galactic invasion. The game involves completing multiple quests that generally involve space exploration, squad and vehicular combat, and interaction with non-player characters.

Asari (<i>Mass Effect</i>) Fictional species in the Mass Effect series

The asari are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Mass Effect multimedia franchise developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Introduced in the 2007 novel Mass Effect: Revelation, the asari are a sapient homeotherm species who are naturally inclined towards biotics, the ability to manipulate dark energy and alter the mass of objects through the use of electrical impulses from the brain, which produce various psychic abilities such as telekinesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quarian</span> Fictional species in the Mass Effect series

The quarians are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Mass Effect multimedia franchise developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The quarians and their backstory are introduced in the first Mass Effect through the companion character Tali'Zorah, with quarian society as a whole playing a more prominent role in its sequels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander Shepard</span> Player character in the original Mass Effect trilogy of video games

Commander Shepard is the player character in the Mass Effect video game series by BioWare.

Reapers (<i>Mass Effect</i>) Antagonists in the Mass Effect trilogy

The Reapers are a fictional fleet of sentient starships that serve as the main antagonists of the Mass Effect trilogy. The design of the Reapers was inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos deities. Within the series, the Reapers cause galactic-level mass extinctions every fifty-thousand years. The Reapers and their technology are capable of brainwashing organic life through a mind control process called indoctrination. The Reapers employ servants who are often altered into synthetic-organic life forms.

<i>Mass Effect 3</i> 2012 video game

Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major entry in the Mass Effect series and the final installment of the original trilogy, it was released in March 2012 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. A Wii U version of the game, entitled Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, was later released in November 2012. The game is set within the Milky Way galaxy in 2186, where galactic civilization is invaded by a highly advanced machine race of synthetic-organic starships known as Reapers. It concludes the story of Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier who is tasked with forging alliances between species for the war.

<i>Mass Effect Galaxy</i> 2009 video game

Mass Effect Galaxy was a mobile game for iOS developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Galaxy follows former Systems Alliance soldier Jacob Taylor as he works with his colleague Miranda Lawson and other allies to foil a terrorist conspiracy against the Citadel Council, an executive committee consisting of several politically dominant species who hold great sway in the galaxy and are recognized as an authority by most of explored space. Both Jacob and Miranda would later appear as recurring characters in the science fiction action role-playing video game series Mass Effect, most notably as companion characters in Mass Effect 2, where they are revealed to be members of the anthropocentric paramilitary organization, Cerberus.

Mass Effect is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by advanced precursor civilizations.

<i>Mass Effect: Deception</i> 2012 novel by William C. Dietz

Mass Effect: Deception is a novel by writer William C. Dietz set in the Mass Effect universe. Published in 2012 by Del Rey Books, it is the fourth novel set in the Mass Effect universe, and continues the story of the previous three novels. Deception is notable for the negative reception from fans of the Mass Effect series, which prompted significant coverage from media outlets. In response to the negative reception, BioWare announced in February 2012 that they intended to revise the novel's content for future editions of Deception. No rewrite has been announced or published ever since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illusive Man</span> Fictional character in the Mass Effect video game series

The Illusive Man is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect video game franchise. He is the leader of the pro-human group Cerberus. The Illusive Man wears an open suit that connotes both futuristic style and the "casual swagger of a charming billionaire". His eye implants make him appear slightly inhuman. He is normally seen in an empty office with no indication of his living arrangements. He is voiced by Martin Sheen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrus Vakarian</span> Character in Mass Effect

Garrus Vakarian is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who acts as a party member in each of the three games in the original trilogy. Garrus is a turian, one of the various alien species in Mass Effect, and is voiced by Brandon Keener.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urdnot Wrex</span> Fictional character from Mass Effect

Urdnot Wrex is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who serves as a party member in the first game of the Mass Effect trilogy. He is a krogan, an alien race near-sterilised by other galactic races for their violence and high population growth. Introduced as an experienced krogan mercenary, his role changes in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 where he becomes leader of an expanding krogan clan and eventual head of state for the krogan as a whole. After over 1000 years of aimless apathy, Wrex seeks to bring back hope to his people and reverse their fate by undoing the genophage. He is voiced by Steven Barr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thane Krios</span> Fictional character in the Mass Effect video game series

Thane Krios is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who first appeared in Mass Effect 2 as a party member. The character is a drell, a race of extraterrestrial reptilian humanoids who form a sociopolitical alliance with the hanar, a sentient species of jellyfish-like entities. Thane Krios is voiced by Keythe Farley in the video game series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mordin Solus</span> Fictional character in the Mass Effect video game series

Mordin Solus is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who serves as a party member in Mass Effect 2. A salarian physician and life scientist who was once a member of the salarian intelligence organization Special Tasks Group ("STG") earlier in his life, Mordin is depicted as a fast-talking and affable individual who is initially guided by scientific principles and logic, but later changes his mind and adopts strong moral standards as well as a respect for all forms of life.

Turian (<i>Mass Effect</i>) Fictional species in the Mass Effect series

The turians are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Mass Effect multimedia franchise developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Turians are the first alien species to have come into contact with humanity within series lore, which inadvertently sparked a brief but vicious period of conflict which is eventually de-escalated due to the intervention of the Citadel Council, a multispecies governing body based on the Citadel space station. The aftermath of the so-called First Contact War as well as the underlying tensions between humanity and the turians form a recurring narrative theme in the Mass Effect series, which began with the franchise's debut work, the 2007 novel Mass Effect: Revelation. Turians are conceived as an avian humanoid species with an exoskeleton, whose biology is radically different from that of humanity and several other species, and are culturally rooted in a stratocratic society. Turian characters have appeared in most Mass Effect games and media with several playing major storyline roles, such as Garrus Vakarian, Saren Arterius, Nyreen Kandros, Vetra Nyx and Tiran Kandros. In addition, the turians are playable characters in the multiplayer modes for Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liara T'Soni</span> Secondary character of the Mass Effect franchise

Dr. Liara T'Soni is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who serves as a party member in the original Mass Effect trilogy. She is an asari, a female-appearing species from the planet Thessia who are naturally inclined towards biotics, the ability to "manipulate dark energy and create mass effect fields through the use of electrical impulses from the brain". Within the series, Liara is noted for being the galactic scientific community's foremost expert in the field of Prothean archaeology and technology, specifically evidence concerning the demise of the ancient Protheans, believed by the galactic community to be the pre-eminent civilization in the Milky Way galaxy until their sudden disappearance fifty thousands years before the events of the first Mass Effect.

<i>Mass Effect 3: Omega</i> 2012 video game

Mass Effect 3: Omega is a major downloadable content (DLC) pack developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for the 2012 action role-playing video game Mass Effect 3. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 27, 2012, with a delayed release in Europe on the PlayStation 3 platform set for November 28, 2012. The pack follows Commander Shepard and the asari pirate queen Aria T'Loak as they attempt to liberate the space station Omega from the anthropocentric terrorist group Cerberus. Omega expanded beyond the developers' original plan during its development cycle, both in response to a mandate of freedom by BioWare management and as a result of the development team's desire to develop the experience they wanted, and incorporates cut content from the main game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krogan</span> Fictional species in the Mass Effect series

The Krogan are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Mass Effect multimedia franchise developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. A member of the species is first introduced in the 2007 novel Mass Effect: Revelation. The Krogan are typically depicted as large reptilian bipedal humanoids who are physically tenacious, favor mercenary work, and thrive on conflict and violence. The Krogan are native to the planet Tuchanka, which is presented as a post-apocalyptic wasteland as a result of the Krogan's global thermonuclear civil war in the distant past. The Krogan are presented as having a complicated relationship with the rest of the Milky Way galactic civilizations, especially the Salarians; a past conflict led to the other interstellar species unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called the Genophage on the Krogan, drastically reducing their population and potentially driving the species to a slow and inevitable extinction.

Universe of <i>Mass Effect</i> Fictional universe of a video game series

The Mass Effect media franchise, developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, is set in the distant future where various extraterrestrial species coexist with humanity. The developers created extensive background lore for the universe of Mass Effect and its alien species, with detailed explanations documenting the complex relationships between the universe's various factions and the setting's phenomena from a scientific perspective. The developers were inspired and influenced by numerous fantasy and science fiction works, as well as real world cultural and scientific concepts. Dark energy, a form of energy theorized to massively affect the universe, forms a key part of the franchise's concept and background.

References

  1. ↑ Macgregor, Jody (2021-02-06). "Major events in the Mass Effect timeline". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  2. ↑ BioWare. Mass Effect. Codex - Citadel Council: The Council is an executive committee composed of representatives from the Asari Republics, the Turian Hierarchy, and the Salarian Union. Though they have no official power over the independent governments of other species, the Council's decisions carry great weight throughout the galaxy. No single Council race is strong enough to defy the other two, and all have a vested interest in compromise and cooperation. [...] Any species granted an embassy on the Citadel is considered an associate member, bound by the accords of the Citadel Conventions. Associate members may bring issues to the attention of the Council, though they have no input on the decision. The human Systems Alliance became an associate member of the Citadel in 2165.
  3. 1 2 3 Hudson, Casey; Watts, Derek (2012). The Art of the Mass Effect Universe. Dark Horse Comics. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-59582-768-5.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Iain (February 16, 2021). "Mass Effect keeper locations - where to find them all for the Scan the Keepers assignment". GamesRadar . Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Polo, Susano (March 21, 2017). "The lore of Mass Effect: A complete guide". Polygon . Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Hamilton, Kirk (March 21, 2017). "A Beginner's Guide to the World Of Mass Effect". Kotaku . Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ Erik Brudvig (November 14, 2007). "Meet Mass Effect's Elcor". IGN . Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (December 22, 2010). "Mass Effect's Citadel "like Manhattan"". Eurogamer . Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (2013-04-09). "The One Man Who Influenced Mass Effect's Look More Than Anyone Else". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  10. ↑ Hamilton, Kirk (2021-05-14). "A Beginner's Guide To The World Of Mass Effect". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  11. 1 2 Meehan, Alex (March 12, 2018). "Mass Effect's Citadel held the trilogy together by giving you the universe to explore under one roof". gamesradar. Archived from the original on 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  12. ↑ Notis, Ari (2021-05-28). "Musings Of A Mass Effect 1 Newcomer". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  13. ↑ Messner, Steven (2021-05-19). "After talking to a scientist, Mass Effect's aliens are more believable than I ever expected". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.