
the Reapers in the Mass Effect galaxy takes place across many star systems.
Big Badass Battle Sequence: The first battle vs. Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Averted during Moxxis stay in the Fridge. Badass Normal: Most Republic personnel, including named characters, are just your average basic (militarily-trained) human without any kind of cybernetic implants (Shepard), special powers (Sirens), or unusual talents (Tali, Gaige). Badass in Distress: Quoted verbatim by Lilith as she scoops up Maya to rescue, of all people, Shepard. Badass Crew: The Vault Hunter Convoy and Shepards badass circus.. Especially when we find out they get Hummer-like gas mileage and have to be resupplied very frequently despite their great size (while in canon Star Wars, large dreadnaughts may be in continuous operation for almost a decade). The Revenant super-dreadnaughts themselves are also this. Awesome, but Impractical: Mentioned by name during discussion of the Revenants high-speed central tram system. Awesome Personnel Carrier: The Lancers and Technicals. "Ass" in Ambassador: Sparatus, until he pulls a Heel Face Turn due to overwhelming (Sufficiently Advanced Alien tech) evidence that his viewpoint is incorrect. The G-forces might also qualify as supposed to be dead, but Liliths a Siren Corrected to chemical stimulants (which is more believable) in a not-yet-completed or released () remastered edition. Artistic License Medicine: Being jolted wouldnt wake you from a blackout caused by G-forces. Artificial Stupidity: Referenced in discussion of an in-universe StarCraft clone whose AI is prone to this, though the Reapers themselves are not. species scale! When the three-way mix up starts, everyone Imports something, resulting in some seriously cool ships. Causes problems, because GREED and selfishness on a species vs. Imported Alien Phlebotinum: From the Republic to everyone else. Applied Phlebotinum: Its science fiction, what do you expect?. Anyone Can Die: Liara, Tina, Hammerlock, Scooter, Feron, Earl, Friedman, Ellie, Lilith, EDI. Anti-Hero: Sam Shepard evolves into this (Type IV) after repeated Sapiens terror attacks and a few things that hit too close to home. Amazon Brigade: At least one ship in the Republic Navy, though its indicated that there may be more since the Republic has a lot of Badass Action Girls in its military.
It is never said directly whether what Shepard experienced before her awakening was a dream, though if what Brick found was any indication, something physical/real happened outside any dream-world.