I gotta say, Ryder is a nice contrast to Shepard....

I agree with the OP. Really enjoy ME:A's lighter tone and Ryders more cavalier attitude.

Don't get me wrong, Shepard was awesome and I really enjoyed playing him/her for three game, wouldn't want to miss that. Shepard also fit into the epic story of the MET, a Ryder would have been somewhat misplaced there. But it's refreshing to get a change now and I do think it was time for one, too.
It's also why I don't mind that the main story mostly keeps in the background for now. It's like we are just there to explore and wonder at things. Sure, there is a need to figure out what's going on in the main plot but I like that they set it up more as a long term project to improve things, rather then this super urgent "need to do it right now or die" scenario. It fits the game design very well.

If I have one issue with Ryder, it's that most of the time, I can't be an asshole anymore. Whether I am logical or emotional, it always feels like what I am actually saying is the same and I am always Mr./Ms Nice Guy. Not that I necessarily miss the Paragon/Renegade system (I am glad they got out of that rigid corset) but a bit more variety in the kind of personality we can give Ryder would be nice in the future, especially for replay value.

For example, on Havarl:

 This wouldn't even be overly renegade, it would be a completely understandable action under the circumstances. There are a lot of situations where I just want to go more towards the ruthless or just aggressive route but it's not available and I notice it's missing while playing. I didn't have that with Shepard.

I don't understand this  "relatability" concept.

what if I'm also  a 22 year old, but one who doesn't give out bad puns and one-liners every 5 seconds?

It seems  everyone here is enjoying the forced Ryder personality they've given because it just so happens to mesh with their idea of "relatability".


I haven't even gone mid-way through the game but to me it just seems roleplaying or headcanoning in any sort of way is extremely limited, compared to Shepard. Shepard could be roleplayed and headcanoned with all sorts of variables.

Yeah I'm enjoying Ryder too.
You'd never think him the type of guy to biotically hold a person in midair and watch them burn courtesy of a flamethrower :/

...so can Ryder?

Ryder has to deal with finding "home" in a utterly alien galaxy 2.5 million light  years from where he's from. That's bit more than " a giant cluster fuck of a joke".


I don't think anyone can comprehend the magnitude and gravitas of what that encompasses.

But I'd imagine it'd be taken a bit more seriously, even if someone is 22 years old.

It's still a giant cluster fuck. Even if the scope is bigger. I would be joking my ass off too. Think about it, you can either stress out and go crazy. You can get depressed and hide in a corner. You can just joke it off and take each situation as it comes because you know you can't change the whole the situation instantly. I prefer the last option. I am also the kind of guy who makes jokes at funerals and during serious situations. My SGT hated me for that when I was in the military.

None taken. You see I have a facial twitch in which everyone always thinks I am happy and smiling even though I could be wreathing with anger inside, so I learned at a young age to might as well go with it and act the part of the comedian because that is what they expect. It has shaped me ever since, so now, I can joke about anything and anyone and not give a damn about their feelings because in the end of the day only my opinion counts. Does it sound douchy and not up to societies standards? Yes, but you know what. Fuck societies standards since it didn't do a damn thing for me at all.

Ryder has a lot of serious logical responses though if you just want that. All the other funny dialogues that come out naturally is mostly to the crew. They are like his/her new family and friends, they are the people there to help the character relax and give support so it doesn't feel like its all on his/her shoulders.

Does Ryder get the choice of pushing an Eclipse Merc out of window or not like in ME2?

If not, then it's another reason I won't be buying yet!

**Edit It's always out of the window for me btw **

Well, really there's a difference between joking about something and actually dealing with it through actions that suggest otherwise. Like, just because Ryder might have a lighthearted attitude about dealing with first contact doesn't mean that s/he won't actually be professional when it comes down to actually making contact. I like to think of it as kind of a coping mechanism to deal with the fact that Ryder lost her father, is far away from everything familiar with no hope of ever returning and now has the daunting task of paving the way for colonists to start building. 

Playing games still makes me feel young and my son and his friends think I'm the cool dad (not when it comes to dancing though)

All goes out of the window though when I'm getting thrashed on Rocket League by my 12 year old son and his pals or getting thrashed 6 nil on Fifa, but hey, when it comes to Battlefields or RPGs, they don't stand a chance!

Or maybe like some of the MEA characters I've seen on youtube reels  

Nah, my kids know I've always daddy danced way before I was even a dad. 

Still at least they know who Shepard is and what a Spectre is. Who knows, one day they may know what a Pathfinder is or who Ryder was. Doubt it, but you never know