Wrex
Krogan squadmate who can become leader of his species.
Urdnot Wrex is a fictional Krogan character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, introduced as a squadmate in the first game of the trilogy. Voiced by Steven Barr, he can become the leader of the Krogan species if he survives a confrontation with protagonist Commander Shepard. His role is central to the storyline involving the genophage, an artificial population control plague affecting his people.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Mass Effect
- First
- Mass Effect (2007)
- Voice
- Steven Barr
- Full name
- Urdnot Wrex
- Race
- Krogan
- Home
- Tuchanka
Facts from the source article.
Concept and design
Urdnot Wrex is a Krogan, an alien species nearly sterilized by other galactic races in the Mass Effect universe. To set him apart from other Krogan, the art team gave his head a fiery red pattern across the skull plate and added abundant scarring to his face, emphasizing his combat experience. The team designed several facial expressions to guide animation. Senior writer Mac Walters handled Wrex's writing in the first game, aiming to make the character both distinct and representative of the Krogan species. The confrontation with Commander Shepard was designed to build tension slowly, with escalating dialogue and camera angles showing a struggle for dominance, leading to a player decision about Wrex's fate.
Appearances
Wrex appears in every game of the Mass Effect trilogy, as well as in non-video game media such as the Mass Effect: Foundation comic series and the Mass Effect: Board Game – Priority Hagalaz, where he has a unique skill set. He also appears in the amusement park ride Mass Effect: New Earth. In the first Mass Effect, he is a bounty hunter hired by the Shadow Broker to assassinate a former agent, and he joins Commander Shepard's squad. Through conversations, the player learns about the genophage. Wrex asks Shepard to retrieve a family armor heirloom. A confrontation occurs on Virmire at a Krogan cloning facility, where Wrex may die if Shepard cannot convince him to stand down; survival is always possible if the family armor was found. In Mass Effect 2, if he survived, Wrex returns as the Krogan leader on Tuchanka, depicted as a reformer seeking political and cultural change.
Reception and analysis
Before the first game's release, BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka expected Wrex to be a popular squadmate, and lead designer Preston Watamaniuk called him his personal favorite character in the trilogy. Dark Horse released PVC statues, including a limited edition of 1000 units with white and pink armor, and Diamond Select Toys produced a figurine. A Wrex costume was released as downloadable content for LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet Karting, and LittleBigPlanet PS Vita. Wrex earned 'Sidekick of the Year' in the Official Xbox Magazine 2007 Game of the Year Awards. Critics praised his character evolution and role as a progressive reformer, while noting his reduced role in later games. His confrontation with Shepard was noted for its moral complexity and emotional weight. Scholars have analyzed Wrex through racial, cultural, and ethical perspectives.
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Elsewhere in Mass Effect
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