Now I'm sure that this will be answered for us in Mass Effect Three, but for now, speculation is incredibly fun.
I've been wondering about this, and so I googled it. I've found about three theories I like, so far.
One is that there was an ancient race that knew they were going to die out, so they decided to preserve themselves in a mixture of machine and organics. Thinking that this is the best option for all life, they wish to create this future for all.
(Supported by Legion, who says that the heretics asked the "old machines" to create a future for them. And by Harbinger, who says that he is the... uh... Harbinger... of our perfection.)
Another theory is quite similar, and I found it on a community discussion board.
Quote:
SPOILERX
I'm sure that our questions will be answered come ME3, but a friend of mine and I have a theory:
In Science-fiction, there is this idea on the different stages that life goes through; that we start off organic, then, over the course of thousands of years and technological advancement, we 'transcend' to cybernetics, and finally, after a time, we 'transcend' to become beings of pure energy.
Our theory is that the Reapers were once another organic race like anyone else, but that they were the first to achieve the greatest of technological advancement in the galaxy. That they achieved the cybernetic stage of life, in which they became part organic, and part machine. But they didn't stop there. They wanted to achieve the ultimate transcendence and become beings of pure energy, without form or restraint. Being the most advanced race in the galaxy, they were determined to become gods.
My friend and I's theory goes on to explain that now that the race (which would be known as Reapers) had achieved cybernetics, they continued to build and add on to themselves. And in an attempt to achieve the ultimate unity and 'become one,' they began melding themselves together. And after countless years of building and combining themselves, they became vast living ships. "We are each a nation," (described by Sovereign) and "One will, but many minds," (as described by Legion). This was probably their way of laying down the first foundation stone for the next stage of transcendence--energy. Trying to go beyond the bounds of physical limitations.
This concept (organic to cybernetic, to energy) and also the concept of living ships have been in science-fiction for quite some time.
But the Reapers ran into a dilemma--they could no longer reproduce. But they weren't going to allow such an obstacle get in the way of their 'transcendence." They wouldn't allow their vastness, power, and their entire race die out because of this one obstacle. And I doubt it was an overlooked mistake, they probably felt such sacrifices had to be made for the sake of science and transcendence to the status of "god."
Thus they began their galaxy-wide harvesting of other organic beings in order to build more Reapers and become one step closer to that final stage. They didn't believe what they were doing was wrong; this was for the good science and organic life.
As is stated by Harbinger, "We are the Harbinger of their perfection."
Thus the cycle of extinction began. All for the benefit of the Reapers. But, of course, if they wanted to continue and advance, they had to make sure life could begin anew so that they may continue to harvest. Thus they built the Citadel and the Mass Relays so that life would "...evolve along the paths that [they desired]..." giving the races of the galaxy the tools needed to advance to the appropriate point that they'd be acceptable for harvest and cultivation.
Heck the name "Reaper" itself suggests this. The definition of the word "Reaper" is this:
"One that reaps; esp.: any of various machine for reaping grain."
Using their ability of "indoctrination," (and who knows how they came by this) they brain-washed organic beings into aiding them in the harvesting and building process.
And in doing this "more times then [anyone] can fathom," they have probably forgotten who they are, or were. They probably genuinely believe they are gods and that this is their right. All that is left of them is their large ego.
But though they have been doing this for supposedly billions or trillions of years, they don't seem to be any closer to achieving that final stage of life, but that certainly hasn't stopped them from pressing on anyway.
Anyway, that's my friend and I's theory on the origins of the Reapers.
And my final suggestion is similar to the story of the Geth. The Reapers were created as battle slaves, intelligent ships to win them wars... But the Reapers were a little too intelligent and wiped out their creators. They now want to wipe out all organic life. Oops!
Hmm...I like the third option, and it seems to be the most plausible. But so does the first. Guess we will have to wait and see if it actually tells us when the third game finally comes out. Which is going to be in late 2011(I was hoping it would be early 2011, but no dice :cry:). Though, I did just watch a trailer for it....and I must say...:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:...sorry. >.>
I believe holiday season generally refers to November-December. I've been wondering what we'll actually be fighting in ME3, I mean you can't really go around fighting the reapers themselves unless they include a lot of ship battles. For actual on foot battles with human sized enemies..I suppose it's just the Collectors and rogue Geth again?
One source I saw(cant remember which site it was on) said 11/8/11. So Im guessing November...though last time I heard mention of the release date, it was somewhere in April. Guess they mustered up more side quests to be done...or something. >.>
Or maybe they realised that they forgot to ad a romanceable character! That would be a tragedy. I can't get through these games without one. Shooting stuff just doesn't cut it any more.
With the Geth though the virus (which I always used.) spread throughout all the systems, so that kind of means that we don't have them to deal with any more. Unless of course the Geth have an agenda of their own...
And they state that all the collectors came from beyond the Omega 4 relay, so that probably was all their bases.
Unless the Reapers somehow had collectors with them. You know, since they are ships that you can walk in and such, why not have it so that the Reapers are also a base for collectors, and any other civilization they wiped out. Since they were making a human Reaper, it stands to reason that each reaper represents a different species that they conquered, thus taking in a few thousand of said species that become their slaves, reproducing and always living on their species' reaper?
Thats just my over-tired mind trying to put logic to the fact they were making a Human Reaper. >.>
That's what I assumed too, that all the reapers were made of different species over the ages... But all the ones we see in the end of ME2 kinda looked the same as each other.
Im thinking that the reason they all look the same at the end is because they have an outer shell to make them all seem the same, while the inside looks like whatever species they destroyed.
So the inside of the ship is the reaper? And they build a ship around themselves? Actually, that would make sense. Imagine having an army walking around your insides. :/
