Replaying Mass Effect

Obviously, Mass Effect 3 came out this week. Over the past month or two, I decided to play through the entire series again to prepare a Shepard. Obviously spoilers for ME1 and ME2 follow.

Mass Effect 1:
Replaying ME1 reminded me that there were two "hard" decisions in the entire game. Whether or not to kill the Rachni Queen, and whether or not to save the Destiny Ascension. Everything else just felt trivial. As though it existed only to influence the Paragon/Renegade scores. And, outside of the Destiny Ascension, none of them had any particular emotional investment. And I suspect the Destiny Ascension only had an impact because it was Seth Green leading the charge, and who doesn't like Seth Green?

Mass Effect 2:
For the most part, ME2 did a much better job. While there weren't too many particularly hard decisions (I am sure there were a few, but I can't think of any even a few hours after finishing the game), the story was told with much more character.

That being said, ME2 probably contained the single most powerful moment in the entire series up until ME3 (and possibly beyond, but I will know that in a week or two).
During Lair of the Shadowbroker, Shepard has the option to talk with Liara in her cabin. Eventually, Liara asks Shepard (and I paraphrase) "How do you really feel about the Reapers?" And, in that one moment, Shepard is able to give her honest opinion. Not her strong facade, but her actual thoughts. And, in that moment, the player is able to define the true essence of the character. The response only lasts one or two lines, but for the opportunity to admit that he/she is worried and unsure adds a new dimension to Shepard. A human one.