However, some criticized Mass Effect 2 's story for forcing the player to work with the Illusive Man and Cerberus despite their antagonistic role in the first game. His critical reception has been positive, with Martin Sheen praised for his voice acting. Mass Effect: Evolution reveals the character's origin story as a mercenary named Jack Harper, who worked for the Human System Alliance during the First Contact War. He appears in several other Mass Effect comics series and novels. The Illusive Man later appears in Mass Effect 3 as one of the main antagonists, where he works against Shepard's attempts to destroy the Reapers, wishing to control them instead.

In the game, he arranges to revive Commander Shepard from death, provides Shepard with a ship and crew, and sends Shepard on several missions against the human-abducting Collectors. The character first appeared in 2008's novel Ascension, and made his video game debut in Mass Effect 2 as a supporting character. He is normally seen in an empty office with no indication of his living arrangements. His eye implants make him appear slightly inhuman. The Illusive Man wears an open suit that connotes both futuristic style and the 'casual swagger of a charming billionaire'. He is the leader of the pro-human group Cerberus.

The Illusive Man is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect video game franchise. The Illusive Man, as shown in the Mass Effect 2 Codex.

Mass effect collector ship