Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC Impressions

Mass Effect 3 is still months away, but the final piece of Mass Effect 2 DLC gives gamers an idea of what Shepard will be facing in the trilogy's conclusion. While the events of Arrival serve as a glimpse into the series' future, the mission itself doesn't stack up against other downloadable ME 2 offerings like Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker.

Does that mean Arrival isn't worth its $7 price tag? Not necessarily. I still enjoyed my time with Arrival, but my impressions are mixed. This SPOILER FREE list takes a quick look at the ups and downs you can expect in Arrival.

THE GOOD
Admiral Hackett
Arrival finally gives us a look at Admiral Hackett (pictured above), who had previously only been a voice on the intercom. The Alliance officer sent Shepard on a bunch of missions in Mass Effect 1, and Arrival kicks off when he contacts the Normandy and asks Shepard to do him a personal favor. Maybe it's the fact that Hackett is voiced by the legendary Lance Henriksen, but I immediately thought he was awesome.

The Premise
Shepard's mission evolves into more than Hackett initially ordered, and players soon get wrapped up in a mess involving the Reaper's inevitable invasion (hence, "Arrival"). I enjoyed the concept behind what I was doing, and it definitely made me feel like Shepard is the only person in the galaxy who has a firm handle on what needs to be done.

Change of Pace
For one very short section, you're in direct control of a character other than Shepard. It's a neat idea, but I wish BioWare had done a little more with it. Sadly, the sequence is barely long enough for you to say "Hey, this is cool!" before it's over.

Decent Value
It took me approximately 90 minutes to play through Arrival on Veteran difficulty with an end-game Shepard. The content is pretty compact; you'll be barreling forward most of the time, and the areas don't feel bloated. At the same time, I didn't feel cheated in terms of how much gameplay I got for my money.

The End
Assuming events play out as the game suggests, Mass Effect fans will undoubtedly be excited to see what's up with Shepard at the beginning of Mass Effect 3. Since I don't want to spoil anything, that's all I'm going to say about that.

THE BAD
Where Is Everyone?
For various political reasons that don't hold any water, Shepard must complete this mission solo. That means that you can't bring any of your favorite party members along. Fortunately, Shepard is pretty much a one-person murder squad, so it doesn't make the content harder. It does make it feel more hollow, though.

Story Execution
While I enjoyed the premise of Arrival, it isn't conveyed particularly well to the player. Without your party members at your side, very little conversation or exposition takes place; most people you see want to kill you, not talk to you. As a result, some key moments didn't have as much impact as they could have (though they certainly don't fall flat, either).

Good And Evil Don't Matter
Shepard commits a surprising deed in the name of the greater good...but you don't get any say in the matter. It's a necessary development if the story is to go in the direction that BioWare intends, but some diehard paragon players might feel like they are being railroaded into performing a morally questionable act.

Back-Loaded
You'll do a lot of shooting in basic corridors and open rooms for most of Arrival, without much for boss battles or unique encounters to spice up the action (except for a few YMIR mechs). The environments don't get interesting until the end of the mission, and the cool story moments don't happen until the last five or ten minutes.

You Can Play It Whenever, But You Shouldn't
You can undertake the mission from Admiral Hackett as soon as you have control of the Normandy, but I wouldn't recommend it. The events of Arrival work best as a cap to your exploits in Mass Effect 2, especially since there's an appearance by a character that some people might consider a spoiler. Unlike the Shadow Broker DLC pack, you don't gain anything new at the end of Arrival (except experience points), so there's no incentive or reward for finishing early.

THE BOTTOM LINE
As a fan, I am satisfied with what Arrival provides, but I'm also a little disappointed considering the high bar set by the last DLC, Lair of the Shadow Broker. At least Arrival isn't just some plot tangent that you can take or leave; like Shadow Broker, it offers a story that feels like an integral part of the Mass Effect experience. Arrival doesn't dazzle on the gameplay front, but you will want to play the mission to get a more complete view of Shepard, the Reapers, and the impending events of Mass Effect 3.