Thread: Mass Effect 2: Arrival DLC Review (There be spoilers in this here review!)

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Again there are spoilers in this review for most of the DLC's so if you haven't played them then you know.... sod off! Just kidding just don't spoil it for your fine self.

So with the unmasking of the shadow broker being a Yargh, a hybrid of machine and turnip, the destruction of the galaxy's evilest AI, Project Overlord and a lot of other things I can't remember properly, along comes Arrival. Strange considering this is presumably the last DLC for Mass Effect 2.

The story begins with Admiral Hackett actually showing up on screen of the Normandy 2 and asking Shepard for a favour.... no not that kind of favour a mission favour!

Hackett wanted Shepard to go to some unpronounceable planet to save a scientist. The woman, who's name I can't recall because she sucks as a team mate, has been arrested by Batarians and tortured for some reason and it is up to Shepard to save the day, as usual because no one else can get up off their space chairs and do anything about it.

Anyway, You land on this planet and save the damsel in distress from the underground prison whilst alerting every Batarian in the solar system to your position in the process. Despite this you make a clean getaway and go to the scientist chicks 'home'.

Whilst there you learn that the reason she was arrested was because she planned to send a asteroid into a Mass Relay to prevent a Reaper invasion, as his relay is the Alpha Relay that links to every other relay in the known Galaxy. Subtle I must say. Shepard being the considerate sole he is, decides to help but is first shown a mysterious Reaper Artifact called Project Rho. Just when it seems everything is going gravy the bitch turns as she is under Reaper mind control, what could of done that I wonder?

The Rho Project is actually another marker sent by the Reapers to entice Shepard with a interesting plan and then finish him off whilst his pants are tight. After aiming a gun at you, and having her arse kicked bitch tits, as she shall now be known, runs off leaving you in a room full of mercenaries, rapists and mechs stating that millions of Batarians shall be killed. At this point I laughed because 1) I don't give a flying monkey's doo-darr if they die all I ever do is fight legions of the buggers and 2) Didn't she plan on doing the exact same before she was possessed by a squid?

After fighting off wave after wave of these buggers there are one of two scripts followed, my champions script, or the pussy script where you pass out from bullet damage as bitch tits stands over you with her eyes glowing like Harbringer.You awake in a room next to a mech control panel, Seriously?, and proceed to blast your way to freedom.

You then fight your way to the control panel and aim this rock Relay-wards when who should pop up but bitch tit's herself, clearly under possession of Harbringer or severely stoned, she proclaims she is going to override the system and be throwing confetti and waving peace flags when the Reapers come to kill us all.

Hell no shouts Shepard as he/OR SHE shoots his/her way through an army of henchmen one-handed whilst smoking a cigar in the other hand. Your next objective is to turn the vents on as Bitch tits has shut them down and shit WILL explode if you don't get a move on .After that you meet her in the engine room and after missing her 3-pants tightening times before now you finally get a renegade option to pop a cap in the bitch.

Queue her falling to the ground whilst holding a deadman switch, basically if she is killed, her thumb will slide of the button and... well bye bye bitch tit's and whoever is close to her. Luckily Shepard jumps out of the way but is still knocked out. You awake AGAIN with an hour to spare before you are added to the million death count, so it's time to run that pert bottom to the Normandy young fellow.

Whilst fighting Mercenaries, am I the only one who wants to live on this game?, you get gradually closer to the relay which is an awesome spectacle to behold, be sure no to miss it. After you reach the docking bay Harbringer shows up reminding you that you have only DELAYED the invasion not stopped it and proceeds to say "Behold our ARRIVAL" HOLY CRAP he mentions the DLC's name in the DLC, way to break the fourth wall squiddy

Shepard tells him to go suck a lemon and boards the Normandy before going through the Alpha Relay to escape. Close behind him the asteroid hits the Relay and the fireworks display puts that star system in God's blender. Shepard is soon confronted by Hackett IN PERSON, my god someones feeling generous today, and says thanks heres a wholly pop.

He goes on to say that the Batarians will start a war over this, you did destroy a solar system of the blighters Shepard, and that you have to go to court on Earth for it. He leaves on a positive note and said he trusts your judgment that you did the right thing.

In my opinion this DLC cannot be missed for a meager 560 microsoft points you get to know the tough decision that put Shepard in Broadmore. It also sets up the Threequel perfectly so get your nuts to the wall and blast some Batarian arse to dust!

I personally found it be an utter waste gameplay wise, story wise it is good but no where near long enough to earn its damn price tag.
Thanks to this I can't afford ilomilo, which is vastly superior and costs 160 less :(

I'll probably get it before I get Mass Effect 3. Just because I'm a sucker for Mass Effect dlc. Of course I still need to complete Overlord and the Shadow Broker but after that it's on to the last dlc pack.

I dunno...

I wonder where/when the arrival DLC came to Bioware's mind..

The end point of the DLC is essentially the setup for Mass Effect 3, and without knowing anything that occurs in Arrival gives a huge storygap between ME2 & 3.

If the story for ME3 was planned (& thus this DLC was included in that story), I think its a pretty poor show from bioware/EA to pull this trick as part of the PR ramp up for ME3..

Though, given I have none of the DLC, Im just waiting for an all encompassing GotY edition to get released (or maybe a 3 pack tie in for all 3 games after they have all been released)


For the review itself, nicely written with a nice structure & style (& a welcome to the spoiler warning welcome for those that dont want spoilers! (Almost a Dr Who meme thing there currently! ))

i dont reckon they'll just start ME3 where they left off arrival. i think it will probably start with a cutscene recapping what happens in arrival to fill in those without it.

they'll want people to buy ME3 even if they havent played the others (although not many will i dont think) so i reckon theyll make sure you can get into it with no experience

Originally Posted by Are You EXPd

i dont reckon they'll just start ME3 where they left off arrival. i think it will probably start with a cutscene recapping what happens in arrival to fill in those without it.

they'll want people to buy ME3 even if they havent played the others (although not many will i dont think) so i reckon theyll make sure you can get into it with no experience

I dont know y'know..

Heres some stats that Bioware released back in November regarding ME2 :

• 83% of players created their own face for Shepard
• 82% play as male Shepard, 18% as female Shepard
• The Soldier class is far and away the most popular class at 65%
• Engineer is least selected class
• Garrus was among the most popular squad members selected for missions
• 10% of players never let Grunt out of Penis Tube
• Only 50% of players have fully upgraded the Ship by the end of the game
• 14% of squad members die in the end-game, on average
• 36% of players chose the <Renegade choice> in the end-game
• Average Completion Time = 33 hours
• Roughly 50% of people started the game completed it
• Roughly 50% of people imported a save
• Players Skipped 15% of conversations

Source : IGN

Given the above, if only half the people who played ME2 to completion then either it means a huge drop in 'potential purchases' of ME3, or more likely, people will buy it & still quit out of it early doors.

Sadly percentages mean little without actual figures.... 15% of conversations quit? - is that 1st time round? or also including 2nd time round players? (ie, I heard this shit before)

Personally, I played the game twice with a new character (but I also imported a character to get any import achievements), a male soldier, a defaulted face male solider... my personal view, is its Single player, I dont give a shit what I look like)

As for the male/female trend, Is anyone surprised? (Im assuming that the large majority of gamers are male, There are females gamers, but quite frankly, its a huge market thats left out (and no, Barbie horse adventures will not make girls gamers))

One thing about Garrus : Anyone surprised he was picked as best choice? even in ME1 he was such a good choice as backup skills & he continued that in ME2 (compared to some of the chumps available)

As for engineer? until you get to a high level you are shit.. weak, crappy skills & die often (or hide often & direct your solider type teammates to kill)... its a shite style to play as & generally only for the hardcore.


A larger question should be what do these stats reflect back into the development process of ME3? Will the lack of engineer play result in a boosting of that character style? or a reduction in effort of it?

I played as an engineer through Mass Effect 1 and 2. Actually found it a fun class and not like the easy to work soldier role. Fancied something different and I generally liked it apart from that weak gun drone special ability in ME2.

If I'm sticking with the same guy i want a better special ability in 3.