Mass Effect 2: Arrival Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3, PC, Xbox 360
Dev: BioWare
Pub: Electronic Arts
Release: March 29, 2011
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood, Drug Reference, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

Again, without ruining plot elements, you have a very limited amount of time to achieve your goal in certain sections. The time constraint makes it more believable that characters run across the scaffolding and pay no attention to a random open door to the right. In other games of the genre you will still find yourself in the room on the right exploring for whatever you can find. This fact alone makes it difficult to praise or dismiss the game. It can really go both ways depending on your playing mood. The first time I played, I explored everything, and with each subsequent playthrough, I found that even though I was no longer exploring, I was still enjoying the content as much as other previous DLC.

Mass Effect 2: Arrival Screenshot

I can also understand why this piece of DLC is the last for the game. Even though it doesn't lay down everything for those looking for the gap builder between ME2 and what we've seen in the teaser trailer for Mass Effect 3, it still gives just enough to make you demand its fourth quarter release.

The Arrival is like the last episode in the season of a television show. The show knows it is being renewed for another season, but also wants to allow the viewer to repeatedly come back to this story for a self-enclosed experience. It doesn't set the stage like The Empire Strikes Back; instead it delivers like The Two Towers. You know what is next and therefore do not need shock and awe to keep you on the edge of your seat until the next installment.

The seven-dollar price may be hard to justify based solely on time spent and substance outside of the story, but if you have been a Mass Effect fan this long and can't wait till the "final" installment, there's no reason you should not already have this downloadable content.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Site Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.5

Graphics
The Arrival continues with the same impressive graphical presentation as the core game.

4.0

Control
Not much else to be said outside of what has already been said more than a few times before.

4.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Superb. It is because of the level of voice acting and musical score that Mass Effect has quickly become a fan favorite.

3.3

Play Value
Rationalizing the cost versus the content is a tough one, but I can say this will not hold you over till the release of Mass Effect 3.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

The final chapter in the epic Mass Effect 2 storyline.

Bridge the gap between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.

Perform a solo mission for an old friend, people will recognize from the original Mass Effect.