My Top 5 Favorite Mass Effect DLCs

[Pirelli913]

Link to original blog: http://www.ign.com/blogs/pirelli913/2014/03/05/my-top-5-favorite-mass-effect-dlcs

 

To commemorate the one year anniversary of the Citadel DLC, I decided to honor it with this countdown. As a huge fan of the Mass Effect trilogy and looking forward to what BioWare has in store for the next installment in the franchise, I have all the DLC with the exception of Pinnacle Station for the first Mass Effect due to the fact it wasn't ported to the PS3 version, which I have. I got Mass Effect 2 about three months after it was released on PS3 and then got Mass Effect 3 less than a year later when it launched. I loved Mass Effect 2 so much that I played it for six months straight in 2011. None of my friends could get me off it to party up with them!

 

But once the first Mass Effect was released on the PS3, something many thought would never happen, myself included, I could now play through the entire trilogy as it was meant to be played. I could do it all, with the exception, of course, of Pinnacle Station, which I later learned wasn't a big deal since it's just like a combat sim. Anyway, what follows is a list of my Top 5 favorite Mass Effect DLCs. Keep in mind, I'm doing a Top 5 because to do a Top 10 would basically mean to include every DLC.

 

5. Leviathan (Mass Effect 3)

 

Leviathan was released nearly six months after Mass Effect 3 came out and if we're going solely on trailers to accompany each DLC, I'd give this to the Omega DLC, but if we're going on quality, I feel you get more bang for your buck with Leviathan. Don't get me wrong, Omega is fun, but if you don't play it on Insanity, I feel you're not getting your money's worth. Leviathan has a great story that starts off with a conspiracy.

 

Like most DLC in Mass Effect 2 and 3, you will get an email when you've progressed far enough to unlock it. Once it's unlocked, you will gain a new area of the Citadel to explore. This unlocks an investigation into what Leviathan is. Over the course of the DLC, you will be able to explore three new planets and undertake three new missions, able to return to the new area of the Citadel after each mission has concluded.

 

Because this DLC was released after a few of the multi-player DLCs, it included some of the newer objectives such as drone escort and carrying a battery to a terminal via backpack to charge it up. But one of the most unique aspects to this DLC was taking a diving mech hundreds of feet deep to the bottom of the ocean in search of Leviathan.

 

 

4. Bring Down the Sky (Mass Effect)

 

I'm going to be painfully honest here when it comes to the many side quests in the original Mass Effect and say there isn't much diversity in any of them, unfortunately. You land on a planet, drive around in the Mako and head for the orange objects located on your map that you can interact with. Regarding Bring Down the Sky, you must stop a group of terrorists from colliding an asteroid into a planet populated with millions.

 

Along the way, you are capable of doing a few side quests within the DLC as well. But the main objective is stopping three fusion torches that are propelling the asteroid towards its destination. Once complete, you must deal with the leader of the terrorists. Depending on how you handle the situation, this individual may reappear in Mass Effect 3 at some point. The best part; however, is the prize you get for completing it.

 

Throughout the mission, a scientist will help you and if you stop the asteroid, you are rewarded for your efforts with one of five prizes: light, medium or heavy human armor (usually Colossus), quarian armor (also, usually Colossus) or, if your Charm/Intimidate is high enough, you can ask for his Omni-Tool, a Savant model, the best model in the game. And if you're level 55-60, he may give you a Savant X, the highest level.

 

 

3. Lair of the Shadow Broker (Mass Effect 2)

 

Mass Effect 2 didn't have a lot of Liara interaction aside from talking to her briefly on Illium so for Liara fans, this must have been heaven to not only take her as a squad mate, but also rekindle a possible love interest with her. Once you unlock this mission, you can talk to Liara on Illium to trigger it, where you can take a cab to her apartment after she leaves her office.

 

The first part of this DLC involves a police investigation and a high speed chase where you get to drive a hover car. The entire second half of this DLC involves storming the Shadow Broker's flying base of operations. The Shadow Broker, himself, is voiced by the excellent Steve Blum who also voiced Wilson during the first mission in Mass Effect 2 and Grunt, one of Shepard's squadmates throughout Mass Effect 2.

 

The other thing that can't be overlooked is the emotional musical score, composed by Christopher Lennertz. The score, itself, only adds to the tension and adrenaline as you aid Liara in her personal quest for revenge. Upon completion of the DLC, the Shadow Broker's base opens up as a new hub world where you can view additional codex entries, brief videos of other characters and, my personal favorite, reallocating squadmate's powers.

 

Best of all, you can invite Liara up to the Normandy where you can rekindle your romantic relationship with her.

 

 

2. Overlord (Mass Effect 2)

 

I may get some criticizm for placing this above Shadow Broker and indeed it was a close one, but for me, I felt Overlord was longer and an overall more enjoyable experience. Again, one thing that can't be overlooked is the epic musical score, composed by Christopher Lennertz as well. Side note: Both soundtracks are available for download via iTunes if interested.

 

The entire DLC takes place on the planet Aite, but don't let that fool you as a lot can be seen and done, including traveling between locations via the M-44 Hammerhead, a hover vehicle. And the main reason I thoroughly enjoyed this DLC is because it gives you a sense of isolation and loneliness. Every area you explore is riddled with dead bodies due to the titular character, the rogue VI of Project Overlord killing them, but you can't help but feel that if it was a real place, it must once have been beautiful.

 

 

1. Citadel (Mass Effect 3)

 

I could stop there because I really don't have to say anything more, but this DLC was phenomenal - head and shoulders above the rest, pure fan service. It was clear both the writers and actors had a fun time with this DLC. What's even more impressive is that the story actually makes sense.

 

Just about every main character in the trilogy makes an appearance save for a few notable exceptions like Dr. Chakwas and Kelly Chambers. Even deceased characters make cameos via voice or video recordings. This all adds closure to Shepard's story, something that was unfortunately lacking in the actual ending to the game.

 

After completing the missions within this DLC, you'll actually open up a new area of the Citadel to explore and you'll be able to reconnect with your crew. Every member of your crew, past and present, sends you an email asking to spend time with you and some even have multiple emails sent to you.

 

Throughout all this, you have the ability to throw one last party for your friends, a sort of good-bye to the series. Furthermore, there's a combat sim that is extremely addictive. I, personally, can never get enough of it and best of all, if you die in the sim, you don't actually die.

 

But my favorite part to this DLC was the humor they instilled into it. It was clear everyone involved was having fun and on more than one occasion, they were poking fun at themselves for some of the quirks the series is known for. Jokes for who gets chosen for each mission and Shepard's famous "I should go" line are made fun of amongst many other humorous moments. This DLC is gold and totally worth the price of admission.

 

[Redgrave]

Lair of the Shadow Broker was my favorite of them all. I always save it for last since I consider it the "real" final mission and found it more satisfying than the ending of the main quest.

[xZoneHunter]

Citadel was a great DLC. One of the few DLC's that are actually worth it.

[DeathNyx]

With no skins and weapons dlc included i'll say Citadel, Arrival, Kasumi, Leviathan and Cerberus Network are my favorites.

Edited March 5, 2014 by DeathNyx

[merciful84]

Its a tie between Citadel and Omega for me. Omega was surprisingly good to me. Both felt like seperate games within the series instead of DLC.