Don't forget, Mass Effect DLC releases today
by Terrence Stasse 
{ Mar 10th 2008 at 9:00AM }
A reminder to all the element-zero-heads out there, Mass Effect's first (of a speculated five, as devs are allowed 250 achievement points via DLC) round of downloadable content hit the Marketplace today. With the inclusion of an entirely new race, 50 more achievement points, and a supposed hour and a half of gameplay it looks as though this is no mere horse armor. The only "warning" needed is that you will need a save that gives your character access to the Normandy,as the content is reached via the Galaxy Map. The name of the content pack comes from the story premise in the featured mission. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova, and for 400 MS points (about five bucks) you can saddle up and save the planet.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonawllen @ Mar 10th 2008 9:12AM
quick capsule review: too much mako roving
damianjay1 @ Mar 10th 2008 9:39AM
Beat It. Hardly 90 minutes worth of material.
Damian @ Mar 10th 2008 9:42AM
P.S. Let's hope the next batch of DLC is more challenging and hopefully mildly entertaining.
Boff @ Mar 10th 2008 9:48AM
Is it Yet-Another-Side-Mission or an actual decent one with unique locations (i.e. not a mine, base or ship interior)??
Damian @ Mar 10th 2008 9:59AM
It's four bases. A couple of cut scenes and a boss fight, i'm doing renegade. Started at level 57 ended at 57. not enough content to level up a strong character.
Damian @ Mar 10th 2008 10:11AM
P.S. It is a unique location, but it's pretty much the same as any other. The only location that is different is the last base. But the other three are the same layout as the other side missions.
Ben @ Mar 10th 2008 10:12AM
I was planning on downloading this, but based on what I'm hearing I might wait
Edgar @ Mar 10th 2008 11:29AM
So uh, there's a point in the game where you lose the Normandy?
I'm only about 20 hours in (playing very slowly), so not sure where that happens.
craig64 @ Mar 10th 2008 11:39AM
I just bought this game for $20 (wooh!), so I wonder if this will be worth it. I guess I should probably play it before deciding that...
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 10th 2008 11:53AM
Goodie ^^ Can get my hands on it at last :)
Dick @ Mar 10th 2008 11:55AM
Just get it for the 5$ Craig. You paid 20 bucks. Cheap Punk.
And Edgar, the warning is for Noobs who think, "Hey, ill download the DLC right now and play it straight away, even though I got the game yesterday for 20 bucks."
Noobs Like Craig.
Dick @ Mar 10th 2008 12:00PM
And Edgar,
If we tell you about whether or not you lose the Normandy, and when/if that happens, it would spoil a surprise or two, wouldn't it?
After 20 hours you want any surprises you can get, I imagine.
Dick @ Mar 10th 2008 12:01PM
I'm Still Getting it.
Momo @ Mar 10th 2008 12:03PM
Hey craig64, where did you find Mass Effect for $20?
Deck @ Mar 10th 2008 12:33PM
All I have to say is... w00t!
And doom on you naysayers! :-p
Damian @ Mar 10th 2008 1:23PM
Edgar,
If you are in the middle of the game on your first play through, it's probably better to do it now. Chances are it'll be more challenging, and no, we can't tell you when you lose the normandy.
Craig,
Twenty is a steal and well worth an extra five bucks for the DLC. I got mine for forty so shelling out five bucks for 50 achievement points and rolling through the "intergallactic hood" with sheppard again was a no-brainer for me.
NATO_Duke @ Mar 10th 2008 1:31PM
Even if its not much of an offering, some new content will be nice to play. I'm gonna grab it.
Edgar, there is a point in the story where you cannot just decide to bail on the storyline to fly around the universe. So you need a save before that time.
craig64 @ Mar 10th 2008 2:40PM
Okay...okay, I'll get that new content then! I guess it really is only $5 for it, so I might as well.
I picked the game up for part of Rogers Video 2/$40 deal in Canada. I picked up Mass Effect and the new Naruto game...so that was a wicked deal.
Justin @ Mar 10th 2008 3:19PM
Wow, that was disappointing. I would have spent one USD max on that...
PerfectStrategy @ Mar 10th 2008 3:26PM
NATO_Duke from AA? Are you a full time 360 player now? I'm all 360 now, I don't even miss AA sadly.
borocouncilman @ Mar 11th 2008 9:32AM
At a minimum, it's an excuse to pop Mass Effect in again.
I played through it last night. The DLC is closer to an hour than an hour and half. You might be able to stretch it if you go looking for the engineers. As a fan of the game, the experience was worth it.
New Stuff You'll See
-Turrets with protective shields
-Moving turrets on tracks
-Proximity mine fields
-Alien Dragon things used like guard dogs
-Batarians, but look just like humans in the armor
Per prior posts, you'll be visiting 3 standard Mass Effect style structures (dungeons, cough). Then, you're treated to a nice little shoot-out and boss battle with the Batarian leader. The boss battle takes place in a completely new/large space.
It's a satisfying piece of DLC at the right price point.
Ed @ Mar 19th 2008 9:40AM
I downloaded it the other night. I am surprised by the negative comments here. The graphics are slightly better, the bases have different layouts, the challenge is slightly harder and I leveled 3 times during the mission. Yeah, it is short - but it is on par with the Oblivion content I downloaded for about the same cost.
Overall, I would mark it a must buy for Mass Effect owners. Looking forward to the next 4 and Mass Effect II and III.