Mass Effect 2 Arrival DLC Reviews

More critiques of BioWare’s final set of DLC for Mass Effect 2 made their way to the ‘net overnight, most of which could probably be classified as “mediocre” to “semi-favorable”.

IGN gives it a 7.0/10:

Purchasing Arrival means there’s more to do in Mass Effect 2, and that’s always a good thing. It sets up the tone of urgency that’s prevalent in the Mass Effect 3 trailer, but don’t expect it to explain a lot. If you don’t mind combat-focused, linear missions, it’s worth the $7 or 560 Microsoft points.

Xross Platform gives it a 4/5:

Arrival’s gameplay was a little lackluster at times and didn’t feel much different from anything else faced in Mass Effect 2. Even the setting of the asteroid base felt quite similar to that of the different stations in the Overlord DLC. The story of (Arrival) is interesting and adds that little bit of extra information leading up to Mass Effect 3 and the invasion of the Reapers, but inevitably doesn’t really deliver anything extraordinary that we didn’t already know to expect in Mass Effect 3 which makes it feel a little unnecessary. That being said, it is still an enjoyable DLC pack from Bioware and is a good addition to the Mass Effect 2 story and to the story of the Mass Effect universe leading up to Mass Effect 3. The return of Admiral Hackett to the story and a first real appearance for him is a very enjoyable feature of (Arrival), as is the appearance of Harbinger and more details surrounding the Reapers, especially for fans of the Mass Effect franchise.

GamingTruth gives it a 2.5/5:

I really wanted to like The Arrival. I’m a big fan of Mass Effect, and The Arrival seemed like a promising conclusion to ME2’²s arc. Instead, it’s linear and lonely, the exact opposite of everything Mass Effect has come to represent. Play it if you have to . But you probably won’t be able to shake the feeling that BioWare should have stopped with Shadow Broker.

Video Game Writers gives it a 3.5/5:

What Arrival does is it sets the stage for the start of Mass Effect 3. If you have been following the Mass Effect saga, this is without a doubt a necessary experience. Conflicts are introduced and information is passed on that allows a glimpse into the future of the galaxy. What Arrival should be seen as, and celebrated for, is less as some side story and more of a glimpse into where Bioware is taking you in the final installment. Once approached with that mindset, it certainly does do its job and it does it while being fun and engaging. However, it should be noted that the grand tales of other DLC missions like Lair of the Shadow Broker and Overlord, which take you through the galaxy and occasionally shake up the gameplay are not present here. Arrival is just a taste of what to expect in the third installment, and it’s far from a whole meal.

Game Breakers gives it a 48/100:

This DLC is on par with the offerings of Pinnacle Station and Witch Hunt, rather than the Awakening and Lair we were hoping for.

For perfectionists only.

Nave360 gives it a 6.5/10:

But this DLC… you know those missions in Mass Effect 2 where you weren’t really bothered about what happened in it? This is one of those missions. This DLC is no where near as fun as the Shadow Broker DLC.

RPGSite gives it a 70%:

Arrival is by no means the best DLC for Mass Effect 2, but it’s also a very competent addition to our RPG of the Year 2010 – and more Mass Effect 2 is no bad thing. It adds to the story and gives Shepard more to do – and for anyone who seriously enjoyed Mass Effect 2 that has to come recommended.

GamesEyeView gives it a 9/10:

The graphics and voice acting are just as strong as one would expect compared to the rest of the game, the locations are new and unique, and the narrative is the perfect bridge to prepare gamers for the challenge that awaits them in Mass Effect 3. We’d have liked to have seen something new as far as enemy types, but feel that the challenge and narrative do a good job of making up for the fact that everything you face in Arrival you’ve seen before. All in all, we give Arrival a very high recommendation to any fan of the series.

BitPunch gives it a 4/5:

The plot is interesting enough and is supported by the BioWare staple conversation system and quality voice acting, though I would have liked to see a few more opportunities to use the charm or intimidate features and some additional companion dialog. No new gameplay elements are introduced, but there’s no real problems with what’s there, which is about as much as you can expect from reasonably priced DLC. The package’s arrival into success seems certain.

And Save and Quit gives it a 5/10:

Overall this DLC didn’t do it for me; I was expecting more out of it, because it was the final one. Granted, the download was cheap, but it should have been around a buck.