Mass Effect 2 Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC Reviews

Another handful of reviews have popped online for the Mass Effect 2 Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC, and are sticking to the overall positive tenor of the press response so far.

Kotaku.

Canon! – Previous DLC packs have felt tacked on, not really fitting into the larger adventures you’ve been taking part in. This one, however, fits snugly within the established story and events of both Mass Effect games.

Settle In – Lair is not only the longest piece of DLC thus far, taking me around two hours to finish, it’s also the most interesting, spanning a variety of unique locations. I could have spent all day wandering around the finale’s maps.

VideoGamer.com 8/10.

The dialogue, too, is absolutely spot-on. Filled with huge chunks of new conversation, Lair of the Shadow Broker puts Shepard into full-on ass-kicker mode and has him (or her, if you’re that way inclined) mostly stomping around with comedy one-liners and sweet putdowns. One exchange, as Shepard and Liara are busy dodging bullets, debates why mercenaries always approach in dribs and drabs from various directions instead of attacking all at once: hats off to BioWare for turning a common conceit of game design (of which Mass Effect is as guilty as anything else) into an effective joke.

More important, at least for anyone yet to reach the endgame, are the various bonuses offered to you by competing the Shadow Broker’s main quest. You’re given access to some fancy computer terminals, and for pocket change you can have mineral-rich planets lit up on your map. Then there’s the ability to dispatch teams of mercenaries out to faff about and occasionally bring back fistfuls of credits, giving you the option to perpetually cycle easy boosts to your economy and minerals.

Newb Review 4.5/5.

Gameplay: 5/5 There is an unprecedented variety in the types of missions on offer, from the slow-placed crime scene investigation, to the frantic hover car chase through oncoming traffic on Ilium. Fortunately the car scene does not last too long, and is very forgiving in the event of a crash. The rest of the game’s shooting based sections are fun, and challenging due to the openess of the levels, which allows enemies to come at you from all angles.

The Game Fanatics 4/5.

An unexpected twist to this DLC, is that you get to fly. The controls are simple but I found myself getting trapped in some of the buildings. The banter between Shepard and Liara is funny as you try to drive through the city towards your target. This same banter can be heard throughout the DLC. The conversation about Omni-Gel was a great one that made me laugh. Fans of the first Mass Effect will understand that one.

I don’t want to give anything away but this DLC is worth the buy. It ties up a few unanswered questions, filled with action, some humor and leaves you saying (WTF) at the end of it.

Finally, GameTrailers offers a video review.