Arrival DLC essential for Mass Effect 3

I wasn’t that impressed with “Arrival.” It was short, predictable, and wasn’t as edge-of-your-seat compelling as “Lair of the Shadow Broker.” It was okay at best. But May’s Game Informer cover story reveals details of Mass Effect 3‘s plot, including how vital “Arrival” is to ME’s overall story. Knowing what’s in store for Commander Shepard has changed my mind about the DLC… sort of. “Arrival” is still not the most thrilling gaming experience, but its importance to Mass Effect 3 makes it worth the download.

Caution: Spoilers for “Arrival” and Mass Effect 3 below

Here’s “Arrival” in a nutshell: Admiral Hackett–the disembodied admiral from Mass Effect—has personally asked Shepard to rescue an old friend, Dr. Amanda Kenson. The archaeologist had been captured by the Batarians and was being tortured for information. Shepard is to go in alone (why are there never any witnesses whenever Shepard does heroic things?), rescue the doctor, and figure out what was so important about her work that the jerkwad species of the universe took time out of their busy schedules to torture her. Dr. Kenson’s discovery is rather impressive: the Alpha Relay, the main mass effect relay that will allow an instant jump to any galaxy. Through the course of the DLC, Shepard learns of a trio of problems:

Problem #1: The Reapers know the Alpha Relay exists.

Problem #2: Dr. Kenson has proof that the Reapers plan on using the Alpha Relay to get to Earth. It’ll take the Reapers two days to reach Earth if they use the Alpha Relay as opposed to two years taking the more conventional route. So her plan is simple: blow up the relay.

Problem #3: Taking out the Alpha Relay will subsequently destroy the surrounding solar system, including a Batarian colony with 300,000 innocent lives. Killing them could start a war that Earth can’t afford to fight. (It’s always the freaking Batarians, isn’t it?)

To borrow from Star Trek, “Arrival” is Mass Effect 2‘s Kobayashi Maru: No matter what Commander Shepard decides, Paragon or Renegade, the Alpha Relay is destroyed, the Reaper invasion is delayed, and Batarian colony is wiped out. There is no way to save the colony.

That’s where the plot to Mass Effect 3 supposedly begins. According to Game Informer Magazine, the third installment begins with Commander Shepard standing trial on Earth, facing the consequences of her actions from “Arrival” as she attempts to defend how the ends justified the means. During the trial the Reapers invade, and Shepard suddenly is forced to do what Shepard does best.

To borrow again from Star Trek: “Admiral Kirk, you are hereby called to Earth to stand trial for hijacking the Enterprise and heading to the Genesis planet to save Spock—Oh look, a probe is destroying our oceans. How about you go back in time and snatch a pair of humpback whales to make the probe go away and we’ll call it even?”

“Arrival” can be downloaded for 560 Microsoft points, $6.99 on PSN. I’m still not entirely impressed with the final Mass Effect 2 DLC, but given its alluded importance in Mass Effect 3, I recommend playing it.