Mass Effect Bring Down the Sky Review (Xbox 360)

To say that Mass Effect was a success for BioWare in 2007 would be an understatement. Mass Effect was clearly the best role playing game last year and arguably the best role playing game available. When bonus content was confirmed by BioWare, avid aficionados of the genre were tingling with elation. The fresh content is titled ��"šï¿½ï¿½"Bring Down the Sky,��"šï¿½ï¿½ and it is currently on Xbox Live for 400 Microsoft points. Although the 400 Microsoft points might seem high, gamers will be reimbursed with fifty achievement points for completing this fresh content. Essentially, players will be spending 350 Microsoft points. Now, that is enough about the points. This will undoubtedly be the first of multiple downloadable content items that will be released from BioWare. Let me get to the new content. The ��"šï¿½ï¿½"Bring Down the Sky��"šï¿½ï¿½ mission is approximately one hour, but Mass Effect enthusiasts can finish it under one hour. A mandatory aspect about the playable content is that you have to load a saved game file where Commander Shepard is inside the Normandy and has access to the galaxy map. The storyline revolves around the nefarious alien Batarians and the fusion torches. Commander Shepard and has to navigate himself (or herself depending on the game) and his teammates through an asteroid environment. Asteroid X57 is on the brink of demolishing Terra Nova, and the Batarians are making this occur by controlling the asteroid with three fusion torches. Your goal is to shut down those fusion torches and prevent that asteroid from making contact with Terra Nova. In total, there are three fusion reactors and all of them need to be disarmed. Additionally, a minor element to the gameplay is to search and rescue some engineers that have been taken hostage by the Batarians. This mission felt eerily reminiscent of various other Mass Effect segments, but this was much more engrossing that the optional side quests. No, it is not as appealing as the main single player campaign. Nevertheless, it does manage to divulge some more information about the Batarians and what role they could play in the future. Speaking of the Batarians, they can be a pain if not dealt with meticulously. They wield their biotic attributes with incredible proficiency. There is even some dialogue moments with the Batarians where Commander Shepard will have to decide between renegade or paragon. The character interactions here make Shepard a more likable or unlikable person. If anyone is wondering what the drawback to the content, then it is the length. It is short but sweet. The mission itself is nothing out of the ordinary; however, it sure does dive deeper into the exploration ambiance. Overall, it not pivotal to the plot of Mass Effect. Nonetheless, it gives a more broad horizon of an extravagant game.
Final Verdict: Download and play it