This is my review of the DLC Overlord for Mass Effect 2 for the 360. First let me state that I was thoroughly impressed by both Mass Effect games, and that I have generally been a fan of the expansions for both of them. That said if you dislike Mass Effect then this review is irrelevant to you, and there is no need to troll this thread. This is for those that are fans of the game, and are interested in whether the expansion is worth their coin.
First things first the dlc costs 560 MS points, which at least means that the expansion is very affordable. Coming out at maybe seven dollars US currency. For this you will get a new star system with one new world that has five explorable levels. You will also get twenty five achievement points, and about two hours worth of play time. Like Kasumi this expansion is more like a very toned down hubword in the main game. Your going to find five missions total, and that is including the side quest. Basically your not spending much, and your not getting much.
That said the effort is there to make a little go a long way. There is definitiely no lack for variety or creativity. From jumping from boulder to boulder as they float down a lava river to taking on a downed geth ship that is glassing the area while you try to knock out the shielded generators that are shielding the gun trying to glass you. The environments are wonderfully interactive, and novel combat solutions abound. This expansion definitely delivers on the action front of the equation.
Graphically the game is on par for the main game, but it definitely has its own distinct style. While the environments are fairly original. Basically you will recognize this as Mass Effect, but it is different enough to be engaging. Even the scripted events within the environments are novel. The dialogue is well written if not somewhat sparse. Basically your going to get a couple pages of lines in the expansion, but sadly none of it from your squad mates who basically play silent roles. Further more dialogue choices are basically redundant except for a final moral choice. Which is obviously too little way to late to be practical. Also on a sad note though it has its own story, and should be commended for bothering it is a very basic rehash of the Cerberus test subject goes nuts and murders the facility. Where have I heard this one before. Hell it doesn't even expand the universe in any meaningful way.
Perhaps the harshest critique I can give this expansion is that it is stand alone, and doesn't mesh with the main game at all. Sure it wears the clothes, but they don't fit. There is no asset acquisition carry over to the main game. No new gear, no new squad, no new skills, and no lasting impression. Basically it is a non event. Which begs the question how much is an expansion that doesn't expand actually worth.
Sure the expansion has a low price tag, the combat is wonderful, the level design is nice, and it has a marginal story. That said it makes little to no pretense of being even remotely related to the main game. Buying this expansion doesn't really enhance the main game, or extremely lengthen the enjoyment. For the final analysis you have two hours worth of fun playing a game for seven dollars, and I can't even imagine anyone feeling a stirring need to play this expansion over on multiple characters.
This all said I am at somewhat of a loss. Do I ding the expansion for not really being an expansion, or do I judge it on the grounds that it is stand alone. So I opt to give you two scores, and you decide which applies to you personally. I will review it as if it were a game by itself, and review it as a true expansion.
Stand alone 7.5/10. There are no glaring problems beyond a weak story, and a short play through. The combat is quite excellent, and there is a lot of novelty to challenge you.
Expansion 4/10. This expansion isn't doing anything to enhance or supplement the Mass Effect experience. Which is what you probably want this expansion for. Seven dollars is far too steep for even a good two hour mission, and there are better options available. You will be no better or worse off for not paying to play this expansion it has nothing to do with the main game, and your probably not going to want to play it again after your initial foray. Being that the main game can take upwards of fifty or so hours for a single playthrough.
This one had potential if some girth had been added outside of the combat elements. Without that this is a good gaming experience, but a very shallow Mass Effect experience. In either case its a bit too expensive for what is there.
