Commander Shepard’s been all over the known universe, piloting the Normandy through asteroid fields, exploring uncharted planets, and navigating endless space-bases. But with Leviathan — the new single-player add-on for Mass Effect 3 — Shep gets to set foot in the most alien landscape of all: a roiling, hostile ocean. And what a rush it is.
But before you can even dip your Spectre boot in the deep, dark drink, you’re sent to solve an ancient mystery — one that spans hundreds of thousands of years and involves the seemingly endless battle with the Reapers. A Citadel scientist has stumbled upon an intriguing bit of knowledge about something called Leviathan — something that can apparently kill Reapers. Is it a sentient lifeform? A weapon? Before you can learn more, tragedy strikes, and what follows is a chase through a handful of new, nicely imagined locations to find out exactly what Leviathan is. Will it actually help you slay those giant metallic goons?
Shuttle pilot Cortez gets more time in the spotlight during a white-knuckle fight aboard an abandoned freighter.Solving the puzzle involves plenty of indoctrination talk, an unexpectedly affecting father-daughter relationship between two new characters, and perhaps a bit too much CSI-style sleuthing in a Citadel lab. And by “sleuthing,” we mean you have to wander a small lab and click on different highlighted items to find out which one will put you on the right path to pursue Leviathan. It’s a change of pace from the usual Mass Effect action, but it’s also the weakest part of the entire two- to three-hour package, making what’s otherwise a lovely, imaginative peek into a darker corner of the series’ universe more laborious than it needs to be. Even worse, you have to do it three times!
New banter with crewmates and Shep’s love interest more than makes up for the pace-stalling investigation segments, though, as do some tough scuffles with Harvesters, Banshees, and Brutes. And the alluring mystery at the heart of Leviathan is enough to coax you beneath the waves for an all-too-brief taste of one of Mass Effect 3’s most wonder-inducing setpieces. What’s here isn’t radical, ending-altering content, so much as a slightly uneven but deeply worthwhile journey that adds intriguing lore to the series’ canon — and instills a wide-eyed sense that we’re nowhere near done with this universe.
Subtle gameplay tweaks in combat — like this chase/fight with Harvesters, or an "escort the repair drone" objective stolen from multiplayer — add diversity to Leviathan's fights.PUBLISHER: EA • DEVELOPER: BioWare • ESRB: Mature • MULTIPLAYER: None • ACHIEVEMENTS: Story-based (125G total) • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10) • RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012
+ Diverse new locations and environments; creative segments add to series’ sense of expansiveness.
+ A few new weapon upgrades; all-new banter with crew/love interest will please hardcore fans.
– Investigation segments slow down the pace, even if they do provide some new info.
? Why do you love that screaming husk head so much, Vega?
