Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 83 Ratings

  • Summary: In Mass Effect: Arrival, Commander Shepard is sent to the edge of the galaxy to rescue an undercover operative who may have evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion that has been looming since the very beginning of the series. Returning and playing a prominent role in Mass Effect: Arrival is fan favorite Admiral Hackett, who is voiced by legendary science-fiction actor Lance Henriksen (Alien, Terminator). Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 24
  2. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. Mar 29, 2011
    85
    Don't get me wrong, Arrival sits comfortably between Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker in terms of quality and I still want to play Mass Effect 3 badly, but I don't want play it that much more badly after having played Arrival.
  2. Apr 1, 2011
    74
    The Arrival will extend the length of an already long game, but it merely plays like a blockbuster action movie and that's a little disappointing for the Mass Effect universe.
  3. 70
    Arrival is a DLC expansion on the lighter end of the scale, that doesn't really add anything new to the series, and with only about an hour of playtime, it's a little short, too. However, the quality of what is here is up to the same high standard that we're used to from Mass Effect. An essential purchase only if you're starving for more Mass Effect, whereas the rest of us can probably wait until Mass Effect 3.
  4. A disappointing interim chapter.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 26
  2. Negative: 11 out of 26
  1. 9
    I don't understand you guys. What were you expecting from a DLC? I didn't expect to fight reapers, that is CLEARLY reserved to Mass Effect 3 from Mass Effect 2's ending. Do you all honestly think Bioware would make a DLC have an epic reaper battle in a DLC only a fraction of Mass Effect 2 purchasers will get? PRIOR to the game that EVERYONE will buy, Mass Effect 3? I thought that for what it was this DLC was fine. We now know the reapers are actually within the galaxy, and war looms w/ the batarians.Those are pretty important. The ending got me more pumped for Mass Effect 3. I can't wait.â Expand
  2. Arrival is probably between Lair of the Shadow Broker and Overlord or maybe behind Overlord but in front of Kasumi's Memory, (aside from Kasumi's DLC giving you the best SMG the Locust). If anything the DLC will be as good as how much you enjoy the story of Mass Effect 2. With Arrival you're tasked to go in alone and rescue a scientist held hostage. Then it really takes off. This DLC may not present anything extremely new, you'll enjoy running through it to overcome the major threat to the whole universe, the Reapers! It will be interesting to see the ramifications of this mission with Mass Effect 3 and it's no denying this is the bridging DLC from Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3. This is a very action heavy DLC that reminded me of watching a kick ass action movie. If you're a big RPG fan you might be a little disappointed with the lack of moral choices and linearity of this mission but you will get a compelling story and one hell of a conclusion. Recommend Expand
  3. Arrival suffers as it purposely does not incorporate many of Mass Effect's greater features. For example, there are no squadmates to use, limiting your ability to adapt to different combat situations with different approaches. Furthermore, there are no real choices to be made. The DLC is also relatively short and does not add a great deal to the main plot. Arrival is therefore not entirely necessary to bridge the gap between ME2 and the upcoming ME3. The enemies are also entirely generic and get boring very quickly. Nevertheless, the core gameplay is still enjoyable, yet this should only be purchased by those who really love Mass Effect. Expand
  4. Short. Not innovative. No nice bonuses. Adds nothing to the Mass Effect 2 experience. Takes place in a bland and rather familiar setting. This DLC should have been give away for free to Mass Effect 2's loyal fans; instead they give us a full-price DLC that's half the length and half the originality that it should be. It fails terribly at getting me excited for Mass Effect 3. It succeeds only in irritating me that I actually paid for it. Expand

See all 26 User Reviews