Morning folks. We've got confirmation, details and images of not one but two new Mass Effect 3 DLC packs, a free multiplayer dealio titled Earth (first sighted in yesterday's Xbox Live update) and an additional campaign chapter titled Leviathan.
Sundry need-to-knows on Leviathan were chopped out of Mass Effect 3's Extended Cut last month. It sees Shepard and co journeying to a mining facility to rescue a scientist. Hit the link for a fuller and more spoilerish breakdown.
- Adept N7 Fury: Throw, Annihilation Field, Dark Channel
- Soldier N7 Destroyer: Multi-Frag Grenade, Missile Launcher, Devastator Mode, T5-V battlesuit
- Engineer N7 Demolisher: Homing Grenade, Arc Grenade, Supply Pylon
- Sentinel N7 Paladin: Snap Freeze, Incinerate, Energy Drain
- Infiltrator N7 Shadow: Tactical Cloak, Shadow Strike, Electric Slash
- Vanguard N7 Slayer: Phase Disruptor, Biotic Charge, Biotic Slash
- Fury: "Fury operatives use implants to fuel biotics and their incredible movement speed. These operatives wind an unpredictable path on the battlefield, moving in and out of combat before returning to unleash a sweeping biotic attack on their unsuspecting targets."
- Destroyer: "The Destroyer's T5-V Battlesuit gives these strong-but-slow soldiers mech-like protection. Driven by eezo-assisted actuators, these frontline troopers carry heavy weapons onto the battlefield."
- Demolisher: "The Demolisher uses grenades to attack at range and to terrorize the battlefield. Demolishers can also create a supply pylon that stocks allies with an unending reserve of grenades and thermal reloads."
- Paladin: "The Paladin carries a powerful omni-shield onto the battlefield to block enemy fire. The Paladin also uses the shield as a heavy-melee weapon that, when modified with incindiery or cryo upgrades, creates a devastating combination attack."
- Shadow: "Shadow infiltrators use implants to dramatically improve agility, making them slippery combatants on the battlefield. Their monomolecular blades are a menace from cover and close range."
- Slayer: "Slayers use implants to dramatically improve mobility. Their dizzying sword attacks can hit multiple opponents, and the Slayer's ability to slip fire makes them hard to pin down on the battlefield."
16 comments so far...
SkinnerChinner on 11 Jul '12 said:
Glad to hear more about SP DLC (need to hurry up and finish my new playthroughs of 1 & 2!), may be tempted to venture into MP again...haven't played for a while.
bamozzy on 11 Jul '12 said:
Definitely downloading 'Earth' - regardless of what I think about the MP (although I do think it is OK - Nothing special but good for a laugh and a good way to experiment with character classes/upgrade trees etc and practice for combat in the SP) I can't complain at the price and support it has been given!! Pity other games don't give things FREE!!!
In fact we are having a few free Items on the 17th - This and 'Terminal' Map for MW3 via Elite! (such rare occurrences - its like waiting for a Bus!!)
DGR1980 on 11 Jul '12 said:
I'm pretty sure i saw somewhere that Earth also includes a Platinum difficulty level.
Not that it matters to me, I'm yet to complete a round on Silver
bamozzy on 11 Jul '12 said:
I have heard that too - so it will also add a whole new difficulty level to the other maps too!! Not bad for a FREE download
Bezza89 on 11 Jul '12 said:
My cynicism gland engorged - I can't help think the MP dlcs are only free because of the ending malarky. BF3 used to have free dlc, they made a point about it and look at how much they've given? None. Karkand you could say perhaps with.
Which leads to point 2; how much will the dlc be priced? ME2s was fairly priced at 560 per pop. Can't help feeling after from ashes we will be subject to 800 point charges for 1 hour missions.
Plamsa wing on 11 Jul '12 said:
I'd bet the MP DLC is free due to the micro-transactions of random unlock packs.
I bet not a lot of people would want to buy DLC that uses a random unlock system anyway. I've only just got my Asari Adept, weeks after the DLC Asari Justicar.
I quite like how all the armour is just re-skinned too.
bamozzy on 11 Jul '12 said:
To be honest I agree with you but this is the third DLC release for the MP part of Mass Effect 3 and so far ALL have been FREE. Personally I think it has little to do with the ending 'malarky' but more to do with the reception towards ME having a MP at all. A lot of people thought that the only reason they would have a MP was so that they could charge for DLC maps etc and that MP wasn't wanted.
I don't think that I have EVER paid for a DLC SP add on as I really do not feel that they add value for money in any way. A full game costs approx 4 times as much and yet offers SO much more in terms of gameplay etc. I have bought MP additions as I think they offer a lot more in terms of hours worth of play. That being said I still think most if not all Add-ons are OVER-PRICED. I can buy a full XBLA title for the same and often less money too. If you think about Trials Evolution for example - that costs 1200ms points and so does a BF3 or MW3 map pack too. Personally I think Map Packs and Add-ons should be capped at 800 ms points - it is not like you don't need to have bought the game!
I really do not understand the pricing mentality on XBL at all - how some Avatar items cost MORE than a game and are nothing more than cosmetic! Same with Themes and Gamer Pics too! I should be paid to display some gamer pics and wear some Avatar items as they are nothing more than advertisements!!
Clanger67 on 11 Jul '12 said:
I think there are a couple of exceptions though,both by Bethesda.Shivering Isles for Oblivion and Point Lookout for Fallout 3 add loads to the SP,plus they are both on offer,bargain for the amount of hours you get from them both.Worth it at full price.
CunningSmile on 11 Jul '12 said:
Almost any of Bethesda's DLC is worth it. The quality of the plots isn't always consistent but you can very rarely argue with the amount you get for your money, especially this week with so many of them on offer.
bamozzy on 11 Jul '12 said:
I still think it would be cheaper to buy the game of the year edition than all of the Fallout 3 DLC - Probably the same for Oblivion although don't know if that came with all the available DLC too (I have the standard Oblivion on the PS3)
Bezza89 on 11 Jul '12 said:
Don't forget Rockstar Games - 1800 points for well over 20 hours expansions.
I say malarky as I wasn't bothered about it all, but as I said, I was being really cynical in thinking it - I love bioware but their output recently has trailed to oblivion a bit. They shouldn't be doing MP at all really, their SP content is worth the £3-4 which is a tenth of a full game as priced with ME2 dlc. Now as you say dlc prices are generally ridiculous, £10 for 2-5 hours or a few maps, and when a 15 hour expansion comes out for less than £15 it is slated for being expensive by reviewers.
The mind boggles.
DGR1980 on 11 Jul '12 said:
Just got it myself. Nights of the Nine and Shivering Isles included. Sadly not horse armour
Clanger67 on 11 Jul '12 said:
Hmmm wonder if that is still going to be the case though with the Max dlc.Given that the MP ties in with GTA V.I don't like knocking R* they are one of my favourite devs. but the MAX dlc is going down the same route as everyone with the MP anyway.
Bezza89 on 11 Jul '12 said:
Max is a straight up shooter though, giving out maps etc - I can't see that transferring into an open world map, more RDR type multiplayer I'd say, more modes if anything with the SP expansions.
scotty on 11 Jul '12 said:
Like Plasma I reckon what's funding these free maps are the micro transactions. Why anyone would buy random stuff is beyond me though.. unless they're slightly unhinged or have too much money and time on their hands.
I enjoy the game, multiplayer included but I'd never pay to unlock stuff... mainly because I'm a tight geet
Pompey78 on 11 Jul '12 said:
I personally like the MP in ME3. I can dip in and out of it (currently having gone back to play the SP game again) but enjoy the small team aspect against the 11 waves of enemies.
I'd like an endless wave mode though like Gears where your group of 3/4 players would show on a leader board and you would see the gamertags of the group with the number of kills, time taken and points scored. maybe make only one biotic/tech power available to start followed by the 2nd and third etc after X round intervals.
The other side that the MP suffers from is being a bit samey, there are no modes bar survive 11 rounds of enemies. getting a bit more variety in terms of game modes would be great but unlikely.
I don't think the MP DLC being free is in anyway due to the community uproar about the ending. I've only played through ME3 once so only seen one of the endings and yes I know they are supposed to be similar. But i didn't have a problem with the ending per say, it wasn't how I hoped it would end but then it wasn't my game that I'd created and spent 3 years or so building, after all it's not like I complained to the film makers when the Joker died in Batman or when Kelly Brook died in Piranha 3DD !
Free MP maps or DLC, keep them coming thank you