There’s nothing like more Mass Effect 2 to get the gaming blood flowing again.
Lair of the Shadow Broker takes players back to Illium, where Shepards across the world will reunite with Liara T’Soni for one more battle. This time, it’s against the Shadow Broker, a shady character who tried to sell Shepard’s body to the Collectors in the Mass Effect: Redemption comics.
The play time isn’t very long — about as long as Overlord was — which for 800 Microsoft Points seems like a bit of a ripoff. However, the battles are intense, the actual lair itself is an absolute beast to conquer, and the Shadow Broker… let’s just say he’s a unbelievable pain in the ass.
First off, having Liara back in my party is awesome, as she hasn’t missed a combat beat. She’s still a biotic badass, throwing Pulls and Shockwaves and everything else you can think of at the enemies.
One of the best parts of the DLC is the car chase scene, where Shepard and Liara tail the asari posing as a Spectre. Seeing the Illium skyline whiz by you while avoiding oncoming traffic and proximity bombs is exhilirating. My heart was racing when it came to the end, but that section was all too short. I was really hoping I’d get a chance to drive the car again.
The struggle in the lair can be summed up in three words: I hate flashbangs. The Shadow Broker’s agents use them like they’re going out of style. Every time I’d see a new enemy, I’d immediately see a white spot on my screen and hear a ringing in my ear. Once you approach the Shadow Broker himself, you get an interesting taste of the future of Mass Effect. Hint: The Shadow Broker is a never-before-seen RACE in the Mass Effect universe, and it’s one that makes the krogan look like a bunch of sissy babies.
The DLC as a whole is excellent, but not so much for the mission itself. It’s what occurs after the mission is completed that makes it awesome for Mass Effect fans. After the Shadow Broker is dead, you get access to all of his files. Everything from video logs taken across the galaxy to new information on your party members. You will learn Thane’s preferred method of killing each alien race, get some insight on Miranda’s relationship with her sister, and discover just how ridiculous Legion is at online gaming. It’s a wealth of info that will have fans of the series gasping and chuckling at the same time.
If you own Mass Effect 2, then there’s no reason not to have this DLC. It is a fitting end to a storyline that spans two games and a comic mini-series, but it also offers insight and background to the series as a whole, and even a glimpse at the future. You will not regret venturing into the Lair of the Shadow Broker.
