Mass Effect 2: Arrival

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 103
  3. Negative: 23 out of 103

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  1. Cotts1988
    Jun 19, 2011
    5
    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 entirelyArrival 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
  2. Kranitoko
    Mar 30, 2011
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You know me. The guy who used to hate Mass Effect 2 and then once he played it, he became a fan. Well I was determined to buy the newest and last Mass Effect 2 DLC on day one. All I knew is that it was about the Reapers and there was something counting down to something. Is that all you knew? And what, you don't have 560 MSP to buy it? Well my friends, let me give you my review on it. Maybe you won't waste your money, or maybe you'll suddenly find money. So according to Bioware, it does not matter at all when in the game you play the DLC, whether it be in the middle of the game or right at the end (to be honest though, it's best to play it half way through, where the DLC will feel like a 9/10 rather than a 6.5/10). Admiral Hackett contacts you, and asks you, and only you, to go on a mission to help rescue a woman who "apparently" knows information on an upcoming Reaper invasion. You go alone and manage to break her out. Not long after, you end up on some strange asteroid that has a big countdowns (we all love countdowns right?) which counts down to when the Reapers will arrive, hence the DLC titled "The Arrival". The aim of the DLC is to find a way to stop "The Arrival" before the countdown gets to zero, but everything goes to hell when you trust someone too much in a short space of time (Hey. I may have blurted the ending a bit, but it may have just saved you 560 MSP). There is nothing really new in the Mass Effect 2 DLC, except there is a segment where you can sneakily past guards rather than kill them to get a nice achievement. Of course, me being me, I just killed them. Other than that, itÃ¢â… Expand
  3. Wheezy247
    Mar 29, 2011
    6
    Bioware's latest DLC for Mass Effect 2 is difficult to review for me. For one the gameplay, graphics, dialogue, and sound are all excellent just like the main game. The story is good and does act as a good transition and lead up to Mass Effect 3. The mission is fun and offers a variety of gameplay, from stealth to a survive against waves of enemies. My main gripe with the DLC is how shortBioware's latest DLC for Mass Effect 2 is difficult to review for me. For one the gameplay, graphics, dialogue, and sound are all excellent just like the main game. The story is good and does act as a good transition and lead up to Mass Effect 3. The mission is fun and offers a variety of gameplay, from stealth to a survive against waves of enemies. My main gripe with the DLC is how short it is. I played through the entire DLC in around 2 hours, a bit short for 7 bucks. Also, you don't have any of your partners, it's a solo mission. This is a nice change, but I found myself prefering to fight with my comrades. The DLC is good and fun while it last, just don't expect it to last long.… Expand
  4. Gene
    Apr 3, 2011
    7
    The story is solid and enjoyable and some of the combat is very memorable. I'm docking this DLC for all it's glitches.

    AI Hacking and Dominate is glitchy as hell. Most of the time dominated enemies will either keep attacking you or freeze up until it wears off. Also in early parts of the level some DLC weapons lose their reticles and fire from somewhere above Shepherd's head.
  5. SargeGO
    May 25, 2011
    6
    While it still a good piece of DLC for ME2, the biggest problem with Arrival is that it is to short. If it was an hour or 2 longer I would give it a 7or 8. It is just to short.
  6. Lieber
    Mar 9, 2013
    6
    Arrival was a disappointment. You might have expected something on the same level as Lair of the Shadow Broker but with Ashely/Kaiden, but instead you get a mission to save a Doctor from a Batarian system. The only thing the DLC has going for it is that it leads into Mass Effect 3, and having played ME3 today, it is true that it's opening makes a lot more sense with this DLC. But is itArrival was a disappointment. You might have expected something on the same level as Lair of the Shadow Broker but with Ashely/Kaiden, but instead you get a mission to save a Doctor from a Batarian system. The only thing the DLC has going for it is that it leads into Mass Effect 3, and having played ME3 today, it is true that it's opening makes a lot more sense with this DLC. But is it really enough? You don't get any squadmates, the combat isn't very interesting and the environments are dull.

    It's 560 Microsoft Points, so if you have them, I *could* recommend this to you if you want to have context for the opening of Mass Effect 3.    … Expand
  7. eva3si0n
    May 10, 2020
    7
    Short DLC for Mass Effect 2, which links the game to Mass Effect 3. In general, the passage itself takes 2 hours about. And little is remembered at all except Shepard 's final escape from an asteroid flying to Mass Relays. Notably, in Mass Effect 3, the Alliance board will blame Shepard primarily not for his connection to Cerber, but for destroying the system with Mass Relays.
  8. RodrigoroRex
    Dec 21, 2020
    7
    "Mass Effect 2: Arrival": Good game, it provides a good experience for the player. 5 out of 7. Played it on Xbox 360.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    May 26, 2011
    60
    A brief Reaper appearance got out attention, but this DLC's climax will infuriate many Mass Effect fans. [July 2011, p.75]
  2. Gaming Age
    Apr 19, 2011
    67
    This DLC truly is a "take it or leave it" situation.
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  3. Gamereactor Denmark
    Apr 19, 2011
    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.
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