Mass Effect 3: From Ashes

 Xbox 360
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 178 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 178
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 178
  3. Negative: 101 out of 178

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  1. Exo212
    May 14, 2012
    3
    Unlike what seems like almost *everyone* here rating the DLC based off of when it was released,(although it was an insulting move by itself, i'll admit) For the price you pay, the mission is painfully short, and Javik's lines of dialogue are hardly worth the money. While it was interesting to finally get a view of the protheans, I feel like they could have easily integrated Javik and hisUnlike what seems like almost *everyone* here rating the DLC based off of when it was released,(although it was an insulting move by itself, i'll admit) For the price you pay, the mission is painfully short, and Javik's lines of dialogue are hardly worth the money. While it was interesting to finally get a view of the protheans, I feel like they could have easily integrated Javik and his mission into the game and released ME3 without day-one DLC. A blatant attempt to take more of your money *after* you spent $60 dollars on a *full* game. If your interested in lore, the Mass Effect "wikia" is free.… Expand
  2. paketep
    Mar 14, 2012
    0
    Should have been in the game, as many of the conversations included are integral of it, whatever the EA/Bioware drones say. EA just removed it from the main game, most (all?) of it is even in the disk and can be unlocked touching a couple of files or using a crack.
  3. mike21
    May 8, 2012
    0
    Day 1 DLC. With content that is already on the disk. Enough said
  4. burneyburnside
    Apr 28, 2012
    1
    finding a new teammate and gaining new history of the story was great! the 10 minutes it took to beat was very dissappointing considering the 10 dollar cost and the content both me1 and me2 put out i was expecting much much more for dlc content.
  5. MatDiF
    Mar 15, 2012
    3
    From Ashes is one of the worst examples of DLC in recent memory. An example of a game developer removing content from the main game in order to get you to pay extra the only thing your really "downloading" is the lackluster mission to wake the character. The truth is you already have him with your Mass Effect 3 purchase and it only takes editing one game file to get him.
  6. zurupeto
    Mar 13, 2012
    4
    The mission was pretty forgettable. Afterward, I found I wasn't that interested in the new character and never used him. Talking to him was distracting on account of his clearly terrestrial accent, though a few interesting tidbits of backstory about the Protheans did crop up. I suspect From the Ashes was, at least initially, planned as a standard part of ME3, and was later removed to beThe mission was pretty forgettable. Afterward, I found I wasn't that interested in the new character and never used him. Talking to him was distracting on account of his clearly terrestrial accent, though a few interesting tidbits of backstory about the Protheans did crop up. I suspect From the Ashes was, at least initially, planned as a standard part of ME3, and was later removed to be offered as DLC, but that's just conjecture on my part. Of course, ME3 isn't really worth playing anyway, so the value of this DLC is largely moot.… Expand
  7. Josh_47ra
    Mar 8, 2012
    0
    Ah Day 1 DLC that was finished back in July. Pathetic excuses for it to not be on the disc, but more importantly its not a very good DLC. Maybe a 3-4 if it came out in three months, but the fact its also Day 1 pushes it to a zero.
  8. Fitonito
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    To EA and Bioware (company that I adored for a decade now); you guys are pathetic capitalism whores. You are not true gamers! What you are now thinking? Ok, let's fool them again but next time we will not say them that we are making day one DLC, instead we will make DLC second week. I'm done with you guys, this is last game that I will buy from you!
  9. codenamegizmo
    Mar 8, 2012
    3
    I'm going to try not to get into the day1dlc debate too much and try to review the actual product. First with the ugly concerning day1dlc: While it's true it already happened with me2 with zaeed, it was different because it was free for people who bought the game new. That's where it all started. The developers and publishers make no money off of used games so they make money where theyI'm going to try not to get into the day1dlc debate too much and try to review the actual product. First with the ugly concerning day1dlc: While it's true it already happened with me2 with zaeed, it was different because it was free for people who bought the game new. That's where it all started. The developers and publishers make no money off of used games so they make money where they can. It's not the most ideal situation, but it's understandable. What isn't however, is replacing free day1dlc with and online pass like fifa or nfs. Sure it's free for the people who dished out 20 extra bucks for the collector's edition, but that's hardly a way to congratulate your loyal fans... because (actual review part):
    This is by far the single worst dlc to ever come out for the mass effect series. Ive completed both games several times, including dlc, to the point of exhaustion and I have no reservation in saying bioware should be ashamed. The dlc itself lasts about 30 minutes and is essentially a fetch quest. Once you recruit the prothean, you can't speak to him on your ship (like Zaeed and Kasumi). This basically means bioware cared so little for the character they don't bother to give any form of progression whatsoever. Do not expect a Thane or a Legion. He is one of the most boring characters in the mass effect universe. He's a soldier so, of course, he has to be rude, condescending and just plain boring. They had so much potential to tap into the prothean culture but all that is wasted. If you had any questions regarding the prothean culture, don't worry, they won't be answered. Unless you consider half assed statements that raise more questions than anything to be answers. Combat wise, he's average. He's half soldier, half biotic. he has pull and slam and lift grenades. He's also got this power called dark channel that deals damage over time. He's not exceptional, he's not my first choice and I wouldn't recommend him to anyone playing on the harder difficulties because he lacks overload/warp etc. So all in all, really disappointing dlc, especially given how controversial it is. Do not go in expecting Lair of the Shadow Broker or Overlord. Mass Effect 2 DLCs are way more fun than this most of them only cost 560. Avoid at all costs unless you're an achievement whore. It brings nothing to the table and is a massive disappointment.    … Expand
  10. lucian01
    Mar 9, 2012
    0
    New sources confirm that at least most of this "DLC" was on the retail disc already. So basically, it's an extra $10 to unlock content that you've already paid for and already have installed. As consumers we just can't support this behaviour.
  11. OddSuperFuture
    Mar 16, 2012
    0
    Day one DLC. What more can you say really? You can edit one line of code on the PC version and then you can use the squadmate. Essentially it's already on disc but this is EA we are talking about here. What more can you expect?
  12. VendettaBB
    Mar 17, 2012
    0
    this dlc is required to get the most out of mass effect 3 from a story stand-point otherwise that's 1 more plot hole to add to the huge list of plot holes already in the base game. so that is an additional 10$ bioware is trying to force you to spend.. horrible.
  13. aksu113
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    this DLC is horrible and mass effect 3 too.I am disappointed BioWare
  14. GilCore
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    Day 1 DLC. Prothean squadmate, on the disc. I don't care if it's not important to the main story. I don't care if you had a separate team working on it. You had it ready to be released alongside the game and on the disc itself. There is no excuse for this not being free for everyone. Shame on EA. Shame on Bioware. And shame on consumers for still blindly buying their crap and letting EADay 1 DLC. Prothean squadmate, on the disc. I don't care if it's not important to the main story. I don't care if you had a separate team working on it. You had it ready to be released alongside the game and on the disc itself. There is no excuse for this not being free for everyone. Shame on EA. Shame on Bioware. And shame on consumers for still blindly buying their crap and letting EA get away with it.… Expand
  15. Bioterrible
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Mass Effect 3, is in fact, DLC/Mass Effect 3, or as I've recently taken to calling it, DLC plus Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 3 is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning DLC system made useful by the DLC corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising aI'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're referring to as Mass Effect 3, is in fact, DLC/Mass Effect 3, or as I've recently taken to calling it, DLC plus Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 3 is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning DLC system made useful by the DLC corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the DLC system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of DLC which is widely used today is often called "Mass Effect 3", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the DLC system, developed by the DLC Project. There really is a Mass Effect 3, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Mass Effect 3 is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Mass Effect 3 is normally used in combination with the DLC operating system: the whole system is basically DLC with Mass Effect 3 added, or DLC/Mass Effect 3. All the so-called "Mass Effect 3" distributions are really distributions of DLC/Mass Effect 3.… Expand
  16. me-0815
    Mar 7, 2012
    0
    This content should have been on the disc, or at least freely available to everyone who purchased a new copy of the game. This was the case with the first story DLC for Mass Effect 2, in order to encourage players to buy a new copy of the game instead of a used one. But now EA goes a step further and charges money for the day 1 DLC. No one should buy this DLC, if only to discourage EA fromThis content should have been on the disc, or at least freely available to everyone who purchased a new copy of the game. This was the case with the first story DLC for Mass Effect 2, in order to encourage players to buy a new copy of the game instead of a used one. But now EA goes a step further and charges money for the day 1 DLC. No one should buy this DLC, if only to discourage EA from such schemes.… Expand
  17. Yasuchika
    Mar 6, 2012
    0
    Day 1 DLC containing a companion from the most mysterious race in the ME universe. That this wouldn't just be included in the game is horrible, and it's a practice that should not be encouraged.
  18. ImUnavailable
    Mar 17, 2012
    6
    This expansion is far too short to justify its price and returning to Eden Prime is not as dramatic as I'd have hoped. However it deserves credit for tying in with the existing story so well. Javik is an interesting addition to the team. He provides a nice insight into the Protean civilization but unfortunately no real insight into himself as a character. I guess he decision of whether orThis expansion is far too short to justify its price and returning to Eden Prime is not as dramatic as I'd have hoped. However it deserves credit for tying in with the existing story so well. Javik is an interesting addition to the team. He provides a nice insight into the Protean civilization but unfortunately no real insight into himself as a character. I guess he decision of whether or not you should buy this rests on how enamored you are with the Mass Effect 3 experience.… Expand
  19. kburstall
    Mar 11, 2012
    0
    Exploitive day 1 DLC. Terrible pricing, terrible idea, made only to suck away your last dollar. Don't be a sucker and reward them for screwing over loyal fans.
  20. SaucyGit
    Mar 11, 2012
    0
    I find that not having this on the game disk hinders my review. So I will give this DLC a big 0. That's how much it should be worth after pre-ordering and paying for a game. It is on the game disk. so in closing I would like to state that this is going to be my last Bioware game I am ever buying. I know you don't care but I had to take up 150 characters with something.
  21. TeamSprocket
    Mar 11, 2012
    0
    Day 1 DLC that had most of Jarvik's files already on disc, and voice files can be found in the demo.
    Despicable, bioware, shame on you. Cash grabs are what apparently funds EA like with the yearly madden and fifa, so why not make ME3 just like them with enough day 1 DLC that makes Trainworks look like it has no DLC.
  22. Hevilath
    Mar 24, 2012
    5
    I'm not criticizing day one DLC that came on disc, since I have pre-ordered Collectors Edition and for me this add-on was free, more importantly gamers should have learned by now all EA cash grabbing tricks. Mission isn't remarkable, hell it's like another Cerberus (horde) mission - nothing new, nothing fancy and nothing inspiring and damn short. Javik is fine member and have some goodI'm not criticizing day one DLC that came on disc, since I have pre-ordered Collectors Edition and for me this add-on was free, more importantly gamers should have learned by now all EA cash grabbing tricks. Mission isn't remarkable, hell it's like another Cerberus (horde) mission - nothing new, nothing fancy and nothing inspiring and damn short. Javik is fine member and have some good lines and he can give you some insight on Protheans (not enough though). This isn't masterpiece like Shadow Broker DLC for Mass Effect 2. If you own CE you are at home, if you don't - DLC isn't worth price.… Expand
  23. crockerspaniel
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    628 MB download means the content wasn't on the disc. Nice size expansion and bonus that they've included for real fans who bought the collector's edition.
  24. Redfordsto
    Mar 13, 2012
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I will not comment on this being release date DLC nor does my score have any reflection on when the DLC was released because it's not relevant to the quality. From Ashes does add an interesting element. Having an extra squad mate is always a good thing. More dialogue. More interaction. And another weapon. Though I wasn't really a fan of the weapon: too weak. I cannot deny that Javik adds something to the gameplay experience, but if he is not in your squad choice, this addition is of course limited. Further, he doesn't add anything beneficial toward your ending (unlike Kasumi and Zaeed who increased the chance of everyone surviving the suicide mission by just being a body with a gun). The mission to retrieve Javik is nicely crafted as far as environment, but it's smaller than I would have expected for a return to Eden Prime (which every fan desperately wanted to see more of!) and the time required to complete is short (an hour, tops). Interactions between Javik and Liara and Javik and Citadel citizens were compelling. But the final task in order to obtain Javik, defending the pod for two or three waves was a weak challenge. So From Ashes may provide an interesting character and perspective, but it's not the same home-run quality of Lair of the Shadow Broker or Arrival.… Expand
  25. JabbaTheSlush
    Mar 19, 2012
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thought I threw this away, but it somehow got on my Live profile. I have tried to delete it several times. Anyway, the DLC is you get some eight-eyed guy to follow you around and act uppity. At one point he refers to black people as "lazy". HATED IT… Expand
  26. sympathy4saren2
    Apr 5, 2012
    0
    The Prothean squadmate was on the disk of a a game I CONTRACTUALLY PURCHASED. I didn't get the content I CONTRACTUALLY PURCHASED. If I made a MISTAKE in understanding the terms...guess what...should be a VOIDABLE CONTRACT under law. I will never be purchasing from BioWare again...just dropping the zero this deserves.
  27. SquareGamerGuy
    Mar 11, 2012
    7
    I can understand the need for day one DLC. It is a good way to bring in revenue from new product sales. Sadly for the price of this DLC you do not get much in return as far as action. Your one mission is simply a recovery mission with a hold the fort style ending (maybe 30 mins of play). The real benefit, and savior of this DLC, is the added content from taking your new team member withI can understand the need for day one DLC. It is a good way to bring in revenue from new product sales. Sadly for the price of this DLC you do not get much in return as far as action. Your one mission is simply a recovery mission with a hold the fort style ending (maybe 30 mins of play). The real benefit, and savior of this DLC, is the added content from taking your new team member with you into battle and missions. Not only is he awesome in battle but the conversations his presence brings up is comical. He also adds depth to the back story if you take him into ruins or to fight the reapers, including a long conversation with a Prothean computer. Overall if you can get him in your team early, I would recommend this DLC to anyone.… Expand
  28. TheQuietGamer
    Mar 12, 2012
    7
    If you have Mass Effect 3 you need this DLC because it adds so much to the overall package, new story elements, a new character, and some sweet new bonuses, and the only reason I'm not giving it a higher score is because it does feel like a way for Bioware to take more of are cash by not including it with the main game, but overall I can't help but realize that every Mass Effect 3 playerIf you have Mass Effect 3 you need this DLC because it adds so much to the overall package, new story elements, a new character, and some sweet new bonuses, and the only reason I'm not giving it a higher score is because it does feel like a way for Bioware to take more of are cash by not including it with the main game, but overall I can't help but realize that every Mass Effect 3 player needs this DLC, with it you gain a new follower who is the last surviving Prothean so that alone adds many new story inclusions, and more information on the Protheans is pretty sweet, and he's just so curious and strangely likable I can't help but see him as a welcome addition to my squad, and to sweeten the deal with this DLC Bioware gives us two new achievements, and the sweet new Particle Rifle that's so powerful you feel like your carrying the Death Star into a battle, the rifle also has recharging ammo, and if you combine it with incendiary ammo and you have one of the most powerful and fun weapons in video game history, so if your playing Mass Effect 3 you need this DLC, sure Bioware is just trying to take more of our money by not including it in the main game, but you are doing yourself a disservice by not buying it for that reason, so you know what to do, go buy this now.… Expand
  29. gordofredito
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    The DLC contains a Prothean, the DLC is actually in the disc, which shows that it was intended to be a part of the game, my only complain is that, for 800MSP/$10 I was expecting a much larger expansion, don't get me wrong, Javik is my favorite character, with his overpowered biotics, but this is definitively not worth 10 bucks
  30. nubotai
    Apr 9, 2012
    10
    I love the Mass Effect Series, and for the enjoyment they give me, a bargain. The added squad member is my favorite so far, a bad-ass in combat and lots and lots of backstory for those (like me) who love the story and know it backwards and forwards. I bought all the ME2 DLC and based on the quality of this one, will probably buy all the DLC for ME3 as well. The story and integrationI love the Mass Effect Series, and for the enjoyment they give me, a bargain. The added squad member is my favorite so far, a bad-ass in combat and lots and lots of backstory for those (like me) who love the story and know it backwards and forwards. I bought all the ME2 DLC and based on the quality of this one, will probably buy all the DLC for ME3 as well. The story and integration into the main quest is also superbly done. Would I rather it be free? yes, I would prefer if everything were free...but if you don't think that all that extra content is worth the same amount as 1.5 value meals at McDonalds then your priorities are different than mine.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Apr 17, 2012
    70
    From Ashes offers interesting new lore for the fans, but little anything else. The only new mission is very short shooter, which hardly justifies the price. The new squadmate does have a lot of things to say during the gameplay, if you carry him with you to every mission. Still, From ashes is only worth getting if you really want to see everything Mass Effect universe has to offer. [Apr 2012]
  2. SpazioGames
    Mar 27, 2012
    50
    Mass Effect 3: From Ashes is a missed chance from BioWare to create a DLC woth buying despite its cost. A mission way too short and poorly structured don't justify the price of what could have been a more complex and intricated piece of story and lore.
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  3. VideoGamer
    Mar 16, 2012
    70
    The mission to defreeze Javik is short, and you can beat it easily within about half an hour. If you're looking for a chunk of content as substantial as Mass Effect 2's Lair of the Shadow Broker you'll probably come away disappointed, and Javik doesn't really dramatically affect anything about the Mass Effect 3 campaign.
    Read full review
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