DLC Details
- Main Title: Mass Effect
- DLC Title: Pinnacle Station
- Released (UK): 25/08/2009
- Current Price: 400 MS Points (~$5 US)
- Estimated Length: 2.5 hours
My Impressions
My first impression was one of surprise, not at the content of the DLC but the fact it appeared on the marketplace with no fanfare or official announcement, though its existence has been known about for a while. I also had fairly low expectations of the DLC given its discription as a “fight club” style station.
In this respect I was not dissapointed as I was not particularly impressed with the DLC, especially given the long wait we have had to endure since the excellent Bringing Down The Sky DLC which demonstrated just how the “uncharted worlds” should have been done with a quest that mattered and an agonising choice at the end.
In contrast with Pinnacle Station, all you get to do is fight some holograms in a simulation with no risk attached until the final simulation. Dont get me wrong this type of set up can work if integrated into the main game proper, but as DLC it is a bit of a let down, more so given how long we have had to wait for it.
After completing the DLC I felt that it could have used an underlying plot ideally linking in with Mass Effect 2 in some way e.g. through a Cerberus connection, rather than you just being there to show everyone how awesome Commander Shepard is. The environments were obvious reuses of existing ones as well, and there was little in the way of new voice acting. The only real positive is that at the end of the DLC you end up being given a house and the means to buy random pieces of top level gear.
Overall, not the worst piece of DLC ever made, but not the best either and unless you are a die-hard Mass Effect fan or achievement junky it appears for the time being at least you can give this DLC a miss.
My Recommendation
Consider
Given how long we have been waiting for new Mass Effect DLC, Pinnacle Station is slightly disappointing as there is no real plot to it and does not appear to add anything new to the Mass Effect Universe or tie into Mass Effect 2. While it is only 400 MSP, the Pinnacle Station DLC is probably only going to appeal to die hard Mass Effect fans.
Screenshots
The DLC IMO is a perfect link for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. They are throwing in subtle things. Like leaving places now shows up in a press Y or A. The Whole Ahern thing I would think it would tie into The new story line somewhere.
Not to mention the apartment you get. And that whole safeties off thing looks like there trying to warn you of the possible fate you could succumb to if you do not act smart and wise in the sequel. and instead of flying all around the galaxies or space itself there’s a personal messages computer. All they are doing is showing a very small glimpse in what will come to be Mass Effect 2 and I think they did it perfectly pretty fun to play as well.That’s my two cents
Thanks for the comment, though I disagree with you.
While I agree that Ahern and the apartment could tie in, I didnt feel you learnt enough for it to have much significance.
As for the safeties off thing, I groaned when that came up as it is a sci-fi cliche. If they were going to do a fight club thing then they could have had it against live opponents but with “simulated hits” and then at the end had a live ammo face off.
Dont get me wrong I love Mass Effect and it is my number 2 favourite role playing game behind Fallout 3
http://misterrandom.net/2009/02/06/top-5-role-playing-games/
However I felt the DLC was not up to the standard of the rest of the game or Bringing DOwn The Sky