Mass Effect 2 DLC Guide: Worth it?

For those of you who don't want to read, here is my quick personal opinion.

Worth buying:
-Cerberus Network (Free)
-Kasumi – Stolen Memory ($7)
-Lair of the Shadow Broker ($10)
-Arrival ($7)

Maybe Worth buying:
-Overlord ($7)
-Genesis ($4) (If you are not importaing a character from the first game)
-Firepower Pack ($2)

Not worth buying:
-Alternate Appearance Pack (1 and 2) ($2, each)
-Equalizer Pack ($2)
-Aegis Pack ($2)
-Any other items or cosmetics packs

For those of you wanting a more informed approach, please continue reading.

First off, the Cerberus Network. The Cerberus Network is free, and gives you access to a bunch of DLC, including:

-Zaeed – The Price of Revenge
-Firewalker
-Crash Site
-Cerberus Weapon and Armor
-Arc Projector

That top one is the most interesting. It gives you a new squad member and mission, on which you can pick up a flamethrower as a heavy weapon. It’s neat, but ultimately what makes it is the price tag.

Firewalker has a few missions in which you get to use a new vehicle, the Hammerhead. It’s a fun little distraction from the main gameplay, but ultimately the missions can be a wee bit boring, and you don’t get much for completing them.

The Crash Site is a little non-combat mission that you can take. It is mostly just wandering around a crash site with some eerie music. Not much else here.

The two equipment packs with the Cerberus Network expand your arsenal, but don’t offer anything truly interesting. Get them because they’re free.

Like Zaeed – The Price of Revenge, this DLC adds a character and a mission associated with them. Unlike the Zaeed, though, Kasumi is much more entertaining, with more unique abilities, and a fun mission. Also, Shepard gets a new snazzy outfit to wear around the Normandy.

The main reason I put this on the “worth it” list is because this DLC adds a new weapon. An SMG.

The other (two) SMGs in Mass Effect 2 are nearly useless for players to use. Part way through he game, you will be given the opportunity to receive training with a new weapon type (shotguns, assault rifles, or sniper rifles). When selecting new weapon training, non-combat classes frequently have to choose assault rifles just to bump up their versatility. This new SMG is actually useful, usable, and fun, meaning non-combat classes can safely try shotguns or sniper rifles instead.

I almost see this entire DLC as a fix, just for adding a new SMG that makes the non-soldier classes more playable.

This is one of two DLCs for Mass Effect 2 that contains major plot content (the other being Arrival). If you're enjoying your Mass Effect 2 story, and are planning on exporting your save file to Mass Effect 3, then I strongly recommend you play this DLC.

This DLC does not add any new permanent squad members or weapons or items, but it does add a lengthy mission that is quite fun to play. And you get to fight along a squad member from the first game.

Arrival is meant to bridge the gap in story between Mass Effect 2 and 3. I would say it is very worthwhile if you are planning on taking your Shepard to Mass Effect 3.

Arrival adds a new, fairly lengthy mission. It is more difficult from the rest of the game, because you operate alone for most of it. If you like a challenge and story, I would definietly get this one.

This DLC becomes available after about the first third of the game. However, from a narrative point, I feel this DLC works best when played as the last thing before exporting your save to Mass Effect 3.

Overlord is a neat little (big) side mission. It does not give you anything new in terms of squad members or weapons or gear, but it is a neat story with some fun scenarios to play though. The final conversation in the DLC also has a legitimate chance of bringing tears to your eyes.

Because it does not add anything or affect the rest of Mass Effect 2 in any way, this DLC gets put on the Maybe pile. If you're finding that you're enjoying your Mass Effect 2 experience, and would like another neat challenge, then I recommend Overlord.

Genesis is a small interactive comic recounting the events of the first game. If you are not importing a character from Mass Effect, then I would recommend this DLC just so you can have a little more say in your own backstory.

If you do not import a Shepard, and do not have Genesis, then Bioware will make all the decisions from the first game for you, and they are not nice.

I ultimately feel it is more worthwhile to play through Mass Effect and import that character rather than start at Mass Effect 2. But if you can't stand the idea of playing the first game, then defninetly consider getting Genesis.

The Firepower pack is the only equipment pack that I'm actually going to recommend. You do not need it to enjoy Mass Effect 2, but it does add some diversity to the weapons available.

The Mattock is a new assault rifle. It is the only semi-automatic assault rifle, and packs a solid punch. It is probably one of the most satisfying and balanced weapons in the game.

The Geth Plasma Shotgun is designed for long range. It fires three projectiles that travel close together, giving shotgun users more versatility. It can also be charged to deliver a more powerful blast, making it one of the most powerful weapons in the game.

The Phalanx is a new pistol that does not use the conventional zoom, but rather a laser pointer. The laser pointer jitters around a bit, but is hyper accurate. It is good for making long range pistol shots, or for methodically dismembering mechs.

Everything not mentioned above is an equipment pack of some kind. Some add new outfits for squad members, some add new weapons or armor (pieces or full). I do not feel that these other packs add anything crucial to the game. If you want to customize your squad, or try a few new weapons, then by all means, purchase the extra packs. No one will think less of you.

Thank you for reading my guide. I hope it has helped. If you still have questions, comments, or criticism (preferably constructive), let me know in the comments.

All images were obtained from Bioware's Mass Effect 2 website gallery. I do not claim ownership.