ME3: Omega - Spoilers & Reactions

[mechapotatoalex]

Seeing as I quickly realised most of my comments on the DLC were heading into spoiler territory, I figured a seperate post was needed, for those that don't want to see the story elements laid out for them.

As previously posted, Omega is now available on 360 & PC - and for once BioWare have it on the marketplace internationally before lunchtime!

So if you've played the content and want to discuss it, this is the place to be!


Buy it if...

• You're bored of Reapers and are feeling nostalgic for Mass Effect 2
• You like Aria T'Loak
• You want some great story content that doesn't rely on sad moments for 'emotional engagement'

Don't buy it if...

• You want content that impacts the rest of the game (aside from the below mentioned powers & guns)
• You can't face a few missions without your favourite squadmates
• You're bored of Cerberus

So, what did I think? Well, I'd say it's definitely worth the money. You get a massive amount of gameplay - it took me over 4 hours to complete on Narrative Difficulty, so god knows how long it would take on Insanity.

The Good

• Huge amount of content
• Fantastic music
• A LOT of character development for Aria, including a slightly softer side and her past romance with Nyreen
• Lots of good banter between Shepard, Aria & Nyreen.
• Great level design, in particular Omega's Element Zero mines
• Introduces two new enemies, with a very creepy introduction for the Adjutants
• Oleg Petrovsky's personality from the comic survives mostly intact (though see below for when it doesn't)
• Seeing Omega again is a blast, especially areas we're familiar with from ME2
• Aria and Nyreen are both very strong characters - I didn't find myself missing my squad one bit

The Bad

• Very little 'lasting content' - you get 2 new bonus powers, and 2 "new" guns (but you may already have due to pre-orders), but once the mission is over, that's it.
• Highlights the problem with all ME3 DLC - it has to come before the ending. Every now and again I'd remind myself that everything involving Starbrat was still waiting for me after this.
• No big choices - all you really do is influence the way Aria will rule Omega in future, but ME3's ending kinda makes this moot.
• A few graphical bugs. One scene features some hilarious twirling from Aria and Nyreen, while Oleg sometimes appears to be standing in front of a giant greenscreen.
• A pretty important scene near the end felt very rushed, though given the plot concerning certain characters, it could have been intentional. Still left me feeling pretty put-out, though.
• Oleg Petrovsky is reduced to begging for his life, which seems a little OOC.
• Some areas were incredibly dark, but didn't trigger Shepard's torch (toggle in ME4, pls?)

Full rundown of the plot from start to finish

• The intro to the DLC is much longer than seen in the demo - you talk to Aria on the Citadel for a short while, where she explains who Oleg Petrovsky is. She also shows a little more of herself, showing that she genuinely cares for the civilians living on Omega.
• We're then whisked to Aria's command ship, and - after a brief talk with General Petrovsky - end up assaulting Omega. After abandoning ship, you're literally thrown into Omega. Combat here is standard fare - Cerberus Troopers, Centurions & Guardians.
• Aria's abilities are Flare (the new attack that deals massive damage, but with a hefty cooldown), Reave, Carnage, Lash (first SP appearance), and her class power Biotic Boss, which increases her power and damage.
• Aria's in-game model has received a minor facelift, with improved textures, particularly on her clothes.
• Omega itself is a treat to see - it uses a lot of the assets from ME2, but they've been given much more detailed textures. Coupled with ME3's improved lighting, and it's like seeing it for the first time all over again. And because I know many will be deeply worried about this - yes, the doors still make the same noise ;)
• After a while, you meet your first Rampart Mech. Essentially they're beefed-up LOKI Mechs. They have tech armor, melee abilities, improved shields, and when killed leave damaging wreckage behind, so watch your step.
• Omega's 'skyline' is vastly improved over ME2. While in the last game the buildings just faded away into blackness, ME3 shows the actual interior of the asteroid - you can see all the buildings hanging from the hollowed-out ceiling.
• A few more battles later, we meet Nyreen Kandros. Her abilities are Incinerate, Overload, Biotic Protector (a biotic shield that prevents her from moving, shooting, or using powers, but protects against all damage), Lift Grenade (first SP appearance), and class power Turian Huntress, improving power damage and defence. She seems willing to help, but Aria is surprised by this. Shepard can either welcome her to the battle, or share Aria's mistrust. Either way, Nyreen joins you and the trio continue on, fighting more Cerberus, including a couple of Atlas Mechs.
• After reaching Aria's base, you have a chance to catch your breath. Aria voices more concern at Nyreen's help, recounting how the turian left Omega 'very angry' the last time, and she didn't expect to see her back. Aria instructs one of her goons to keep an eye on Nyreen, before leaving Shepard to explore the base. There's a couple of side-missions to pick up here, both completed during the first area you'll be heading to.
• When you talk to Aria to begin the next segment, we discover that Nyreen is missing. Aria berates the batarian who lost Nyreen, but figures she doesn't have enough men left to make an example of him.
• Aria and Shepard head off to recruit the Talons. Here we get more exposition about where they came from - they filled the power vacuum left when Shepard decimated the Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood Pack in ME2. This area's side-mission sees you helping a hacker gain more control of the station - keep an eye out for terminals to access.
• After pushing further, Nyreen returns to save some of her men. This is where her armored look first appears. Shepard can either offer to help Nyreen, or just demand her help. Either way, Nyreen rejoins, and you head off to the Talon Outpost. Aria and Shepard are surprised to discover that Nyreen is leader of the Talons, but given BioWare's pimping of her having that role, I wasn't even aware it was meant to be a surprise.
• During this segment, you fight another Atlas, before entering an elevator, which promptly breaks down, requiring Shepard & co to descend the lift shaft via multiple ladders. They exit onto a large walkway, miles up - so high that you can't even see the bottom. During this battle against Cerberus forces (now including Phantoms), Aria remarks that it's nice to finally receive some recognition as a threat. All through the DLC, Cerberus have been mentioning 'Target Alpha', and Aria seems pleased with the accolade - only for Nyreen to correct her - she is Target Alpha.
• When they reach the end of the catwalk, the door jams, forcing you to defend yourselves as a lot of Cerberus attack. I was only playing on Narrative Difficulty, but due to the sheer number of Cerberus forces here, I imagine it could be quite a lengthy fight on higher difficulties. Once this is over, you're into the Talon base.
• Make sure to explore the Talon base first - a machine part that a batarian engineer requested Shepard find is there.
• Aria and Nyreen bicker over the best course of action - Nyreen is more interested in protecting the civilians, while Aria wants to use them to help take back the station. This is where Aria's speech from the trailer appears. Unfortunately, due to a few graphical glitches (Nyreen and Aria appear to 'swing around' on the spot a few times), as well as some almost non-existant music, it doesn't really have much power to it. In fact the trailer version is far more epic than the in-game one.
• Once this is over, Nyreen remains behind while Aria and Shepard head off to retake the landing pads - apparently Cerberus didn't take too kindly to Aria's little speech. The fight is brief, and as soon as it's over, you have to return to the Talon base to reinforce Nyreen's defences. At this point, she rejoins and your squad is back up to strength. The fight involves a few Cerberus and an Atlas Mech.
• Once the fight is over, Nyreen speaks to Shepard. She agrees to help, if only to make sure Shepard & Aria don't run over her people. She asks if Aria told Shepard she was predictable and easy to manipulate - something Aria indeed said right after her speech. Shepard has the choice of telling the truth, or lying and denying it.
• After this, Shepard & Aria return to Aria's base. Aria and Shepard discuss Aria's plan to use the Talons as cannon-fodder, where Shepard can suggest Aria start actually trusting people again rather than manipulating them, or praise her cunning plan. Here you can turn in the machine part to the batarian, completely both side-missions for the first area (the other side-mission will auto-complete upon scanning the terminals)
• Excited exclamation: Harrot appears here. It is thrilling. Your discount from Mass Effect 2 is still valid. He wishes you to recover Aria's couch from Afterlife. Face-palmingly: No this is not a joke.
• After this, they come up with a plan to deactivate the forcefields preventing them from reaching Petrovsky. Aria and Nyreen lock horns again, outright stating that the don't trust each other. Shepard can either tell them to both just trust him/her, or say that they don't need to trust each other at all.
• On your way to the exit, Nyreen asks to talk. She says she isn't trying to stop Aria retaking Omega - she's just worried about civilian casualities. She says Aria is welcome to her revenge, but she just hopes Shepard is mindful of collatoral damage. Shepard can then quiz her on various topics: Nyreen says Petrovsky has a different code of ethics to the Illusive Man. That the Talons 'fight with integrity' now, unlike Aria. Her fears over the Adjutants. That the force fields are based on technology from the Collector Base. How she was effectively restricted from military service when her biotic abilities manifested, so she quit and ended up on Omega. She recounts her meeting with Aria - and how falling for her nearly destroyed her. Shepard can comment that it's a good thing, or it's too bad. Either way, despite everything, Nyreen regrets nothing about their time together.
• They head off towards the mines, hoping to find a clear way to shut off the forcefields. They come accross dead Cerberus troopers - ripped to shreds by Adjutants. Nyreen seems to be unnerved. After more exploration in the dark, they find the door - but it's locked. Assuming Petrovsky locked down the area to keep an Adjutant inside, the squad follows the power conduits from the door to reactivate them. Just as they do, and Adjutant bursts through the window, and we get our first look at them. Playing on easy, I can't speak for their combat abilities, given how quickly I was able to take it out - but Aria observes that Nyreen is afraid.
• With power restored, the squad head back to the door, fighting a few more Adjutants along the way. Once they've piled into the elevator, Aria again comments on how spooked Nyreen seems. The turian says that something is off - they found dead Cerberus in there, but Adjutants turn their victims into more Adjutants, so why weren't the Cerberus troops converted? Aria brushes it off.
• You exit into the mining area, quickly finding Cerberus troops in your way, They take out a bridge, forcing the squad to seek an alternate route. Aria comments that Cerberus are running the drills too hot, baffled as to what they're doing with them.
• They make their way through the mining complex, finally locating the elevator to the reactor. Both Aria and Nyreen note that suddenly, Cerberus have stopped attacking them. As they travel up to the reactor, Aria is excited that the war can finally begin. Nyreen points out that for some of them, the war began months ago. Aria just brushes it off as practice, addressing Nyreen as 'babe'.
• They reach the reactor, before finding themselves blocked by forcefields. A hologram of Petrovksy appears, mocking the team for following the only course of action he left them. Enraged, Aria begins tearing through the forcefield with her biotics - the same forcefield with the power to vaporise people on contact. Petrovksy seems angered that Aria is forcing him to kill them, and sends in mechs. With Aria distracted by the forcefield, it's up to Shepard and Nyreen to fend off waves of Rampart Mechs as they approach.
• Desperate to save Aria, Nyreen rushes to her side and bolsters her biotics, allowing Shepard to pass through the forcefield before it seals. Aria and Nyreen are still trapped inside, but Shepard is free.
• Shepard heads to the reactor, and is able to deactivate it. But Petrovsky protests, explaining that shutting the reactor down will lead to thousands of deaths as life support is cut. Aria demands Shepard do it, but Nyreen protests. Afterwards, the squad reunites. Aria again berates Nyreen for her fear of the Adjutants, giving Shepard a chance to step in and defend her.
• Aria sends Nyreen to lead the frontal offensive while she and Shepard take an alternate route. Nyreen agrees, but tells them she won't be building their memorial if they die - Aria comments that she likes it when Nyreen is feisty.
• Shepard and Aria battle through more Cerberus, attempting to stop Cerberus detonating bombs on the station's central columns. Unable to deactivate them remotely, Shepard must manually stop all four bombs while Aria holds Cerberus off. With this done, Aria contacts Nyreen and tells her to save whoever she can and meet them at the rendezvous point.
• Aria destroys a large fan blocking their way, leaving a clear path to Afterlife. On their way, they discover that Adjutants are loose on the station. Shepard comes across a destroyed pod that appears to have been the source of the Adjutants. Accessing video logs of Cerberus experiments (you'd think these guys would have learnt by now) confirms this.
• Aria and Shepard enter the Gozu district - the same district Shepard recruited both Garrus and Mordin from in Mass Effect 2. You enter in the area you meet the sick batarian during Dossier: The Professor, working back up the stairs into the area where the turian guards once stood in ME2. The area is now being used as a Talon outpost.
• Continuing past the mad batarian prophet - yup, he's back too - Shepard and Aria reach the Talon rendezvous point, but Nyreen has gone on ahead. They reach Afterlife, just in time to see Nyreen sacrifice herself to save civilians from three Adjutants.
• Enraged, Aria runs straight at Afterlife, blasting Cerberus troops out of her way, leaving Shepard alone outside. Catching up with Aria just as she enters the club, we finally come face to face with Oleg Petrovksy. He taunts Aria over Nyreen's death, sending her into another rage. She dives right at him, but is caught in a trap, leaving Shepard alone to fight more Adjutants - these ones under the full control of Cerberus.
• The battle takes place in the main room of Afterlife, which now allows Shepard to access the side areas that were off-limits in ME2. Shepard must expose 4 generators that are powering Aria's restraints, but each one must be exposed manually via seperate consoles in each corner of the room. The battle is time - Aria's health continues to drop, the longer you take. Once this is done, Aria is released and free to aid the battle.
• Once Cerberus are neutralised, the route to Petrovsky is clear. He surrenders and orders his men to stand down. Aria goes for his throat, but then in a shocking move, allows him to live, turning him over to Shepard. Oleg seems pleased, but Shepard can point a gun to his head. Oleg asks if Shepard is going to kill him - one last Renegade interupt can answer in the affirmative.
• Shepard then has the chance to advise Aria on how to shape Omega's future - continue as she was, or reform and focus on helping the station's civilian population.
• And with that - it's over! Lash & Flare are unlocked in the Normandy's med-bay as bonus powers, and Aria sends on Petrovsky's chessboard for Shepard's cabin.