A Small Piece of Something Great
Mass Effect 2 is one of those rare games that isn't just a game that you pick up, play and forget in a month. It's an experience. It's structured in a fantastic way with the fantastic story, awesome visuals and near-perfect gameplay. To top it off it gave us free DLC if you purchased brand new purchases using a service called the 'Cerberus Network' . Well that moment of free downloadable content is over with the release of 'Stolen Memories'. But is it worth the 560 Microsoft Points?
'Stolen Memories' is an add-on which includes Kasumi Goto, a master thief hired by 'The Illusive Man' for your rag-tag super team of misfits saving the galaxy from 'The Collectors'. She is very much like Zaeed Massani from 'The Price of Revenge' downloadable content from the Cerberus Network. When your contacted by Cerberus you are told to go to the Citadel and have a humerous conversation with a hacked advertising hologram screen with Kasumi. She tells you about her past including her desire to collect a former partner's 'grey box' (think 'Airplane black box' for people) from mass murderer and South African accented douche bag Donovan Hock, the man who killed send partner and stole the 'grey box', which has infomation which could harm the human race.
The only mission this add-on provides is Kasumi's loyalty mission which takes place at Mr Hocks' House Party. Your mission is to steal the 'greybox'. But going in there guns blazing doesn't cut it for the master thief (like that stopped you before) so you have to play the part of a slave trader for the first part of the mission. This cross between 'James Bond' and 'Hitman' adds a fresh gameplay experience to an already stellar system, going around sneaking around Hock's bedroom for DNA and listening to Hock's speech about how the galaxies criminals keep it from going under is quite amazing.
After going past the security and you get into one of the best rooms in the game. It stores some of the most important pieces of history which includes 'Michelangelo's David' (which has seen better days), a Dragon Age Ogre and the Statue of Liberty's head.
Once you find the 'greybox' Hock finds out, shit hits the fan and you need to make your escape. This part of the game is just simple Mass Effect 2 combat with mechs, mercs and a helicopter. The one thing that Bioware did add to this part of the game is a new SMG. This little baby has a high rate of fire and a nice range. Very useful for close combat Shepards. This part of the gameplay also has a neat twist when you realise that it's only yourself and Kasumi. When fighting standard enemies from the main game with only two squadmates, it is quite a challenge, forcing you to use Kasumi's new skills.
During gameplay Kasumi is a mostly a close combat member of your tean using pistols, SMG's, machine pistols, etc. She also has standard Mass Effect 2 skills like Overload but includes her new skills called 'Shadow Strike' which is a stealth-based melee kill where she will disappear to sneak behind an enemy and attack from behind and a Flashbang grenade with will stun your enemies (and blind you if you're caught in it). The character is useful but have a few flaws such as being downed after using Shadow Strike to kill an enemy only to be attack from his friends around him.
After you gain Kasumi's loyalty she will slip into the background for the remaining game. Sometimes she'll say something about your current relationships, fellow team member Jacob and so on. Just like Zaeed you cannot actually have a conversation with Kasumi as much as she'll talk and you just listening. This part of the game is a bit disappointing seeing how Bioware could of learned there mistakes from Zaeed considering we are paying for it this time.
Mass Effect 2's stellar graphics continue with this add-on. Hock's estate looks great, Kasumi is detailed and Mass Effect 2's amazing cinematography shines in this add-on. Voice acting is par with the stand out being outlandish South African accented Hock which gives you the feeling of 'this accent feels misplaced' quality to it.
But then the most unfortunate part about 'Stolen Memories' is the length. I myself finished it in about an hour. It is roughly the same length as Zaeed's loyalty mission. The thing is though the add-on pack still has the fantastic quality that Bioware is known for. This isn't some cheap throw away mission. This is one of the best missions in the game. It combines the story, combat, dialogue and polish that Mass Effect 2 is acclaimed for. Sure it could of been longer but that would of just been padding and bland. I think 560 Microsoft points is extremely reasonable for what you get. If you're considering buying this add-on pack you have to ask yourself this: "Did I like Mass Effect 2?". If the answer is yes then you should buy this add-on pack. This add-on pack is not about how long it is, it's about refinement, polish and "the experience". In the end, would you have something that's short and sweet or long and sour?
