Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME! - Episode 11
A Space Leviathan shares it’s secrets with us and we’re one step closer to saving the universe.
Mass Effect 3
Players: 1 Offline Player
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Action, RPG, Third-Person Shooter
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Action, RPG, Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Developer: BioWare
MSRP: $59.99
Developer: BioWare
MSRP: $59.99
Mass Effect 3 will follow from the events of the Mass Effect 2 DLC expansion Arrival and follow Commander Shepard as he/she tries to save the galaxy from the Reapers by rallying civilizations of the galaxy together, while also having to deal with Cerberus, who have decided to turn against him/her.
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
Posted By Birdman about 8 months, 3 weeks ago
What is Leviathan?
In today’s RAD Birdman has forgone sleep to bring you his review of Mass Effect 3′s DLC:Leviathan on the Xbox 360. Commander Shepard is contacted by Alliance command to check out a rumor of something so powerful that even the Reapers are scared of it!
What is Leviathan? Is it a myth? Is something much more terrifying?
Birdman does his very best to bring you the spoiler free review of this much anticipated DLC and gives you the low down on the new weapons and mods for the single player campaign.
We go to the dark corners of space and prepare to face something that will change how you perceive the lore of the Mass Effect franchise.
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Click here to download RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
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-Music featured in this episode-
Mass Effect 3 credits theme
Be sure to check out Birdman’s other website This Week in Geek for more great geek content!
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax.
RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS!
Sage Reviews: Mass Effect 3
If the effect is disappointment, then yeah it's pretty massive.
Mass Effect 3 Review
For every cynic and sycophant that staunchly made up their minds regarding this truly well crafted conclusion, the true test of Mass Effect 3's worth will be the long lasting influence of the series as a whole. For my money, Mass Effect 3, along with the rest of the trilogy, deserves the accolades it receives.
Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts!
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC.
Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3's single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint. 
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
The fate of the world, nay, of the universe rests in one duck’s hands. Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward.
Mass Effect 3 DLC 'Omega' Brings the Noise & Fury in Latest Trailer
The battle for Omega is about to begin.
Retake Omega with Aria in Tow
The latest details regarding Mass Effect 3 DLC will have some new surprises to contend with, including Aria herself.
Mass Effect 3: Retaliation Revealed
A huge update for the multiplayer game is inbound, one that will change the shape of it for a while.
More Mass Effect Content on the Way, Including Whole New Game
Despite the shakeup at BioWare, GM Aaryn Flynn is promising good things in the future. Hopefully they can deliver.
Mass Effect: Leviathan Officially Dated
BioWare has officially announced the release date for their first single-player DLC for Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
Posted By Robert G. about 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
A year ago, when Mass Effect 3 was first released, I made a note in my review on how the game gave us very little room to breathe:
“But it doesn’t help that Mass Effect 3 is very hard to swallow because of the emotional roller coaster you to go on. Death and destruction are rampant, tensions run high throughout, and overall, the experience leaves little room for catharsis, leaving players emotionally drained after it’s all said and done. The highs are elating, the lows are devastating, and the game pulls no punches on its way to the finale to end all finales.”
I stand by this quote to this day, as replaying Mass Effect 3 several times now over the past year has shown that the final chapter in BioWare’s space opera is missing one final ingredient to get it right. One piece of the puzzle to unlock a sense of catharsis and to create a quasi-denouement moment that fans have been clamoring for ever since.
Well, Citadel does just that.
| PROS | Pure fan-service, The final party |
| CONS | Pure fan-service, Weak plotline |
| WTF?! | Blasto… yes, you meet him. |
A running theme with the single-player downloadable content for Mass Effect 3 has been the simple question of “What is the point?” Why bother paying $10-$15 for a piece of DLC when the ending is known to you, and even at that, may not even be the ending you are looking for? Is it worth the money, the content, the time? To these questions, the answer is staring you in the face: Just enjoy it.
Let go and realize, for a moment, that BioWare does care, does want to see you off one last time. Citadel as a DLC is basically pure fan-service by BioWare, and is unapologetic about it as well. Citadel reminded me that I should sit back and relax, let go for a moment and enjoy the show. Citadel boasts nearly six hours of content, conspiracy, cheesy one-liners, in-jokes, and one of the most touching yet memorable party scenes in a video game. All of it is glitz and glamour, comfort food for the mind to just munch on without much thought to it. Yet, when it’s all over, the questions you ask yourself won’t be whether or not the storyline makes sense, or if the morals and choices are deep or resonating. No, the questions you will ask is, “Why does it have to end?”
The adventure begins as you are given a condo by Admiral Anderson on the Citadel to relax in after forced shore leave. Considering the Reapers are basically destroying the galaxy, forced shore leave is a bit far-fetched to swallow. Admittedly, the plot in Citadel, which follows Shepard pursuing a mysterious opponent trying to kill the good Commander for reasons unknown, is rife with sci-fi clichés and contrived to the point of near ridiculousness. That may be the point. Not that the storyline of Citadel is bad–it’s well told despite being 80’s cheese–but that it holds a sort of smarmy charm that would have die hard fans light up like Christmas for each reference given.
Considering that all the writers on the Mass Effect team had a hand in penning the script for Citadel, it is not surprising that the strength is character interaction over plot. It was nice to see the characters cut loose and engage in revelry for a bit, the biggest scene of course being the climatic party you throw for pretty much every surviving squad mate available to you. It is a moment of enjoyment, watching everyone in character interact with each other in a fun way, rather than being all business as the main game pretty much is. Herein lies the strength of Citadel as a DLC: It doesn’t take itself that seriously. It is not about a major plot-line or even connected to the reaper threat in any way. It is about Shepard and the Normandy crew, fighting together against a new enemy one last time.
This is it, isn’t it?
Adding to the DLC are few war assets and weapons, but once again that is not really the point. What you gain though is access to an arcade and casino, and your penthouse of course, which can be upgraded by buying or winning new furniture. The combat Arena offers you a chance to add old squad-mates once again, and presents new challenges that will test Shepard once more. Truthfully, it is these extra moments that make the DLC memorable, since they are with your entire squad, including old friends from Mass Effect 2. Throw in romance scenes that many have vocally asked for with missing squad mates, and it all connects into several character driven vignettes for fans to enjoy. All of this, of course, coalesces at a final climax of the Normandy crew celebrating a party together in Shepard‘s new apartment. It is a meeting of friends and comrades, an interactive sequence of moments of camaraderie, designed to make you both laugh and cry. It serves as the last hurrah, as these characters come together one final time, a picture marking the moment as a great memento to the series,
It is also the shot in the arm that Mass Effect 3 needed. As a DLC it once again reminds many of us fans why we enjoyed this series in the first place. It was never about the seriousness of the narrative nor the epic scale. It has nothing to do with philosophical musings of an ending that many see as an affront to their experience, nor a developer team sticking to their guns despite what many see as an act of betrayal. The cynics and sycophants, as I have said before, made their choices long ago, and Citadel will not change their minds in the least about how they feel. However, it will remind them that Mass Effect 3, along with every other game in the trilogy, is one great joyride to participate in, with fascinating characters, worlds, and choices thrown in the mix to create an experience few games can fully achieve.
So here, we finally do come to the end, once and for all. Citadel is a good DLC, a DLC for the fans, by fans. It doesn’t apologize for being that, and nor should it, as Citadel offers fans the chance to find that moment of catharsis at long last, to sit back and enjoy themselves one more time before the final assault. It may not change your opinions of Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun, final sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. In that, this final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
This DLC was purchased by the reviewer on the Xbox 360 for the price of 1200 MSP ($15.00), and is also available on the PC and PS3. It was played for six hours total before returning to the main game.
8/10
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax. RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS! Sage Reviews: Mass Effect 3
If the effect is disappointment, then yeah it's pretty massive. Mass Effect 3 Review
For every cynic and sycophant that staunchly made up their minds regarding this truly well crafted conclusion, the true test of Mass Effect 3's worth will be the long lasting influence of the series as a whole. For my money, Mass Effect 3, along with the rest of the trilogy, deserves the accolades it receives. Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts! RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC. Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward. RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3's single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present. Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.-
March 08, 2013 at 06:07pm
Quite funny, sending it’s self up in all the right places and very self aware. Leviathan was probably the most fun of the DLC, but this one makes me feel the best. Enjoyable all the way through. I’d hoped for something different but it was a great way to end it.
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March 08, 2013 at 06:07am
I’ve had a strange experience with the Mass Effect series. It’s been a mixed bag of ups and downs the whole way through. I didn’t like some of the game mechanics, but I was able to use a combination of modding tools and manual file editing to customize the gameplay to my liking (For both 2 and 3). So I loved the gameplay, but only because I was able to do something to the game that the developers did not intend.
I loved the story, but hated the ending. To me, video games are escapes from reality. When I play a game, I’m not playing as Commander Shepherd or the Dragonborn, I’m playing as me, imagining myself in that role and immersing myself in the plot. In this way, the story becomes a much more satisfying experience than, say, reading a book. There, you experience the story from a third person perspective, and therefore maybe you don’t care so much whether the story has a happy ending or not, because the ending isn’t happening to *you*. But when you are pretending it’s you, suddenly the absence of a happy ending feels like a much larger void.
The other reason I didn’t care for the ending(s) is that it seemed a betrayal by BW. Not only was there really no happy ending to be found, but the endings weren’t all that different, as BW had promised would be the case. And worst of all, the endings really didn’t make any sense; logically, or within the game’s lore, or both.
But aside from that, the rest of the story was so good.. As much as the ending enrages me, I find myself loading up the game now and then, mostly to play the multiplayer. Despite the bad, I don’t have the deep loathing for it that I have for Crysis 2.
And so it’s difficult for me to decide whether I want to spend the money on the DLCs. On one hand, I’m sure I’ll enjoy playing ME3 again, with new story to explore and toys to play with. On the other, I’ll have the disappointment of the ending in the back of my mind, nagging at me. Do I want to continue supporting a company that did X so well, but with Y caused so much disappointment and frustration? Which side of the scale is heavier?
It would be an easier choice if the game was on Steam, because they frequently run sales, which would make the purchase a lot easier to justify. But from what I’ve seen BW doesn’t run sales on their downloadable content.
So, it’s a tough decision on several levels, and it doesn’t help when I come here, read this review, and the author is basically telling me to ‘just turn my brain off and enjoy it’ so I’m not bothered by its evidently mediocre storytelling. -
March 06, 2013 at 09:59pm
Sorry, I just can’t let go. I am a lover scorned, haha. I’m afraid I’ll be passing this one up, and honestly, I’m probably just done with this series as a whole. But hey if some people get enjoyment of this dlc, that’s pretty awesome. They were able to look past things I could not and get a fun experience out of it. But I am positive that if I tried to play this it would only just end up pissing me off.
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March 06, 2013 at 04:31pm
I just finished it, and while the humor can be hit-and-miss (we finally get to see the damn toothbrush), this package is overall enjoyable. While “Omega” seemed like a chore to go through (all that work and yet Aria still hangs out at Purgatory?), “Citadel” was like a cold beer during football.
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March 06, 2013 at 02:36pm
Finished the main mission (meaning the bad guy’s dead) so far and boy have I been enjoying every minute of this DLC. All the character dialogue I’ve heard has had me smiling to laughing out loud, especially the character banter. I will agree the story is on the weak side, but like you’ve pointed out the characters really make it so you don’t really care. I especially liked it in the archive stage where Shephard and the crew are running and gunning it through like The Expendables (well more like in the second movie, but still…). All in all, I have to say this DLC has proven to be worth every penny.
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March 06, 2013 at 01:12pm
I loved this dlc I beat it yesterday and I loved it yes the plot may of not been that good but this dlc was just so enjoyable I was smiling and laughing almost the entire time it was fun it was finny except for the final boss with was very frustrating at least for me. Seeing all those old friends and listening to to compete and joke with each other was so fun I laughed so much.
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March 06, 2013 at 12:56pm
Ha! No more turning off the game right before the end and watching the Star Wars Medal Ceremony for me
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March 06, 2013 at 12:42pm
Do we finally get to used that Poker table or shall it ever languish in the background of the Normandy? So much chance for a “All Good Things” type ending but RBG and all that. Maybe someone can fan mod to make this be the ending..Or maybe its meant to be considered such.
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Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME! - Episode 11
A Space Leviathan shares it’s secrets with us and we’re one step closer to saving the universe.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
The fate of the world, nay, of the universe rests in one duck’s hands. Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax.
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC.
Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts!
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC.
A Socratic Debate: A Dialogue Between a Paragon and a Renegade
The following is a philosophical conversation between a Paragon and a Renegade. Each of them have a contrasting point of view, and will try to impose their will on the other by bring up evidence, as well as posing philosophical “what ifs” and “whys” against each other. How you interpret this dialogue is up to you.
Characters with Character: Commander Shepard
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Commander Shepard!
RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS!
Characters With Character: Liara T'Soni
This is one alien who is a lot more than just a pretty face.
Characters with Character: Grunt
Note: The following contains spoilers. You have been warned. If you were to ask any
Characters with Character: Miranda Lawson
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Miranda Lawson.
Characters with Character: Mordin Solus
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Mordin Solus.
Mass Effect 3 Co-op a Thing?
Does a grainy scan of a South African videogame magazine constitute proof that we’re getting multiplayer in Mass Effect 3? Not concretely, but then again, Bioware hasn’t exactly used the word “no” when asked about it.
I enjoyed the DLC, but I really thought it would impact the ending in some way. I thought I read somewhere that it would change it in some way (again). But all it really did was add about 20 seconds of dialogue.
In fact, while the DLC itself was enjoyable, its payoff was pretty much nonexistent. For as big as Leviathan was treated, shouldn’t it have had more impact on the final battle? And I don’t mean just by increasing your readiness score, I mean the actual events being altered.
Ah well. Leviathan was decent, but I kind of expected more.
I really wanted an underwater combat sequence or something like that.
Maybe tear a hole in the side of a submarine or an aquatic habitat or something.
From an expanding the universe perspective it was really awesome but yes I do agree that I did expect a little more towards the end.
Was satisfied and had fun and can’t wait to see what they pull out next!
I’ve just finished and I must say I enjoyed it immensely. It didnt go in the direction I predicted – which is a good thing. The final confrontation was great, I enjoyed a certain couple exchanging dialogue, the James cameo was hilarious. I’m a massive fan of Steve so I was happy to hear more of him. Pity that the only vo actor that has no additional dialogue is Seth Green but the same thing happened in Arrival, he was mute.
I played as ManShep and, since I’m replaying ME1 atm, I noticed how far Mark Meer has gone, he’s really good in this. Speaking of ME1, only yesterday I was wondering about a certain plot hole, that this DLC explained; unexpectedly, if I may add. Overall, planning to beat it again now, with my other Shepard.
I haven’t experienced this DLC with Male Shepard yet but I am playing the series again as a male shep to see how it plays out.
Actually in October, I’m doing a Childs play charity livestream to raise money for Toronto Sick Kids hospital and will play all 3 games in 3 days with Male Shepard.
October 17-20
For more info
http://www.birdmangivesback.com
Really enjoyed the DLC, it was exactly what I was hoping for. I really hope it does well, I really want them to bring out more.
I get people anger at the ending, but really, with EC it’s a better ending than several other great games.
I agree with the EC really making things better and seeing the epilogue of what happens afterwards
This is the ending the series really needed and glad that we actually got this as fans of the series
I still have nothing but contempt for the ending, especially the Synthesis ending which is the biggest insult I have seen in a good video game…but this DLC is pretty good.
I enjoyed the lab segments and the first mission has some truly wonderful atmosphere to it. The third level is also sweet in terms of build up.
I felt with this DLC and what it implies at the end, makes the synthesis ending make a bit more sense.
What do you did you think?
The third act did have some great build up
especially having more Cortez was awesome too
Definitely need to get this Mike. Grats on being the first on the net. Or at least the first that matters.
I was damned surprised that I was the first online….i thought for sure IGN or Kotaku would have scooped me.
Well, guess I should get to downloading this
Would love to hear your thoughts after you complete it.
Well, I’ve finally had time to start playing and completed the beginning of the quest. I have to say I enjoyed the detective work involving Shephard and EDI as their interacting while investigating was both interesting and funny. I also appreciated how it had nods to stuff from the previous games like the Thorian when looking for clues and that bit where Shephard got to gloat over the remains of a certain major enemy of the past.
The line of Liara after the 2nd mission made me laugh pretty hard about rescuing scientists.
I loved how they tied the Thorian into the dialogue.
Okay finally finished it and I must say I enjoyed it immensely. Hope the next DLC is at least this good.
They did a good job presenting Leviathan and I liked how they managed to twist things from what we were expecting it to be.
It also is good to see Bioware hasn’t lost its touch with writing good character dialogue, not only was the bit with Liara funny but so was Vega’s bit in the lab (and I got a unique decoration in the process). Also one thing Liara says after finishing the mission was not only funny, but also has me pretty sure that someone at Bioware plays eroge, lol