Mass Effect 2 DLC - Arrival

[5thHorseman]

I found it much easier to get the ME1 insanity achievement. I just done an uber-quick playthrough with a level 60 character, with all Spectre X weapons and skipped everything non-essential. I really miss my Specre X assault rifle, I had about 10 of them, surely one of them must have survived the Normandy crash. I’d trade every weapon I had in ME2, for one of those. Talk about a step backwards in weapon technology (yes, I know the real world reason, they wanted an ammo system and had to write their way out of trouble)

I actually didn’t find the ME1 insanity achievement all that hard. Just make sure it’s your 2nd playthrough as a biotic. The ability to freeze someone but still deal damage allows you to, in ANY one-enemy situation, completely own the field of battle. And in any other situation you can at least lock away the most powerful enemy until you’re ready to deal with them. I killed Saren without taking a single point of damage.

I only couldn’t do one part, and that was a Geth trap where I was at the back of a mine shaft and had to fight out. However, it was because I went there almost first so hadn’t completely leveled up to 60 yet. I skipped it and when i came back nearer the end of the playthrough, I cut through them like butter.

[Default_Prophet]

I found it much easier to get the ME1 insanity achievement. I just done an uber-quick playthrough with a level 60 character, with all Spectre X weapons and skipped everything non-essential. I really miss my Specre X assault rifle, I had about 10 of them, surely one of them must have survived the Normandy crash. I’d trade every weapon I had in ME2, for one of those. Talk about a step backwards in weapon technology (yes, I know the real world reason, they wanted an ammo system and had to write their way out of trouble)

Screw that gimme my Spectre X Pistol and Sniper Rifle back. Throw explosive rounds in the rifle and it’s a frakkin rocket launcher basically.

[Fenatic]

Hey, not sure if I should create a new thread for this or not. I’m getting Mass Effect 2 for PC shortly, and want to know which DLC packs to get and when. I don’t care too much about the weapon or appearance packs, but I do want all the new missions or assignment (Although the free appearance or weapon packs I will take).

From what I have been able to gather, the DLC packs with new missions/maps are:
Arrival
Lair of the Shadow Broker
Overlord
Kasumi - Stolen Memory

There are also a few free ones listed here:
http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/DLC#Mass_Effect_2
Which I assume you can just download when you install the game.

Anyway, my question: Should I get all the DLC packs and install them before my first play through of the game, or should I wait until I finish the game, then get the DLC?

The reason I ask is because in Mass Effect 1, both the DLC packs took place within the main storyline of the game, and you could only get to them by using the galactic map while you are in the middle of the game. This was mildly annoying because if you had just completed the main game, you either had to start over or go back part way.
From what I hear the DLC in Mass Effect 2 takes place separate from the main game.

[Nightwing]

Install them before you start.
Kasumi and the Mercenary are fun to have right away and give you an edge.
Also doing the shadow broker early can be useful for the endless mining.

[fastcart]

Keep this in mind though. Dragon Age: Origins came out with a special set with all of the DLCs collected for cheaper than buying them separately. I definitely think they’ll do the same for ME2. I’ve been holding off on buying DLCs for that reason, but there’s no telling how close until launch of ME3 they’ll wait. Could be October/November.

[Fenatic]

Frak that, I’ve been waiting for this game for years, even built a new computer for it for frak sake (sorta). Plus, Best Buy gift cards.

[fastcart]

Frak that, I’ve been waiting for this game for years, even built a new computer for it for frak sake (sorta). Plus, Best Buy gift cards.

Lol. I too have a new PC built and I’m ready to rock. I bought DLCs for Dragon Age: Origins separately and didn’t get the combo set. I have ME2 but none of the special DLCs. So, I’m definitely getting the ME2 pack. It would suck if I’m wrong about them releasing one. But, I’d bet real money that I’m right given how popular ME2 is.

[Starsaber]

Screw that gimme my Spectre X Pistol and Sniper Rifle back. Throw explosive rounds in the rifle and it’s a frakkin rocket launcher basically.

Yeah, that’s not bad, but I miss the Spectre X Napalm Shotgun I had Tali use in one of my computer playthroughs. I still need to do a second playthrough on ME1 to have a “definitive through 1 & 2” character for my first ME3 playthrough.

[SetecAstronomy]

Install them before you start.
Kasumi and the Mercenary are fun to have right away and give you an edge.
Also doing the shadow broker early can be useful for the endless mining.

Not to mention the ability to realocate squadmate skill points. It’s nice to finally have Miranda with the fully evolved Slam.

A question for all re:Arrival- Am I the only one who changed Shep’s armor to all black with a non-glossy finish when you found out it was to be a stealth/Black ops mission?

[Starsaber]

Not to mention the ability to realocate squadmate skill points. It’s nice to finally have Miranda with the fully evolved Slam.

Yeah, it was fun to Slam bugs while their platforms were still inbound on the Collector ship and the suicide mission. Platform wasn’t there any more when they came back down.

[5thHorseman]

Not to mention the ability to realocate squadmate skill points. It’s nice to finally have Miranda with the fully evolved Slam.

You mention the Shadow Broker and Slam in the same post, but don’t mention how fun it is to use Slam DURING the Shadow Broker assault?

I think I killed more baddies via Slam than anything else.

[Starsaber]

You mention the Shadow Broker and Slam in the same post, but don’t mention how fun it is to use Slam DURING the Shadow Broker assault?

I think I killed more baddies via Slam than anything else.

On the outside of the ship? I can see that. The only time I’ve played through LotSB so far, my Sheppard was a pure Biotic, so I took Grunt along for muscle. If I’d known about the wind effect, I would have switched from Reave to Slam, but I didn’t.

[SetecAstronomy]

You mention the Shadow Broker and Slam in the same post, but don’t mention how fun it is to use Slam DURING the Shadow Broker assault?

I think I killed more baddies via Slam than anything else.

Indeed, I will try that. I have always Throw Field-ed 'em off the side.

[Default_Prophet]

Not to mention the ability to realocate squadmate skill points. It’s nice to finally have Miranda with the fully evolved Slam.

A question for all re:Arrival- Am I the only one who changed Shep’s armor to all black with a non-glossy finish when you found out it was to be a stealth/Black ops mission?

Yep you’re the only one. I rocked my regular. carbon fibre-y looking black with neon blue piping