Lair of the Shadow Broker 9/10Summary: Loved it, though I had a couple of problems w/ the plot and thought it was too short. Great voice acting and character development for both Liara and (shock) Shepard. Squadmates remain mute yet again. However, a great villain (not who you think it is), great gameplay, great graphics, the romance subplot and humorous dialogue and banter make LotSB the best DLC yet. Even if you are not a big Liara fan, you should get this pack now.
WARNING: CONTAINS HEAVY DUTY SPOILERS. First of all, I absolutely loved this DLC, but (for me) there were a couple of problems, otherwise I would have given it a perfect 10. I’m on a PC and have played the pack twice. I used my Paragon, Colonist/Sole Survivor, Vanguard femShep both times. She remained loyal to Liara throughout ME1 & ME2.
Gameplay: Wow, BW really amped up the gameplay in this one. At first I thought I had accidently set the option to insanity. I wouldn’t call myself a casual gamer, but I’m not experienced enough to play on insanity. Tried it once and every mission left me feeling like I had been through the Deep Roads. The vanilla enemies are smarter and faster. They flank you, hit you w/ flash grenades and generally do a good job of amping up the game. As for the boss fights, I LOVED the first boss fight w/ Tela Vasir, the asari Spectre Vanguard. She was tough, but a proper Vanguard on Vanguard battle is just too sweet for words. On my first playthrough we stormed head on into each other one time. Sweet, but ouch! The exterior SB ship battle was good and stopped just short of that “Deep Roads” feeling. I was expecting more resistance inside the ship, but was not overly disappointed either. The final SB battle was unique, but did not outdo the Vasir battle. Again, I wasn’t overly disappointed, but it did seem a bit too easy. Liara herself added quite a bit to the gameplay, both by reminding us how much of a badass she was to begin with and adding a new biotic power called stasis that keeps an enemy still. The car chase was a lot of fun, though I suspect that was due more to Liara and Shep’s banter than the actual mini-game. The mechanics of the chase could use a lot of tweaking, but overall I enjoyed it and would like to see it used in other DLC or ME3. At least we know an Illium taxi cab is tougher than the Hammerhead despite the lack of guns.
Bugs: If you don’t count the fact that I and every other PC player couldn’t download the thing for several hours (not to mention that mid-Europeans can’t play it at all), I can only report one minor glitch. During the second playthrough the sound would disappear during the car chase. After reading several forum posts, this seems to be the most common bug. There were some minor video glitches and shuddering, but nothing any worse than what is in the main game. Though not a bug, the interrupts seemed to go by quicker in this DLC than in the main game. I missed a crucial one the first time around and it seems a fair number of Xbox players are having issues w/ them because they go by so fast.
Graphics: In Overlord, BW amped up the graphics, giving us grass and cows and some damn fine atmosphere. Though LotSB lacks some of the atmosphere Overlord brought, it makes up for in cut scenes. Don’t get me wrong, LotSB has some great atmosphere, but it mostly comes through in the cut scenes. What impressed me about the scenes was the staging or direction. ME1 and ME2 are both very cinematic (1 more so than 2 IMO), but each has been relatively hit or miss in that department. It’s a 30 + hour game, so got to cut them a bit of slack. Almost every scene in LotSB hits the mark and some, like the hostage scene, are near perfect. With Lair of the Shadow Broker it honestly felt like playing a movie. As for Liara, the character herself got an upgrade, w/ not only new makeup but a sexier look too.
Story: This is where I have to lob some criticism, though I’d like to split it up into three parts.
• Main Plot: There really isn’t much of a main plot and maybe there wasn’t meant to be one. I’ll get to that in the next section. The “main” story is a bit thin. Go get Liara, kill some bad guys, kill SB, Rescue Feron, Liara becomes new Shadow Broker. That’s it. Certainly, it was fun, but it was all a bit too predictable. In all modesty I figured out Liara would become the new Shadow Broker the first time I played ME2. I’ve played a lot of BW games and it just seemed like their MO. Let’s just hope Liaribastila doesn’t raise her ugly head. She’s like the Medusa of video game plots, you know.
Anyway, the part I liked the most of the main plot were the scenes involving the Spectre Tela Vasir. I loved her character. I loved the hostage standoff and her death scene was incredible, (and provided a nice apology from BW to all of us Sole Survivors). However, this scene, as much as I loved it, offered up the biggest frustration of the pack. When Vasir asks, “Do you know what Cerberus has done?” my Shep’s response was, “Yes, and it doesn’t matter.” (Please note I’m only dissecting this scene through the eyes of a Paragon Shep. I’ve seen a couple of YouTube vids and it plays off a bit better for a Renegade Shep or Cerberus loyalist). Maybe this is just a nit, but that really bothered me. First of all, there was no paragon response to that question, and maybe there shouldn’t have been. In a very real way, Vasir was right. Both neutral and renegade responses made the scene flow quite nicely, but that only made them seem forced. Secondly, and more importantly, there was a wasted potential for Shep character development in that scene. I didn’t expect nor want some lengthy introspection at that point. Still, would it have killed BW to add three more seconds to help further the character? A look down, a side glance, some little gesture that Shep knows she was right? Instead we get a blank stare, maybe that was an introspective blank stare, but it didn’t look like it to me. This scene, again, as much as I love it, is intertwined w/ much a larger problem I have w/ the DLC. For whatever reason, the DLC assumes that Shep is still w/ Cerberus even if she told TIM to shove it. I can understand characters “not in the know” still believe Shep is w/ the terrorist organization, but when she still believes it, there’s a problem. I suspect this “flaw” is due to the fact that the DLC can be played both before and after the suicide mission and so I can sort of forgive it. I still don’t like it, but I understand it. Whatever the case, I do hope the scene foreshadows some soul searching on the part of Paragon and anti Cerberus Sheps in ME3 if not sooner.
I’m a bit torn over the reveal of the Shadow Broker. The mystery of the SB has been going on since ME1. Shep even encountered one of his operatives in the first game, something that never comes up in the DLC. When you finally meet him, he’s no one (or no thing) you’ve ever encountered. A giant spider-bug thing sporting an Edward G. Robinson gangster outfit, the SB is like a caricature of the mystery surrounding him. I liked his voice, though. Better than Harbinger’s voice. However, I suspect the SB’s story was never about his identity, but who would ultimately replace him. For better or for worse, the mystery of the SB was always irrelevant. Tragic that they built it up so much.
• Subplot: The subplot is where this DLC absolutely freaking shines. Whether it was intentional or not, the thin main plot gives the Shepard/Liara romance a chance to really come through. The romance is tested at the Azure Hotel, reestablished at the SB base and solidified back on the Normandy. In fact, one could argue that the romance IS the main plot, but since it is not an option that all players will choose, I’ll contend it is a subplot of this DLC. The “date” on the Normandy outshines all the other romances by miles, even Jack’s, my personal favorite. It’s funny, it’s tender, it’s sexy, it’s even a little sad. This isn’t a fling or a “let’s screw before we all die” kind of date. Not to belittle the other romances, but this isn’t what we got right before the suicide mission. This is two people, in love, making plans, trying to sort out all the crap they know they’ll have to contend with and promising to be together no matter what. Will they? We’ll have to wait and see. But other points in the romance shine beyond just the romance itself. Shepard actually gets her own bit of character development in this thing. “Need me to hack more terminals?” is a fantastic line for Shepard. It’s cruel, filled w/ too much emotion and that’s what makes it so right. Then, miracle of miracles, someone actually asks how Shepard feels about something. Yes, it’s a small step, but it’s a step in the right direction, IMHO.
• Subtext:
Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. – George Orwell.
With great power comes great responsibility. - Stan Lee. The subtext in this DLC isn’t exactly subtle, so technically it really isn’t subtext, but I’ll call it that just to make things simple. There are actually two strings of subtext flowing though this DLC that deals w/ power and corruption, and they do meld together at the end of the story through the two main characters, Shepard and Liara. Vasir lectures Shepard on her reasoning for working for the SB and even berates her for working for Cerberus, saying that she and Shep are virtually the same. Shep insists that Vasir crossed the line. Shep accused her of abusing her power as a Spectre, even though technically, Spectres are above the law and the council looks the other way. Who is right? Is Shepard lying to herself about Cerberus? Is Shepard abusing her power by allying herself w/ Cerberus or did she simply not have a choice? Maybe it’s a little of both. No matter what, the great irony is that Shepard is not only working for the new SB by the end of the mission, she is in love w/ the new SB, Liara. This is where it gets really interesting. Early in the DLC, Liara mentions that Shep was always coming to her rescue, first on Therum and again when Vasir attacked. By the end, Liara has a power that is nearly unsurpassed. She rationalizes to Shepard that she will only do good w/ it, but the struggle inside is already beginning. I really do fear that Liara will succumb to the allure of power and Liaribastila will be born, but I hope not. If so, the question is will Shepard fight her, join her or save her? Either way, the course has been set and they will have to deal with their own inner demons. Hopefully they can do it together.
Characters: There are only four main characters in this DLC, Shepard, Liara, Tela Vasir, and the Shadow Broker.
Shadow Broker: Let’s face it. The SB is barely a character of any consequence in this DLC, which is ironic given the DLC is named after him. He looked icky and I liked his voice, but that’s really all I can say about him.
Tela Vasir: The asari Spectre was a great character, and I loved every one of her scenes. Vasir was a true “at ANY cost” Spectre, bold enough to admit it and the complete opposite of my Paragon femShep. I like her so much more than Saren as a “villain”. Not sure I would even call her a true villain, but a very grey area character that did good work at any cost. My femShep would kill her again in a heartbeat, but still I hated that she died. Think Cerberus would fund another SPECTRE resurrection?
Commander Shepard: Although Shepard is the main character of the game, I always got the feeling she was guest starring in her own show in ME2. Maybe it was just the sheer number of other characters or the nature of the missions, but the focal point seemed to change from Shepard in ME1 to the missions in ME2. Don’t get me wrong, I loved a lot of the missions, especially the one w/ Garrus, but she was still the straight man, so to speak. In LotSB, Shepard (Urania Jane Shepard in my case) at least got double billing. Shep got to shine in a way she never had in either game, if only for a few moments. She was the partner, the charmer, the comic, the hurt lover, the caring friend, (and perhaps the wife to be?). It was beautiful and long overdue.
Liara T’Soni: As the second star of the DLC, Liara changed quite a bit, but there was still some of the old Liara in there. In ME1 her demeanor suggested that Liara was a bit too naïve and couldn’t handle herself, but many forget she could still kick serious butt. Still, she was socially awkward and circumstances may have forced her to latch onto Shep before she was truly ready. Remember, Shep saved her on Therum, Shep had the Prothean vision in her brain. Add a dynamic personality and Liara was most likely swept off her feet fairly quickly. She was a young girl smitten. By contrast, the ME2 Liara is cold and distant, and even quick to anger. The last two years had not been kind to her, but it did grant her experience. The Liara in LotSB is a combination of the old Liara and the new. She wears the burden of her own failures and still mourns a now living Shepard. Worst of all, she seeks revenge and a way to make up for her failures with a determination that blinds her to the fact that she is starting to talk like Vasir (or The Illusive Man). When the battle is done and both she and Shep have the SB base in hand, a power struggle begins in Liara, both old and new at odds. The wisdom of the old Liara seems to win out for now. At the end, Liara is a much more complete character. Of course I am bias as I loved Liara from the beginning, but I love this new Liara even more. She has a new confidence and strength that is overshadowed only by her soft, caring demeanor. But a cold dark side still lurks just under the surface. She’ll need plenty of love and care to keep that part at bay. I’m sure my femShep is willing to oblige.
Voice Acting: First of all, I mainly play femShep because I can’t stand dudShep’s voice in the game. That’s my personal preference, but if you love Meer and hate Hale then that’s fine, and we’ll leave it at that. With that out of the way …
Tela Vasir - Courtenay Taylor (Jack/Subject Zero): Wow, Taylor just nailed it. Her voice was blunt w/out being harsh; something Jennifer Hale has problems w/ sometimes. The hostage scene was insanely well acted by all parties, but Taylor shines here. And when she threw Cerberus into Shep’s face, she totally sold it, “Don’t you dare judge me!” My second favorite line of the DLC.
Liara – Ali Hills: I have to be honest and say that in the beginning of ME1 Liara’s voice irritated the crap out of me. There was something about it that grated like fingernails on a chalk board, but eventually it grew on me. Today it is like a sweet favorite song. I’m not familiar w/ Ali Hills’s other work, but she sure did one hell of a job w/ Liara. In LotSB she brings back a touch of innocence to Liara’s voice, but tempers it w/ both confidence and frustration. I never truly understood why Liara was so hell bent on killing the Shadow Broker, not even after reading the comic, but Hills manages to sell it nonetheless. She manages to do something few actors of any medium can do. She overcomes bad writing. (The bad writing I speak of is not in LotSB, but in ME2 proper when Liara’s intensions are cryptic at best). Hills manages to explain why Liara is doing what she is doing w/out it sounding too much like exposition. Best of all, Hills delivers on an overwhelmed Liara after the final battle, giving her a complex set of emotions in one brief scene.
Female Commander Shepard (femShep) – Jennifer Hale: She’s a legend in the video game industry. Some love her, others loather her. I admit she can fall flat sometimes and can overdo it other times. Still, she voiced my two favorite video game characters of all time, Bastila Shan from KOTOR and female Commander Shepard. In ME2 proper, she has her high moments and her low moments, but in LotSB she outdoes herself. The writers really came through for Shepard this time and here Hale is heroic, funny, hurtful, worried, caring, sexy, and sad. She delivered on every one of those emotions and one in particular she delivered right to the heart. “Come back soon, Liara. ” With that one line, she proved she was still a legend.
Hills and Hale: Dear sweet Jesus, the chemistry between Ali Hills and Jennifer Hale is nothing less than enchanting. I swear if ME3 were just femShep and Liara I would buy it. The car chase was funny as hell. The way they bounced off each other, either in a fight, during a heartfelt discussion or as lovers, they made it sound as if they had been doing this for years. The conversation during the “date” came off so natural and fluid that it was like Liara and femShep were meant for each other and that there was never any other possibility for either of them. Credit for this must also go to the voice director and writers. Whoever wrote the dialogue did a fantastic job, knocking the romance right out of the ballpark. And the direction was insanely well done. Some of the best I have ever experienced in a video game.
Music: Liked the graphics and the gameplay, the music was amped up as well, though it pushed the plot without overstating itself. My favorite part was the inclusion of the ME1 theme.
Nits (or minor problems I had w/ the DLC)
1. The DLC was too short. I fear the days of true expansions are fading away fast, if not gone entirely. Compared to Witch Hunt, however, LotSB was Dr. Zhivago (in more ways than one).
2. What dialogue there was, I loved, but I would have preferred more.
3. The squadmates remained silent yet again. I understand that getting back voice actors is expensive, but that excuse doesn’t make their silence any less of a disappointment. Still I consider this a minor issue as the problem, never likely to be resolved, is not solely limited to this DLC. BW did let the SB acknowledge the squaddies who accompanies you, which was a nice gesture.
4. No one acknowledged Liara being on the Normandy. I know, VA = expensive, but still somewhat disappointing.
5. Some of the walking sequences were a bit awkward, which isn’t helped by the fact that femShep still walks like a dude.
6. Shepard never thanked Feron for helping retrieve her body or saving Liara. Rather rude of her I thought.
Gold Stars (or nice little touches that added that special something)
1. Shepard gets her tags back, a gift from Liara at the end of the mission.
2. Azure.
3. The SB Intel Center can be played w/ even after you complete the mission.
4. Though I’ve yet to see it in any of my playthroughs, (must be friends only w/ Liara) femShep now crosses her legs when she sits down. It’s no longer open season on her azure.
5. Car chase banter. “Truck!!”
6. The SB dossiers.
7. The SB videos.
8. Really? Liara’s father is …
9. ME 1 music whenever Shep and Liara got together.
10. “Come back soon, Liara”
Conclusion: Hands down the best DLC BW has done, period. Yes, I include Shale in that. This pack was first rumored when the game was first released and leaked “Liara_DLC” files from the PC version sprouted on forums and other gaming sites. Some doubted it would ever come out, while others held vigil and quietly waited and waited and waited and waited. Nine months later it came out and dear god it was worth it. For Liara fans, it was better than we expected and that, more than anything, blew my mind. Thanks, BioWare. Thanks for listening.
Modifié par JamieCOTC, 10 septembre 2010 - 06:28 .
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