From Ashes is a “post-release” DLC
addition to Mass Effect 3. If you picked up the Collector's Edition
you were greeted with a voucher to download this mission. Throughout
the span of the Mass Effect games everyone hears about this legendary
species that took on the evil Reapers. Fighting them tooth and nail
in a war that lasted over a hundred years, but still ended in the
Protheans being completely wiped out...or so the Reapers thought.
This DLC mission starts with Commander
Shepard getting a message on his private terminal that informs him
about Cerberus' attack on a research facility on Eden Prime. The
Systems Alliance had this facility built to study Prothean artifacts
found on the planet. Of course just because it's a Systems Alliance
facility doesn't mean Cerberus can't come in and do what they do
best. Ahem, kill anything and everything that happens to stand
against the Illusive Man's cause. Unless you have Commander Shepard
that is. The gang is left to search this human facility and stop
Cerberus from acquiring the Prothean artifacts that are being studied
at the site.
While investigating this site after
Cerberus has attacked poses a few questions. What is so important
that Cerberus must get their hands on it? Why were these artifacts
kept secret for so long? What really is here to find and is it
something that can help in the construction of the Crucible? Well
those questions are definitely answered by the time the mission is
over and everyone is returning to the Normandy. Do you want to know
what was the top secret artifact? Well there are a few of those, but
that isn't the big reveal. Nope. The secret...is
a...living...Prothean! Yep, that's right. Mankind stumbled upon a
real life Prothean within the ruins left behind on Eden Prime.
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| Looks Angry Even in Stasis |
Javik is his name and being a complete
douche is his game. Seriously his first impression is not a bright
and shiny one. I will save some surprise for you all to see. Just
don't go into the mission thinking you're getting an overly cheery
character. Of course Javik plays into everything you do. I've had him
join me on countless missions and everyone reacts to him like he was
built into the game during normal development...(hopefully you
readers catch this). The newest member of the team brings with him a
small Prothean arsenal as well. Primitive weapons won't do for this
50,000 year old warrior since he packs a new assault rifle. I used it
a few times, but it just doesn't fit into my play style. It's much
more for keeping distance from the enemies and I'm a Vanguard. So I'm
designed for up close combat with Biotic Charge/Shockwave/peppering
of bullets/melee. It's a cool weapon though as once an enemy has no
more health it melts. Plus you don't need ammo since it recharges,
but if I hit zero on its meter I have to wait for it to cool down and
then recharge. Outside of the new weaponry is his Dark Channel
ability which is a constant poison that slowly kills the enemy (you
can level it up to be more potent).
This mission by itself doesn't add that
much to the overall plot or story of Mass Effect 3. However Javik
alone carries that weight since he adds all kinds of Prothean era
information to the game. As long as you take him with you. While he's
gruff and a jackass of sorts at first, he does surprisingly calm down
later on. Allowing some real understanding of his life and the
Protheans as a whole. His back and forth with Liara is pure gold. I'm
talking .9999 proof here.
As a standalone mission I wouldn't
typically recommend spending the $9.99 for From Ashes. However Javik
is a character that adds so much to the entire Mass Effect galaxy
that I say you must buy this piece of downloadable content. The only
issue you might face is not wanting to use him for every single
mission after getting him, but that's entirely up to you.
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