Bite-Size Review-- Mass Effect 2: "Kasumi--Stolen Memory"

In case you missed it, catch the full review for Mass Effect 2 here.

BioWare's post-launch support for ME2 has thusfar consisted of small mission and weapon packs delivered via its free (to new copy purchasers) Cerberus Network platform. "Kasumi--Stolen Memory" marks the first paid expansion to the epic space saga's second chapter, coming in at $7/560. Is it worth it?

"Stolen Memory" kicks off with a rendevous with Kasumi on the citadel where she explains her mission. The dialogue is written as if you download this in the middle of your quest, so if you've already finished the game expect it to be slightly awkward (but all-in-all not detracting). Once the mission actually begins in earnest, it resembles a 007-style undercover operation at a fancy cocktail party. The mission itself is pretty unique compared to the rest of the game in terms of objectives and structure, and I found it to be wholly entertaining throughout. I admire Kasumi Goto's swagger and tech prowess, but her moment to truly shine comes at the conclusion of the story where the plot takes a powerfully emotional turn, complete with a signature key choice for Shepard to make.

The acclaimed Mass Effect 2 combat system is sprinkled throughout the quest, albeit pretty lightly compared to most loyalty missions. This should give the dialogue sequences the spotlight, but there is only one major dialogue exchange, which is a little disappointing. Nevertheless, the story is an intriguing side-plot from the main quest, and I hope BioWare continues in this direction in the future. That being said, I can only truly recommend this expansion to people who truly fell in love with Mass Effect 2; anything less than that, and $7 is simply too much to ask for a 1-hour quest. ME2 is a great enough experience to make the big fans jump in regardless of price, but $3-5 would be much more appropriate.

Overall Grade: B+