With just a few months until the release of the highly anticipated Mass Effect 3, the final instalment of the Mass Effect 2 story is here. “The Arrival” is set in between the events of the two games, and gives us an insight into what story the next title will lead us on. Shepherd is sent on a solo rescue mission to save a scientist who supposedly has information about the impending Reaver invasion. He soon finds out though that everything is not as it seems, and has to make a decision that could shape humanity forever.

The most disappointing thing about the add-on is that it is arguably the weakest of the lot. Instead of providing us with thrilling content, and pumping us up with excitement to take into the next game, it produces a very weak and flat experience which plays as though it was made as a side mission for the main campaign. The story is good, but lacks the climax we saw in the main game. The voice acting and script is again great, though I thought there was a lack of paragon options.

The gameplay is much as it was. There are no new enemies, vehicles or bosses, and lots of familiar environments. There is a new character added, but they are quite boring and unoriginal. One or two parts do shine however. The landscape, though essentially comprised of 2D images, looks fantastic as always. There are some good fights in the content too, but just not enough of them to warrant the games price tag. As well as this, there are new upgrades scattered through the mission, as well as additional achievements.

Instead of having a team with you, this time Shepherd faces the mission alone, which is a shame. You miss out on the teamwork aspect of fighting, and the unique dialogue options from each character. It doesn’t make the game any more difficult, and the only reason for BioWare doing this is from a story perspective.

All-in-all, the add-on offers around an hours extra gameplay.  560 Microsoft Points is a large price to pay for such short download content, at a lower quality than we expect from BioWare, and nowhere near the standard of the Shadow Broker. That said, it seems as though the story shown in “The Arrival” will be essential for Mass Effect 3 players.

The full statement was as follows:

The Cerberus Daily News will begin a hiatus on January 24th, finishing its run of one full year. Daily postings will cease except for three weeks in 2011: a week of posts will precede a downloadable content release, and two more weeks will lead up to the release of Mass Effect 3.

The CDN team thanks fans for their attention, comments, and feedback, (both in and out of character!). We are sorry to go, but we had fun –- we hope you did, too!

It was very hard to pick a top 10 this year. There have been some great games throughout 2010. I have managed to narrow down the list into those that I have most enjoyed.

10 – DeathSpank

With its Diablo like gameplay mixed with Monkey Island like puzzles and humour DeathSpank was something of a treat for me. The comedy styling’s of Ron Gilbert where strong with this one. Hours of laughs and addictive dungeon crawling gameplay made DeathSpank make its mark on not just Xbox lie Arcade and PSN but 2010.

9 – Deadly Premonition

Crazy genius. Words used to describe the likes of Hideo Kojima, David Lynch and David Cronenberg however in this case ‘Crazy genius’ describes Deadly Premonition to a tee. Sure the production values are low and the game doesn’t look like a current gen title but if you can look past the visuals then you will be in for a treat. A strange story that mange’s to be interesting and engrossing set in a world full of activities and surprisingly deep characters. Deadly Premonition may not have the looks but it did have the personality to stand out in 2010.

8 – Dragon Quest 9

A traditional JRPG in every sense, Dragon Quest 9 had me picking up my DS at every available moment. The epic scale of the game is impressive in its own right but add to that the ability to play with others in the same world made the game even better, same can be said about the downloadable content that supports the game. If you don’t like JRPG’s then Dragon Quest 9 will be your idea hell but for me it was heaven in my pocket.

7 – Plants Vs Zombies XBLA

Plants Vs Zombies XBLA: Simple yet so dam addictive, its something Popcap has managed to distil in almost every game they produce. Plants Vs Zombies has been doing the rounds on various different formats for a while now but 2010 seen the title shuffle onto Xbox Live Arcade. Keeping the addictive gameplay and the silly humour along with the addition of a few new game modes was a recipe for success and surely enough that recipe tasted dam good. Fun, simple and addictive Plants Vs Zombies had my fingers going green (from plants…not gangrene) and my face smiling.

6 – God of War 3

Kratos came into the next generation – and with it he brought the pain in HD. The game didn’t differ too much from past titles on the PS2 but the sheer epic scale of each level left an impression on me. Great sound track, great visuals, solid gameplay and unadulterated action and gore made God of War 3 stand out from the market.

5 – Bayonetta

Fast paced fluid action that is so over the top you can’t help break out in fits of giggles, that’s Bayonetta. The story was a little ropey but the main cast of characters’ helped carry the plot along with delivering a number of so lame its funny lines along the way. Gameplay was great as was the sound track which included a mix of Japanese and Western Styles which combined to make a catchy and unique sound.

4 – Battlefield: Bad Company 2

I’ll be honest this is pretty much my first person shooter card. Big explosions, big guns and solid design in all aspects of the game made Bad Company 2 an enjoyable experience. Sure the single player was a little weak however the multiplayer was a mix of fast paced brutal action and tactical play which resulted in an extremely enjoyable game. Extra credit should go towards the top notch sound design, you can literally hear every last bullet fly past your head.

3 – Heavy Rain

I shouldn’t like this game; in fact I should hate it. But I don’t in fact I love it, the stories where engaging and drenched in tension and atmosphere and i was compelled to play through the game till the very end. Gameplay is of course limited to a number of button presses and wandering around a area in a point in like manner however interacting with the supporting cast was addicting and compelling and oddly the action set pieces felt frantic and evoked panic at times are the main reasons why I fell for David Cages story. Beautiful animation and fantastic believable voice acting makes Heavy Rain a highlight on 2010 for me.

2 – Mass Effect 2

Although it didn’t stay in touch with its RPG roots and became more of a shooter it didn’t affect the quality of story and gameplay. The main beef behind the game was not the storyline but in fact the character development. With top notch visuals and a beautiful art and audio design Mass Effect 2 was a treat with many a epic moment to hold on to.

1 – Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2: Simply put Mario Galaxy 2 reminded me of why I love video games and why Nintendo are just a staple in the industry. Each level offers something new and interesting to try out, add to that the almost perfect gameplay and Nintendo charm and the result is pure video game bliss.

Honourable Mentions

Limbo: Although the game has seemed to fell into the over rated bracket in the eyes of many it didn’t stop me from enjoying the dark adventure that is Limbo. Simple in its gameplay yet so clever, the striking visuals and the creepy soundtrack made Limbo something of a dark piece of escapism. It was a strong year for downloadable titles and Limbo typified this.

It was very hard to pick a top 10 this year. There have been some great games throughout 2010. I have managed to narrow down the list into those that I have most enjoyed.

10 – Final Fantasy XIII

Great story. Great graphics. Everything you want from a turn-based RPG. There are a few flaws here and there (lack of free roam!), but overall a solid game.

9 – Blur

Fantastic action-packed racing game. I would describe it as Mario Kart with real cars. Loads of power ups. Loads of challenges. Loads of cars. Loads of tracks. Loads of fun.

8 – Battlefield: Bad Company 2

One of the more realistic FPS’s of the year. It has a solid campaign and brilliant multiplayer which should be played by all lovers of shooters.

7 – Call of Duty: Black Ops

Good online play, though I don’t believe as good as Modern Warfare 2. It was let down by its maps and over speculation. The campaign is great and an improvement in the franchise. Still hours of fun to be had.

6 – FIFA 11 / 2010 FIFA World Cup

The two FIFA games this year were yet again an improvement, and an easy triumph over it’s rival, Pro Evo. 2010 FIFA World Cup provided a brilliant selection in teams, and gave us a sneak preview of what we were to see when FIFA 11 released later in the year with improved game play from 2010.

5 – Dance Central

Whole-hearted fun for all the family. Provided us with so many laughs over the Christmas period, and really showed the true capabilities of Kinect. Definitely the best release title for the device, and best music game of the year.

4 – Fable III

Humor packed RPG, an improvement from the 2nd in the series. Fable III doesn’t let you down on action or adventure as you explore new places with new spells, weapons and characters. Most of the old features I loved remain, and more have been added.

3 – Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Brilliant sequel to my Game of the Year 2009. Just as action-packed, intense and vast. If you love action adventure games, you can’t miss this one.

2 – Red Dead Redemption

Wow what to say about this game? I can’t justify in words how much I enjoyed it. I actually expected nothing from this game until release when I started seeing some reviews and tweets showing just how good the game was. The setting is brilliant. The characters are entertaining. But best of all is the world around you. The animals and vegetation look great and the variety is truly terrific. The action is fun and exciting. There are a lot of hours to be had in the game as well. Rockstar really showed that they can do something other than Grand Theft Auto.

1 – Mass Effect 2

My game of the year for many reasons. The story is fantastic. The gameplay is an improvement from the first, and battles can actually get pretty intense at stages. The cycle of weapons, armor and upgrades is great. The paragon system works perfect and the exploration of the worlds is completely original. The game also has some entertaining downloadable content. 30+ hours of enjoyment. BioWare really have upped their game in the franchise, and have earned my game of the year award with this title.

This news comes off the back of an announcement by EA that Mass Effect 2 will be released on PS3 in the US on January 18th and Europe on January 21st 2011. Since the original Mass Effect will remain an Xbox exclusive, an interactive comic will be released to explain the back story to the game, and allow decisions to be made and carried over to Mass Effect 2.

To see whether this Mass Effect 3 news is true or not, we shall have to wait until Saturday.

Source: IGN

What else is there to say? Can’t honestly say we forsaw this one coming, although, in saying that, it is a very warm and welcome surprise to any Playstation fan out there.

To read what we thought of Mass Effect 2 – and to make the January countdown tick that little bit slower – read our review here.

The DLC is five stages long and will see Sheppard battling his way to glory on foot and at the helm of the Hammer head all on one planet.  The enemy is a rogue A.I up to no good, the DLC will retail at 560MSP.

The price was confirmed by EA later today, so suit up and prepare for more epic space action.

Bioware early DLC for Mass Effect 2 has been hit and miss and for the most part has left fans somewhat underwhelmed however if Bioware stay true to their word then perhaps the next btachs of DLC will be worth the wait.

With 2010 arriving at full swing, let’s do a quick recap of all the exciting titles we should expect this year. Don’t forget to keep a bit of cash spare this year guys, judging from our pre-order basket – it is going to be huge!

Heavy Rain (PS3)

“Heavy Rain is about normal people who have landed in extraordinary situations. I wanted a much more personal story. The first thing that came to my mind, as a father of two little boys, was that the main theme should simply be a father’s love for his son. This is not a game about saving the princess or the world. Its [sic] purely about a father’s love. The main story will revolve around four different characters, and we’re putting the spotlight on their perceptions. The question ‘what is good and what is evil’ is the key here, that will be just a matter of viewpoint…I believe heavily in moral choices, I’m going to use them A LOT. They’re not about being good or bad, but about finding the right balance.” – David Cage

BioShock 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

“The game is set in fictional dystopian city Rapture in alternative history 1970, a decade after the events of BioShock. The protagonist and player-controlled character is a Big Daddy, a being that has had its organs and skin grafted into an atmospheric diving suit. Among the first of its kind, the player-controlled Big Daddy reactivates with no recollection of the past decade’s events, and scours the city in a vain attempt to relocate the Little Sister that he was paired with. When it becomes obvious that Rapture’s leader Sofia Lamb will become responsible for the city’s destruction, the Big Daddy attempts to overthrow Lamb and her army of Big Sisters.” – Wikipedia

Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 360)

• “Final Fantasy XIII is the thirteenth installment in the Final Fantasy series, and is the first of the series to be released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360…”

• “The battle system, called Command Synergy Battle in game, has been described as “More tactical than Final Fantasy X, faster than X-2, and almost as seamless as XII…“

• Final Fantasy XIII will not have one prominent main character. In a similar vein to Final Fantasy VI…”

“Different games aim to have some sort of “key element” that will differentiate them from other games on the market. For FF, we feel that the key element is that we constantly try to reach the highest potential, the highest quality standards in that particular generation. We’re always trying to raise the bar and outdo ourselves. We try to do that in every generation, and when we succeed, I think that’s when users really look to us and say “that was a great game!” And that’s what we want to achieve with FFXIII, as well.” – Hashimoto

Pokemon Heart/Soul (DS)

A lot of people grew up with Ash as he explored the vast world Pokemon had to offer – both in the video game world, and off. A lot of the same people would also argue that Pokemon was in it’s prime with the release of Gold & Silver for the GameBoy. So, when hearing it was to remade, enhanced and released on the Nintendo DS – I was straight on Amazon to place my pre-order. The kid in me is jumping on the bed in sheer anticipation for March 14!” – AndyW

Halo Reach (360)

It’s Halo… Just do it…

Really? You are still waiting?

Just go put it on pre-order…

You really want to be that guy? Fine, be that way.

God of War III (PS3)

Kratos uses blood, sweat & fear to force the final saga of the God of War trilogy, into your pre-order basket!

“God of War II ended with Kratos, Gaia and the Titans marching on Olympus. God of War III will conclude the story of Kratos’ attempt to destroy Olympus. A game demo was released at E3 2009 showing Kratos battling his way through the city of Olympia and, with help from the Titan Perses, paralyzing and killing the god Helios. Kratos then fights his way inside a back door into Olympus, and flies up through a vertical shaft using the Wings of Icarus. Meteors fall through the channel and, after emerging through the exit, Perses seems to try to kill Kratos as he falls towards him with blades in-hand.” – Wikipedia

Crackdown 2 (360)

The sequel is set around ten years after the first instalment, you are placed under control of another genetically-modified agent sent out to restore peace in the streets of Pacific City. The only major difference, instead of only fighting off convicts, you are protecting the innocent against infected hordes of mutants. Following their accidental release into the city from the research facility we seen in the first Crackdown. Then to top it off, regain control of the City from the hands of the rebel group ‘The Cell’ – a revolting terrorist organization fighting to overthrow the Agency.

With the all new four-player cooperative play, not to mention the multiplayer modes for up to 16 players over LIVE, you can take the mutatious fight to the streets and rooftops with your friends in explosive style.

Dead Rising 2 (PS3, 360, PC)

The game is set a few years after the events of the original Dead Rising. The zombie parasite that originated in Santa Cabeza has spread all over the United States. The game will take place in the fictional city of Fortune City, which is modelled after the real-life city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Chuck Greene, a former national motocross champion, is somehow caught in the middle of the zombie apocalypse in Fortune City. Just like Frank West (the player-character from the original Dead Rising), Chuck must survive through every zombie horde he gets into as well as psychopaths and rescue surviving civilians. Among the survivors is Chuck’s own daughter, which serves as his primary motivation for battling the undead. Inafune mentioned in an interview that part of Chuck’s quest will force him to participate in the violent game show, “Terror is Reality.” – Wiki

This was an easy pick for the list, who doesn’t need a good zombie game in their life? The only zombie-fix we have at the moment is Left 4 Dead – but that’s only and online fix – singleplayer dammit!

Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)

Delayed. Delayed. Delayed. If you are a PS3 user who has been following Gran Turismo’s progress over the last few years, this word must be more than familiar. Somewhat of a death-toll. But without any driving simulators to keep you PS3 users satisfied, you have been going cold-turkey – and every junky needs their fix.

With a bit of luck, this gem will be released in 2010 without any further delay.

Fallout: New Vegas (PS3, 360, PC)

When Fallout: New Vegas was announced in London at a press-conference, we were immediately told by the name that despite it’s predecessor, it will be taking place is a non-fiction environment. Instead, a full-scale action adventure tale set in Vegas. Though information at the moment is scarce, the target release date is 2010. Until that time, we’ll just have to sit back and do more speculation. Feel free to add your hopes, expectations and fears for Fallout: New Vegas in the comments section below.

With Fallout 3 being such a huge and influential title, are you really all that surprised to see this game on the list?

Additional Notes

Forming the above list was pretty hard work, which involved a lot of sacrifices. As a lot of games are strongly “hinted” at being released in 2010 – but with no official release date or announcement, I decided not to include them in the above list. The main two games for this are Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 and Gears of War 3. With the addition of a official announcement, both would undoubtedly be on the list. If and when they are announced, I would also recommend pre-ordering – so much potential!

Mass Effect was confirmed to be made as a trilogy a long time ago, but what you did not know is that the trilogy will not end on the next Xbox or it’s equal console. Instead the Mass Effect trilogy will end on the Xbox 360. Speaking in an interview with Gamezone, Casey Hudson, Mass Effect 2 project director said: “That was always the intention. You get the Xbox 360 or your PC, but the Xbox 360 is the one that’s going to run out of time at some point, and you create your character and play through an entire trilogy on that platform”.

This may or may not come as a shock to you, but what it does reveal is that either Mass Effect 3 will be coming closer than you think, or the Xbox 360 might just have that extra life in it that Microsoft has been claming over the past year.

Mass Effect 2 however will hit stores on January 26th for North America and see a European release on the 29th.