Let’s face it, folks: BioWare does not have the most stellar track record when it comes to downloadable content for their games. The DLC for the first Mass Effect was poorly implemented and questionably priced, and Dragon Age: Origins‘ day-one paid DLC sent gamers into a mild uproar. The first paid DLC for Mass Effect 2 fared better (we liked it, anyway), but people want to get decent mileage when they pay a premium for additional content, and Kasumi’s Stolen Memory mission was over all too quickly. BioWare has claimed that the Overlord DLC pack is a more substantial offering, but is it really worth your $7 (or the equivalent in Microsoft/BioWare Space Bucks, anyway)?

Let’s talk about what, in general terms, you get with Overlord. The DLC pack includes four mini-missions that take place on a new planet. One of the most interesting aspects of Overlord is that it takes advantage of the recently added Hammerhead hover tank for navigating the surface of the planet. Players use the Hammerhead to traverse an overworld area that links all of the mission objectives together, as well as perform daring vehicular maneuvers during some of the missions themselves. The result is an experience that hearkens back to the original Mass Effect, which closely wove vehicular exploration and combat with traditional on-foot sections. I mourned the loss of vehicle segments in ME2, so it was nice to see those mechanics return. It doesn’t hurt that the graceful new Hammerhead tank makes the old Mako look a like fish out of water, not to mention the fact that the world upon which Overlord is set is much more navigable and visually appealing than the bland, randomly generated mountain ranges present on virtually every planet in ME.

Yet, as easy as it is to point out the flaws with some of Mass Effect‘s more ambitious elements, it’s hard to find fault with the presentation in Overlord. The individual missions are short but tightly constructed, offering a variety of vehicular action, on-foot shootin’, and even a couple of puzzles. Traveling between mission locations using the Hammerhead is a nice break in between combat outings and helps keep the pace even. All in all, Overlord‘s mission structure feels like it strikes the right balance between the first ME‘s open world exploration and Mass Effect 2‘s faster paced action and more tightly focused gameplay.

But what about the story? It’s always difficult to encapsulate a side story within the overall plot of a game and still make it feel interesting and relevant. That said, Overlord still manages to deliver a brief but entertaining story with a surprisingly strong emotional undercurrent. The folks at BioWare know how to tell a good story, and it really shows in Overlord. Solid dialog, sympathetic characters, and clever use of atmospheric audio and visual effects combine to create a truly immersive narrative experience. There’s even one of BioWare’s trademark big moral choices at the end. From a narrative standpoint, it has just about everything you could ask for in a self-contained side story.

Sadly, Overlord is not without shortcomings. For one, the DLC leaves you with very little to remember it by, since it does not add any new characters or weapons, unlike the Kasumi DLC. All that beating the Overlord mission pack will give you for your troubles is one measly health upgrade. Boooring. I mean, I guess you also have the satisfaction of a job well done, but that’s usually something you can get for free. For seven bucks they could at least throw in a new gun to add to the pile of novelty weapons of mass destruction you keep in your closet. Personally, I’d like to see everyone’s favorite wise-cracking, crippled pilot, Jeff “Joker” Moreau, unlockable as a full party member, but maybe BioWare is holding onto that trump card for Mass Effect 3 (*fingers crossed*).

Also — and I’m afraid this is a complaint that will always be associated with DLC — Overlord feels a tad on the short side.  Most gamers will finish Overlord within 2-2.5 hours of play, and while that’s not a terrible deal for $7, it’s not exactly a bargain, either. BioWare just packs so much content into the main campaign of ME2 that DLC feels like a rip-off in comparison. Like I said, though, DLC is always going to seem like it doesn’t last long enough, and there’s no arguing that Overlord is at least good while it lasts. There are certainly worse ways to spend your money. Mass Effect fans will find a lot to like in Overlord.

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Things We Liked: Good mission variety. Well-designed environments. Compelling narrative. The mission pack feels like a preview of things to come in ME3.

Things We Disliked: No new guns or characters (boo). Still too short. There isn’t much incentive for players who have already beaten the game to do a standalone mission pack.

Target Audience: People who liked the vehicular segments of ME. Mass Effect 2 owners. People who look forward to ME3.

(Overlord: Mass Effect 2 DLC – Developer: BioWare. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Available on PC and Xbox 360 – PC version reviewed. Unfamiliar with CFD!’s review system? Read our newly revised explanation here.)