Review of Mass Effect 3: Leviathan by Adam Milton

I read At the Mountains of Madness about two years ago. Before that I had seen The Real Ghostbusters episode “The Collect Call of Cathulhu.” These were my first introductions to Lovecraftian cosmic horror. There is something very fascinating about the idea of forces beyond human understanding, apathetic to our existence. Mass Effect 3: Leviathan is Mass Effect’s version of that horror.

The biggest problem with most DLC is the budget. BioWare did not always have the money to spend on voice actors and were very clever about hiding this fact. In Leviathan your squad helps in the investigation, searching for clues and making their own observations. As Shepard you still drive the story, but your squad does more than stand in the background and offer character‑appropriate responses.

The story of this DLC concerns the origin of the Reapers. I would normally bemoan the telling of the origin of such awesome antagonists, but the DLC has a satisfying conclusion and discovery. I also love how it showcases the war as you search for clues. The war does not stop. It is all a lot of fun.

Leviathan is about as essential to a playthrough as any DLC. The insights and adventure it offers are second to none and among the very best Mass Effect has to offer.