Review of Mass Effect 3: Omega by Adam Milton

Omega was one of my favorite locations in Mass Effect 2. If I had my druthers, I would have revisited Omega in the base Mass Effect 3 game, but we had to wait until this DLC before enjoying an underrated adventure.

Cerberus has invaded Omega and kicked Aria off her throne. She sulks in a Citadel bar and you agree to help her retake it. You and Aria return to Omega and fight a desperate war against the occupying Cerberus force, led by their premier general Oleg Petrovsky. Firefights rage in the seedy Omega underbelly as you fight alongside Aria and her gangs and mercenaries. In the cramped and humid hallways of Omega you find another leader, Nyreen, the series’ first turian female and Aria’s on‑again‑off‑again girlfriend. They do not agree on methods, and you find yourself caught between them as you attempt to help them regain control of Omega.

I was a little shocked that this DLC divided fans online. They make some good points, however. I wish Omega had not been locked away from the player until the DLC. The impact of your choices is only felt in the War Assets calculations. The first female turian, Nyreen, is a great foil to Aria and is not seen outside of the DLC. Aria does make more than just a cameo, but if you did not really like her in Mass Effect 2 then you will not like her here.

For me, though, Omega is more than the dark Citadel; it is a place that adds color and depth to the Mass Effect lore, a location where naked aggression and exploitative forces of the galaxy do not have to hide. I said it before: the Citadel is where you aspire to, and Omega is where you end up. Returning here in Mass Effect 3 is more than welcome, as we get to explore more of the station and see its inner workings.

This DLC offers more than Cerberus shock troopers, adding new monsters and deadly mech foes that bring speed and variety. There is a small horror element introduced into the game. It may feel narratively out of place, but the new enemies can be a challenge and have great designs.

Aria in Mass Effect 2 was underutilized. I would have welcomed some post‑suicide‑mission DLC where you go to work and fight with her, but we have had to settle for this. Aria is a deadly biotic and a lot of fun in combat. Nyreen and Aria’s bickering is entertaining, as you can tell that despite Aria’s façade of cold indifference she cares about Nyreen and wants her respect. And not for nothing, Carrie‑Anne Moss is some of the series’ best voice‑acting talent. I have had a bit of a crush on her since 1999, and hearing her breathe life into Aria has not diminished those feelings.

This DLC is one of my favorites in the entire series. Returning to a great setting, featuring new and old characters, and never losing the sense of urgency and danger that makes Mass Effect 3 so great, Omega is a must‑play for fans of the series.