BioWare recently announced another free multiplayer DLC for Mass Effect 3 that will be available October 9th on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC (or Oct 10th for PS3 users in Europe). “Retaliation” will include a new enemy faction, new class kits to unlock, hazardous maps and traps; as well as unlockable weapons, and upgrades. The newest DLC will be the largest expansion so far, compared to the other packs that have been released (Resurgence, Rebellion, and Earth Packs).
Collector’s will be joining the lineup of enemies that players will be facing. Praetorians, Scions, Abominations, Troopers, and Captains will be attempting to harvest your bodies and prepare you for ascension as you and your teammates try to survive through extraction. Cerberus has enlisted Dragoons and the Geth have new Drones to balance the different soldiers enemies will deploy. In addition, new class kits will be available to unlock, such as the Turian Havoc Soldier and Turian Ghost Infiltrator.
Six maps will be joining the numerous amount that can readily be waged war upon. These new maps feature environmental hazards and traps: Acid, lightning, meltdowns, sandstorms, swarms, and whiteouts. Prepare to re-write your strategies! As expected, unlockable weapons and powerful upgrades have been counted in with the list of new features and goodies that have been added to every multiplayer DLC so far. Coming with the Collectors are the Collector Assault Rifle, Sub-Machine Gun, and Sniper Rifle. Unlock these weapons and upgrades as your normally would through earning or purchasing credits.
A new feature called “Challenges” has been implemented that allows you to track your progress against other soldiers in the Alliance. To be specific, you can track your progress versus your friends, frenemies, and that random eight-year-old that yells at you for not getting to the extraction point in time. Vaguely similar to Borderlands 2’s Badass Ranking system, the Challenges database will ask players to complete “various multiplayer assignments and feats of strength to unlock titles (want to be known as a Council Operative?) and banners to display in-game.” In-game statistics are tracked: How much you use a specific gun or your most used biotic power. In order to earn challenge pointts, mini-goals have to be completed. The unlockables that can be purchased with challenge points allow players to personalize his or her multiplayer experience in even more ways. Doesn’t hurt to provide additional incentives, does it?
The BioWare team has also informed players of the newest Operation that will be taking place this weekend, October 5th until the 7th. Operation OVERDRIVE is affected by the intel recovered during Operation PATRIOT and have informed players to expect a lot more Reapers on the battlefield. Squad Goal is full extraction on any map at any difficulty within the 20 minute time limit. The Allied Goal is to complete 200,000 extraction waves on any difficulty. Obvious loot for success on both fronts will be a Commendation Pack (Squad) and a Victory Pack (Allied).
A new feature called “Challenges” has been implemented that allows you to track your progress against other soldiers in the Alliance. To be specific, you can track your progress versus your friends, frenemies, and that random eight-year-old that yells at you for not getting to the extraction point in time. Vaguely similar to Borderlands 2’s Badass Ranking system, the Challenges database will ask players to complete “various multiplayer assignments and feats of strength to unlock titles (want to be known as a Council Operative?) and banners to display in-game.” In-game statistics are tracked: How much you use a specific gun or your most used biotic power. In order to earn challenge pointts, mini-goals have to be completed. The unlockables that can be purchased with challenge points allow players to personalize his or her multiplayer experience in even more ways. Doesn’t hurt to provide additional incentives, does it?
