During my last couple sessions, I worked mainly on side quests and exploring the galaxy. A large portion of that time was spent doing the quest added by the Bring Down the Sky DLC. The content came with the game when I purchased it on Steam, though I had to register the game with Bioware's site to get the download and key to unlock the content. I will note that installing this content pack was very annoying with the Steam version of the game. Before I could install it, (I installed this and Pinnacle Station before I started playing), I had to launch the game and actually start briefly so the registry files could be created and the DLC installer could find the game. This wasn't the real issue how ever.
The real issue was the installer itself. When it asked for the game code, I would enter it and hit next. Then the installer would immediately fail. After some internet research, I found that the installer never worked properly with the Steam version and to get it to work, when you got to the screen where you enter your code, instead of entering it, you had to force quit the installer using the process manager, which would then bring up a backup installer which would work with the Steam version. On a side note, the installer for Pinnacle Station worked flawlessly the first time. Why Bioware never properly released Bring Down the Sky with an installer that worked with all PC versions, be it the disc, Steam, or other Direct Download service, I can't say.
Technical issues of getting it installed aside, the DLC was good fun to play through, though short. The whole quest took around 70 to 80 minutes to complete, including the optional objectives. The premise of the mission is that an asteroid that was being moved into orbit around a human colony planet for mining was hijacked by Batrian terrorists and set on a collision course with the planet. The size of the asteroid is said to be about twice that as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs on earth, so an impact with the planet would practically wipe out all life on that planet.
When Shepard and company arrive on the asteroid, it is approximately four hours from impact. Shepard is informed that she, yes I am playing a female Shepard, can avert the impact if she can shut down the three fusion torches that are propelling the asteroid. Shepard's team must fight through each of the torches stations to get to the control room and shut it down, with each successive torch adding something new to the mix. While the layout of the facilities are the same across the board, the arrangement of the objects in the main room for each one is different. Also the defense put up at each station gets stronger with each one you disable.
After the first torch is disabled, Shepard encounters the lead engineer of the asteroid's crew. He fills Shepard in on what is going on and mentions that he hasn't heard from three of his engineers who were out at perimeter stations. This sets up the optional portion of the quest where Shepard can repair a broken relay to learn the locations of these posts and then investigate them to find out what happened to the engineers. He also tells Shepard that the next torch has proximity mines planted around it and that they must approach on foot to be able to avoid setting them off.
After I took out the second torch I went and explored the asteroid, finding the bodies of the three engineers and stumbling on the main part of the base, taking out its external defenses. I couldn't enter at this time, however since it was locked and required a key to get past. So it was onto the third and final torch. This torch had the most interesting layout, as there were raised platforms I could position the team on. To add more fun to the mix, defensive drones were also being used against us. After shutting down the last torch, I was confronted by a mercenary in the employ of the terrorists. Being a charming commander Shepard, I talked him into abandoning his employer to save his own hide and was given the key to the main facility.
This triggered the final portion of the quest in which Shepard had to go to the main base and take out the leader of the attack. This provided a good challenge since the main room where the combat took place was circular so cover was only good until some of the enemies circled around, then you had to move and take up new positions. Once the henchmen were all cleared out, the leader showed his face. Using the surviving crew of the asteroid as hostages, he gives you the choice. Sacrifice them to try and kill him or let him escape and save the crew. I chose to let him go, at which point he states to insure I don't follow him, he has set up bombs around the facility that I must diffuse to save the hostages.
At this point Shepard has 3 minutes to find and disable all the bombs, while being attacked by drones. Diffusing the last bomb ends the quest. Shepard is given a choice of rewards. I chose the Quarian armor since Tali was still in her original suit and I hadn't found any up to this point in the game.
Over all, this was a short yet enjoyable DLC. It gives the player a rather straightforward story with some options that effect the morality rating of the player and has different outcomes based on those choices.
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