Humanity’s struggle against the galactic Reaper threat in Mass Effect 3 continues with the aptly titled “Earth” downloadable content pack deploying July 17 for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
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As humanity’s home stands as the climactic centerpoint of ME3’s colossal conflict, three new maps reflect the last-stand nature of the war and take place in the ruined cities of Rio De Janeiro, London, and Vancouver.
New playable characters enter the desperate battlefields as well. Cash in those points on the Demolisher Engineer, Destroyer Soldier, Fury Adept, Sentinel Paladin, Shadow Infiltrator, or Slayer Vanguard, all offering variable playstyles and roles within a squad.
If ensuring humanity’s continued existence isn’t its own reward, then Earth’s slick Piranha Shotgun, Typhoon Assault Rifle, or Acolyte Pistol unlocks help expand your ever-increasing armory of toys.
You’ll need the added firepower. Earth adds a new difficulty tier on top of the already near-impossible Gold: the shinier Platinum. We’re already assuming the standard “cower in a corner” tactic works well against superbeefy foes, but if you manage a smidgen of bravery (perhaps while humming an orchestral fanfare as you charge), Earth’s 12 new weapon modifications and 11 additional gear upgrades adds an extra edge.
Lastly, operatives have a new objective while in the field: VIP escort. Occurring randomly between waves, the escort mission requires players to walk a target to an extraction point while soaking incoming fire. Combined with Platinum difficulty, it’s easy to envision a few broken controllers and fragmented keyboards in the near future.