Mass Effect 2 Arrival DLC - What Happens When the Timer Runs Out? (Plus ME3 Plot Speculation)

In this video, we’re going to explore what happens when the timer runs out during Mass Effect 2’s Arrival DLC. This includes a hidden easter egg cutscene as well as some speculation on what could have happened in Mass Effect 3 if Shepard did not destroy the Alpha relay.

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MASS EFFECT 2 ARRIVAL - CAN YOU SAVE THE BATARIANS?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPZqQ2gEioA

MASS EFFECT 2 - WHAT HAPPENS IF SHEPARD DIES?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PasjiLkkyA

0:00 Introduction
1:22 The Timer Runs Out
1:57 Breakdown of Easter Egg Cutscene
5:27 Mass Effect 3 If the Reapers Arrived through the Alpha Relay...

About halfway through the Arrival DLC, Amanda Kenson shows Shepard a big-ass clock that her team is using to countdown to the Reapers’ arrival in the Bahak system. But this gigantic countdown timer isn’t just there for show - if you allow it to reach zero, you’ll get a hidden Easter Egg cutscene. If you wanna do this yourself, I highly recommend waiting until after Shepard gets knocked out - because then you’ll only need to wait for 2 hours instead of 2 full days. So let’s see what happens when the clock strikes zero.

Hahaha so yeah when the timer reaches zero the Reapers arrive and you get a critical mission failure. If you just tuned into this video to see the Easter Egg cutscene, well it’s time to buckle up or get tossed out the airlock, because we’re about to go down a rabbit hole of analysis and speculation.

To fully understand how important this event was, it’s helpful to examine what we know about the Alpha Relay itself. Amanda Kenson’s research on the Alpha relay determined that it wasn’t simply the closest transit hub from Reaper dark space - it was actually the oldest and most powerful mass relay in the entire network. According to the Mass Effect 2 codex:

The Alpha relay is “unusual in its potential range and versatility. Alpha usually sends and receives mass at the range of a secondary relay, but if certain controls are adjusted, it becomes powered by an unprecedented amount of dark energy that could send cargo to sixteen other relays and even across a great distance to the Citadel.”

Destroying the Alpha Relay didn’t simply delay the Reapers’ arrival - though buying extra time to prepare against the Reapers was certainly an important factor. It also made the Reapers’ arrival less efficient from a tactical standpoint. It prevented them from immediately seizing control of the Citadel. With the Alpha Relay gone it took the Reapers a significant amount of time to gain control of the Citadel, which they eventually did after the attack on Cronos Station.

During this time, the Alliance was able to utilize the Citadel as a base of operations to organize the resistance and shelter refugees from the war. Shepard was able to cut deals to gain support from the Volus, Batarians, Hanar, Drell, as well as Aria’s mercenaries. Much of this likely wouldn’t have happened without organics retaining control of the Citadel.

If the Reapers were able to utilize the Alpha Relay, they would have captured the Citadel immediately and killed or indoctrinated all primary galactic leaders, including Anderson and the Council - with Anderson clearly being the more important figure. Without Anderson, the resistance on Earth would have been severely handicapped in terms of leadership. Remember it was Anderson who formed the plans during our assault on Earth at the end of Mass Effect 3 - which was instrumental in docking the Crucible at the Citadel.

Видео Mass Effect 2 Arrival DLC - What Happens When the Timer Runs Out? (Plus ME3 Plot Speculation) канала Big Dan Gaming