Customer Reviews

Mass Effect: Retribution

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hadn't read Revelation and Ascension until after I had completed ME and ME2 (the latter being, in my opinion, the best game I have ever played) and I loved the opportunity to learn more about the ME universe and its inhabitants.

Retribution is, in that respect, more like Revelation than Ascension. There is a bit more development of characters who played a major role in both games, such as David Anderson and the Illusive Man. Karpyshyn didn't waste time re-explaining any of the concepts from the games or other books after providing the exposition to this story. After the first few chapters, the action (and the stakes) ramps up exponentially until an ultimately exciting conclusion, with the action sure to affect the storyline of ME3 in the future.

I probably don't need to say it, but if you're a Mass Effect fan, you'll probably appreciate this exciting addition to the series.

Retribution builds on the characters introduced in the previous books and video games (especially Paul Grayson, Kahlee Sanders, David Anderson, and Aria T'Loak)and introduces a few new ones too. If you enjoyed the story of the first two games, the books are worthwhile, and this new edition is up to par with the first two. Retribution is fast-paced and entertaining, but would be difficult for someone who hasn't read the first two in the series. Drew Karpyshyn also wrote the Star Wars: Darth Bane trilogy and read similarly.

I've read Ascension and Revelation and was very excited for this book, and it delivered on everything I expected. Gives great character insight to the Illusive Man and Aria T'Loak. The changes that Grayson experiences are described quite well and it makes me more excited than ever for Mass Effect 3. It does a really good job of immersing you into the world of mass effect, making it easy for the reader to relate to characters living 150 years in the future. Although every time Anderson talks, I can hear him speaking in his voice. All in all a great book and a must read for all mass effect fans.

*Caution, some spoilers will be contained below*

First off let me say if you haven't read Mass Effect: Revelation and Mass Effect: Ascension, you probably should do so now. The books are both a great addition to the Mass Effect Universe and help to flesh out things for players of the game, making the experience all the better. And Retribution is no exception to this.

Retribution is essentially a non-Shepard based sequel to Mass Effect 2 wherein we learn some of the things that occured in the aftermath of the assault on the Collector base, and it helps establish some canon for the series as well provided BioWare sticks to what's stated in the book, which hopefully they will as it would make choosing a canon Shepard in Mass Effect 3 feel much better than choosing one for Mass Effect 2 (if you've done so you know what I mean and I won't delve much into why). In it, we find out that while Shepard did destroy the Collector base and not turn it over to Cerberus, The Illusive Man was able to recover some of the technology within anyways. Paul Grayson, the semi-protagonist (especially towards the end) of Ascension is captured and has the technology tested on him, becoming what is akin to a stronger version of a husk (think Saren at the end of ME1).

Kahlee Sanders; who readers of the other books will recognize as the Co-Protagonist of book one along with Anderson, and the Protagonist of book two, returns in this installment as well. She requires the aid of Anderson who has left his post as an ambassador (not much of a surprise to anyone who played ME2) to help her figure out just what is wrong with Paul and to protect her from Cerberus. At a few points Aria T'loak is involved, though I won't specify too much into how. It's interesting to see a slightly more personal side to her though, with the death of her hush-hush daughter (whose relation to her she'd been keeping secret). But by the books end the fact that she decides to assist the Illusive Man a second time despite his backstabbing, most will likely lose their liking of the character and wish to see her killed alongside her "ally" of sorts...

All in all I found the book an interesting read both for what it adds to the series and for the interesting viewpoint it provides via Grayson and his struggle and eventual succumbing to the Reapers. We don't get to see what runs through their minds in the game so the book is a perfect means of doing so. The Illusive man is shown in a similar manner, although he's admittedly almost as hard to read emotionally in print as he is in the game. On a related note: With the upcoming prequel novel that delves into the Illusive Man's origins, let us hope BioWares continuing success with the series is maintained, as that should also provide an interesting read.

Great book! I love the ME universe. I have played ME multiple times with paragon and renegade characters and imported these characters to ME2...and finished ME2 multiple times with different scenerios. Revelation and Ascension are wonderful books, enriching the Mass Effect universe and adding depth to the characters. I love how each book sets up the next game and Retribution does not dissapoint. I could not put this book down. I cant wait for ME3!!!

On a side note. BIOWARE... PLEASE PLEASE dont let this movie suck!! So much can go wrong. Dont let Hollywood screw up an amazing story. I can almost see the fail train now. "Samuel Jackson" as Captain Anderson, Lady GAGA as Tali... If anything I better see Seth Green play "Joker".

I've been following Mass Effect relatively closely since it was released, playing through the original Mass Effect's campaign several times, and then through all of Mass Effect 2 in its entirety.

So of course, when I found out that there were books to go along with the games, I was all over it.

Revelation and Ascension were outstanding books, also by the one and only Drew Karphyshyn, the lead writer on the Mass Effect franchise. Revelation was a pre-story, leading up to the events of Mass Effect, filling in more of the origins of some of the main characters of the franchise. Ascension fell shortly after Mass Effect, opening up some more subplots within the story and adding more characters, including the biotic child prodigy, Gillian, and her father, Paul Grayson. To be honest, their introduction left me wanting more, and I was pleasantly surprised (and thankful) that that particular subplot made a return in Retribution in a rather big way.

What's more, we get to revisit Omega, a quest hub that players become intimately familiar with after playing Mass Effect 2, and learn more about the Pirate Queen, Aria T'Loak, a few other minor characters, and of course the Illusive Man, himself.

All in all, Retribution brings everything up to speed, answers a lot of the questions that I had after finishing the ME2 campaign, and leaves me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment in an already epic tale.

I found it fun, exciting, entertaining, and interesting because it fills in some areas of the ME universe that aren't delved into as heavily in the games. You may feel quite differently about TIM and Anderson after reading this book: I know I did.

I'm a die hard Mass Effect fan. I read the first book and absolutely got addicted to the whole ME universe. The 2nd book was a disappointment in my opinion. But Drew has really came back with a winner here.

This book reminded me of the first book. There is action from the beginning and it doesn't stop. There is good character development and he doesn't waste time falling back to explain in detail the past events. You are given just enough to keep the story moving.

It's always good to have charcters from the games in the book, such as Aria and Capt Anderson. The author has done a very nice job of really keeping their persona from the games in the book. At one point in this book I laughed out loud because the line Capt Anderson said was so him that I said to myself THAT is Capt Anderson! LOL

My only gripe with the book may be in some instances the author tries too hard. It's a very minor qualm that will not get in the way of you enjoying this book.

Go buy it. If you are an ME fan you WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.

First off it is great to be back in this universe. The Mass Effect universe is one of the greatest ever made.

Not only is Drew Karpyshyn the author of the books but he is one of the lead writers on the game too. This keeps the narration style of the books in line with the game and vice-versa. It was nice to see nods to the last book in Mass Effect 2 and it's even better to have nods to Mass Effect 2 in this book, considering the events of ME2 took place before this book. I am about 75% through this addition to the ME universe and I am salivating over the possibility of ME3 where I hope they will give nod to or incorporate this book in.

If you loved Mass Effect then you need to read these books!

Please make more!!!

This book was almost everything I'd hoped for. It didn't waste time explaining technologies and races etc made clear in the games. The action was intense and set a good pace. The language was clean, crisp, and fluent. The characters were well developed. The story fit the mass effect universe, characters interacted seemlessly. All the technology mentioned and or applied in the book were well documented in the games. This is a great book for mass effect fans or just sci-fi fans in general.

However, one huge problem held me back from giving it 5 stars:

This book follows the plot lines of the mass effect 2 game. In the book it said Cerberus did to Paul Grayson what the Collectors did to the missing human colonists. However, in the ME2, the collectors weren't creating 'reaper humans', they were creating 'a human reaper'. They didn't turn the missing colonists into the prothean counterparts by letting the reapers directly controlling them through nanite injections, thus forming something of a powerful husk. They were liquifying colonists into nutrient paste in order to create a gigantic human shaped reaper - an AI starship.

This made me wonder, as much as Drew Karpyshyn knew the mass effect universe, whether he played mass effect 2 at all. The whole book would've been five stars if he had indicated Cerberus tried to create the human version of the Collector. But saying they were replicating on Paul Anderson what the Collectors were doing to the missing colonists, is a huge and unforgivible plot error.