Shadow Broker

Lore & Background

The narrative of *Lair of the Shadow Broker* begins after the events of the *Mass Effect: Redemption* comic book, focusing on Liara T'Soni's quest to find the Shadow Broker. The player assumes the role of Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier who aids T'Soni in her search. Their journey leads them first to the commerce planet Illium and then aboard the Shadow Broker's spaceship. The story reveals that the individual holding the title is actually an advanced member of a pre-spaceflight species. This revelation marks a significant turning point, as the Broker is fought and ultimately killed by Shepard and Liara. Following this confrontation, Liara T'Soni assumes the identity of the Shadow Broker. She explicitly states her intention to continue the Broker's operations, noting that she will now be able to provide Shepard with more information thanks to the newly acquired extensive networks.

In Their Own Story

The quest splits into two distinct acts, each concluding with a boss fight. The first act unfolds on Illium, featuring a high-speed vehicle chase scene where the player controls a vehicle through the planet's skies for a brief period. During this phase, Liara T'Soni joins Shepard's squad, utilizing combat abilities and powers different from the base game's standard members. The narrative also accounts for the relationship between Shepard and T'Soni, which varies depending on whether they were romantically involved in the original *Mass Effect*. Upon locating the Shadow Broker aboard his spaceship, the confrontation reveals the Broker's true nature as a member of a pre-spaceflight species. This encounter involves technical animation challenges; BioWare noted that their default digital-acting system could not handle the new face, requiring custom work for his multiple eyes and triangular mouth. The story concludes with the defeat of this entity, allowing Liara to step into the role.

Reader's Guide

After completing *Lair of the Shadow Broker*, the Shadow Broker's spaceship becomes available for player exploration. Inside, several terminals offer specific functions: surveillance footage, dossiers on Shepard's squad members, and a video archive containing clips from across the Milky Way galaxy. Players can purchase mining manifests to mark mineral-rich planets on the galaxy map, alleviating the tedious scanning found in the main game. Additionally, credits can be invested in mini-missions to receive upgrades and resources from the Broker's contacts. The pack includes five achievements and various in-game upgrades for weapons and armor. Gameplay features squad-based combat, interactions with non-player characters, and a vehicle chase scene on Illium that critics compared favorably to *Blade Runner* and *The Fifth Element*, though some noted imprecise controls on the Xbox 360 version.

Did You Know?

• The Shadow Broker was revealed to be an advanced member of a pre-spaceflight species, requiring custom animation work for his multiple eyes and triangular mouth.
• Liara T'Soni assumes the identity of the Shadow Broker after defeating him, gaining access to extensive networks to provide Commander Shepard with more information.
• The pack includes a vehicle chase scene on Illium that critics compared favorably to *Blade Runner* and *The Fifth Element*.
• The downloadable content was nominated for Best DLC at the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards but lost to *Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare*, though it won the Inside Gaming Award for Best DLC.
• In 2021, *Lair of the Shadow Broker* was remastered as part of the *Mass Effect Legendary Edition*.