I am a huge fan of the ME series and in addition to the game, own several of the comics and previous art books. In advance of the ME3 release, I was happy to pick up this universe art book too. The book itself is big, hard bound, and features terrific, colourful, glossy images. If you are a ME fan you are sure to enjoy this. However, since I own several other ME books I figured this review would be more useful highlighting the differences as far as I can tell.
Mass Effect 1, pages 10-59
This sections details a lot of the concept work in ME1 including the alien species and the design aesthetic, such as the vehicles, mass relays, and weapons. I have the 2007 Art of Mass Effect book that came with the Prima strategy guide and some of the content in the Universe book overlaps it. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see new content as well. Given the 170+ pages of the 2007 book they could have easily poached from it wholesale to fill 49 pages so I am very pleased they added in stuff that I hadn't seen before; quite a feat given ME1's release 5 years ago.
Mass Effect 2, pages 62-129
This section is awesome and I have been eagerly awaiting the ME2 art content for some time now. I have the Prima Collector's Edition strategy guide for ME2 that has a small art section which is disappointing, showing mostly in game shots and some 3D renders. I have the ME2 Collector's Edition art book as well, the one included in the game, 48 pages long and about the size of a 4x6 picture, give or take. This one contained more concept work of the various worlds and some of the technology, like the Normandy 2, but was also underwhelming given it's size. Thus, I was very pleased to see the content in the Universe book for ME2. Each major character (squad mate) gets a nice character study with some concept images and some text describing the designer's intentions. This includes DLC content like the Shadow Broker, Katsumi, and Zaeed. There is also great concept images of the various planets and locales visited. Also, if you like weapons, there's a two page spread of ME2's guns. It's very well done and really show cases the game's content well. This is definitely the ME2 artwork I'd been waiting to see although I'm sure they could have put together a 170+ page ME2 art book alone if they wanted to.
Mass Effect 3, pages 130-182
As I am in self-imposed spoiler isolation, I refuse to open this section of the book. Suffice to say, if it's anything like the rest of the book then I am sure it will be fantastic! Well, to be honest, I have flipped through it and yes, there are concept images and character studies in it it seems, although I won't spend any more time in the book beside's thumb-flipping until I can get the game, beat it, and then see where the story went!
A great book and welcomed in any ME or sci-fi fan's book case for sure.