Gamers were faced with a dilemma when GTA IV hit the shelves last June and it was not the dilemma that we are used to. The quandary raised was not whether to buy the game, but what system to buy it for. We all grew up on playing GTA on the PS2 because Xbox did not get the games until months if not years later. Now, the once Sony timed exclusive was going multi-platform from the start. Furthermore, throw in the fact that Microsoft bought the rights to any and all DLC for the blockbuster. Was that $50 million gamble worth it? Is The Lost and Damned worth the 20 bucks? Absolutely.
Downloadable content can be a tricky bag. It is often seen as a way for companies to squeeze the last few bucks of a video game. Other times it can garner interest into a game we forgot we had. This time around it managed to improve on one of the greatest games of all time. The Lost and Damned, while considered DLC, is about as standalone as you can get. You are introduced to new weapons, new characters, new multiplayer modes, and new music. It manages to do all the aforementioned with a story that is completely independent of the main story arc. This is essential because a game as long and as in depth as GTA IV, you may not be finished with it yet and not ready to play anything that spoils the end. The L&D exists in the GTA IV universe but outside of Niko’s world.
The L&D are a renegade motorcycle gang that patrols Liberty City in search of booze, money, women, and whatever else they can get their hands on. The main character you will play as in Johnny Klebitz, the VP of the gang, The president, Billy, has just been released from rehab and wants to make up for lost time. Without getting into specifics, Billy and Johnny do not see eye to eye. This tension is what will shape the majority of the 8 hours of campaign gameplay. This is where the DLC really shines. The missions are a blast. Sometime in GTA you get those annoying “follow someone” or “catch the fleeing person” missions that are half skill and half trial and error. The missions here involve you and your gang going somewhere to shoot other people. A lot of people. Your gang will join you every step of the way and actually help, which is a change of pace from usual events. The hidden bonus here? New guns and they are awesome. They range from a automatic pistol, to an automatic shotgun, to a… wait for it… grenade launcher. Best. GTA weapon. Ever. Did I mention that your default weapon is a sawed off shotgun? Since your main means of transportation is a motorcycle, you can shoot the sawed off from the bike and it owns.
There has to be some shortcomings with the DLC, right? The weapons that you get in the DLC, which are some of the coolest in the entire game, you cannot use elsewhere. You also cannot use the 5 new multiplayer modes in the full version nor can you ride the same bikes with a sawed off shotgun. They made the DLC so standalone that it really is separate and all the great additions are lost. The story is not as engrossing and the characters are not as memorable. Again, these are all superficial. The DLC is that good.
By now you have surmised, “Should I spend 20 bucks for a few more missions with new characters and some new bikes?” Yes, yes you should. This is one of the most complete DLC’s I have ever encountered. There is more here for 2o bucks than more than half of the games on the market today that cost three times as much. The gameplay has been tightened, especially when riding bikes. The game looks stunning. The new music is amazing. There is dong if you are into that thing. With the 8 hours of campaign, the new mulitplayer modes, hidden pigeons, new stunt jumps, 25 gang wars, I could go on. This is the first of several episodes to be released for GTA IV and it was well worth the wait. You will not find more game for you dollar anytime soon. PS3 owners are going to be very jealous. If you bought the 360 version, you made the right choice. Saddle up and get ready for a hell of a ride.
Overall: 9.25 of 10
I own the collectors edition PS3 vers, and the PC version. Simply put, no matter how good the DLC is. It comes absolutely nowhere, even remotely close, to what I have on my PC. Period. And yes, the PC version stomps the dogmeat out of the PS3 version too. PS3/360, just don’t have what it takes to match the graphical fidelity of a $2,200 gaming Rig (Q9400 2.66 overclock to 3, GTX260 Core 216, 4g DDR3 @ 1500 MHZ). So, whether I should be jealous as a PS3 owner. Both the 360 and PS3 can be jealous that my PC smashes how the game looks. I don’t even play my PS3 version anymore…in fact, I don’t play multiplaftorm titles on the PS3 anymore. They’ll always hit the PC eventually, and usually the DLC is free (Free DLC usually boosts software sales).
It is a bummer that it won’t come to the PS3…for those who can’t afford a real gaming machine. But, as I said, it’ll hit the PC eventually, and it’ll be a thousand times better looking anyway, so not really a big deal. Additionally, my buddy who owns the 360 and PC versions, indicates that in the 40 hours he spent getting 100% on it, for his 360…he really was only wishing it were on his PC, due to how watered down the console versions of GTA are, versus what the PC does. So, again, be jealous if you want…but really, it’ll hit the PC eventually, and will look sooooooooooo much better.
Morne
@ Morne:
You speak the truth. PC games will always look better. That being said, don’t expect the average person to have the money and tech savvy to build a gaming rig like you have. Especially when “the big 3″ are actively targeting the average person.
Valid points you make. Better graphics PC has.
YODA FTW.
thats the only thing us people with sweet gaming rigs can say is our games will always look better ,i guess thats why i have all of the systems but the wii and a sweet gaming rig but if u are a true fan u have to have the dlc it gives you that feeling that i had when i first opened gta4 for the first time and played it
I don’t think it’s worth commenting on whether or not MS’s $$$ was actually well invested until the sales numbers are in. Just from a rough guess, they’d need to sell close to 2 million units to earn back $25 million per episode. Those are big targets for an expansion pack to hit.
btw, I think it looks like well worth the $20. No self-respecting GTA fan with a 360 should ignore this.
Spending $2,200 on a PC would be fun, but that’s the realm of geeks and graphic whores (I use both terms in a positive sense). I don’t see many folks in this economic climate ponying up a mortgage payment for Niko Bellic in higher resolutions anytime soon.
I’m not sure that im going to get this. I got gta4 when it came out, but i HATED it. The aiming felt weird. So i think im passing on this one. Maybe when it comes down in price, i start playing this and gta4 again.
Valid points you make. Better graphics PC has.
YODA FTW.
you dont even need a 2,000 dollar gaming system to enjoy better graphics than ps3 or xbox .