Xbox 360 GTA IV: The Lost and Damned – how DLC should be done
Grand Theft Auto IV remains one of the best next-gen games available to buy. Most people who bought it last summer loved it to bits, although some tired of the repetitiveness of the missions towards the end. Enter GTA IV: The Lost and Damned, the first of two new episodes set in the same world and available exclusively on the Xbox 360.
DLC, or DownLoadable Content for the uninitiated, is a controversial addition to video gaming. When it’s done well, it can give some much-needed bursts of longevity to a game that you stopped playing months ago, and the content is free then all the better. But too often, DLC is overpriced, underwhelming, and almost a waste of everyone’s time.
GTA IV: The Lost and Damned surpasses any DLC that has come before it, both in terms of scope and longevity. It was a controversial move for Microsoft to pay Rockstar to ensure the episodic content came exclusively to the Xbox 360, with PS3 owners missing out, but it looks as though that reputed $50 million Microsoft paid for the privilege was well worth it.
GTA IV is already an epic game, with more to do in it than any other game I’ve played. And The Lost and Damned takes that approach and carries it on. The Lost and Damned is around a third the size of the main game, and will take most people between 15 – 20 hours to complete. Which for a very affordable DLC release on Xbox Live is incredible.
But Rockstar hasn’t rested on its laurels and just released a sizable new chunk that is more of the same. The Lost and Damned has new characters, new missions, new side missions, new multiplayer options, and much more besides. basically, there’s a lot more here than was needed for this to sell well. As it is, it should sell incredibly well.
Without giving anything away, The Lost and Damned follows a biker gang as they travel through Liberty City wreaking havoc on the people they meet. The way the plot of this episode intertwines and compliments the main game is genius, and gives players the chance to experience the world of GTA IV from a whole new perspective.
The attention to detail that is so prevalent throughout GTA IV is also on show in The Lost and Damned. The whole package is very strong and is sure to please those people who loved Grand Theft Auto IV but were left wanting more. This release puts all other DLC to shame, with only the MGS4 LittleBigPlanet release and the tons of free additions to Burnout Paradise being game changers in the same way.
GTA IV: The Lost and Damned is released on Xbox Live on February 17, 2009.
Score
3.5/5
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38 Responses to “Xbox 360 GTA IV: The Lost and Damned – how DLC should be done”
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February 17th, 2009
“…with only the MGS4 LittleBigPlanet release and the tons of free additions to Burnout Paradise being game changers in the same way”
Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles say hi… maybe The Lost and the Damned will come in the Game of the Year edition on as well, at least on 360.
February 17th, 2009
Makes you wonder if anyone will even bother to review it. Shivering Isles was a completely new place, but Lost and the Damned takes place in Liberty City so the locale is the same. That brings up a new question. At what point does DLC get reviewed and earn a score? 8-10 hours seems longer then some games out there.
February 17th, 2009
“Think of this not as a mere mission pack; The Lost and Damned states a compelling case for being considered a standalone game… The Lost and Damned setting might be the same that framed Grand Theft Auto IV’s original campaign but, in shifting the action to Alderney State – the leftmost landmass that mirrors a slice of New Jersey – Rockstar has pulled off the not insignificant trick of providing a fresh spin on Liberty City.”
xboxlive.ign.com/articles/954/954405p1.html (IGN UK Review – 8.6 – “Great”)
“The Good: Keeps everything we love about GTA IV, but feels like an entirely new game.
The Bad: PS3 owners: sorry.
The Ugly: The Lost. These aren’t guys you’d take home to mum.”
“Rockstar delivers on its promise of episodic content full of shock and awe, and delivers more of everything that defines the GTA series…
Overall, what you get in The Lost and Damned outweighs that of many other games which cost three times as much. If you’re a fan of GTA4, or thought Niko’s story only scratched the surface, give Johnny and The Lost a shot.”
1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3172809&p=4
(A+ avg from editor’s and users, B+ from Mike Nelson)
Avg score on metacritic – 89 – “Generally favorable reviews”
February 17th, 2009
phranc,
I reckon any DLC that requires spending money should be reviewed.
February 17th, 2009
Didn’t the main character of the Lost and Damned (Johnny) make an appearance in GTA IV? I think Niko first meets him at Elizabeta’s?
I’ve actually seen quite a few reviews for downloadable games in the past, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one for straight DLC. I agree that anything with a price tag should be reviewed. Since this is a really high profile release, I’m sure we’ll see plenty of reviews.
February 17th, 2009
Most DLC doesn’t get reviewed though, and thats understandable. How do you put a review on costumes or horse armor?
I’m surprised that the price tag on it given the play time required to beat it. I would have guessed that they would have asked for more than that.
Has anybody seen this advertised on TV yet?
GTA4 ended for me at the bank heist. The game screams for a quick save option. It’s quite frustrating having to drive 10-15 minutes while listening all sorts of NPC drivel, make it three quarters through the mission to get killed and have to repeat.
February 17th, 2009
Most significant game DLC does get reviewed, i.e. the DLC that extends gameplay. It is easy to review DLC like Knights of the Nine, The Shivering Isles, Operation Anchorage, Knothole Island, etc.
DLC is still not as popular as it could be, so prices reflect this, and many still think it is too high, or even (as stated here before by others) that “it should be free”. The price is a happy medium, and one that should hook enough gamers for more in the future.
GTAIV isn’t perfect, but it has added enough to the genre and the overall experience is enjoyable enough to justify further episodes/chapters within the world, especially from a different perspective. The bank heist wasn’t that difficult, and though it may take some gamers more than a few tries, completing the storyline is worth it.
February 17th, 2009
I hope for sony’s sake they decide to market killzone 2 because I get the feeling Microsoft are going to try their best to overshadow this with GTA adds “only on xbox” for the next few weeks
February 17th, 2009
Don’t forget Halo Wars CON. MS indeed proved they are scared of Killzone 2’s release.
February 17th, 2009
oh and btw… We all know you don’t “hope for Sony’s sake”.
February 17th, 2009
phranc – I never finished it either. It wasn’t the bank mission tho, it was how they took some kind of ‘fun vampire’ and used it to suck all the fun out of the driving. Vice City is still one of the best GTA’s imo.
I wouldn’t mind purchasing the game for PC tho, just for mouse aiming in multiplayer and theres a super high res. texture pack out!
February 17th, 2009
Thats why I never bothered with the racing portion of the game.
Talking about this game makes me want to play Mercenaries 2 again.
February 17th, 2009
“Don’t forget Halo Wars CON. MS indeed proved they are scared of Killzone 2’s release.”
I see it the other way around.
You don’t put your big stuff up against a big competitor to overshadow your own, you need to have big bollocks to put something up against the hype machine that is KZ2 don’t you?
There’s absolutely no doubt that the hype of KZ2 has overshadowed Halo Wars (look at pre-order sales, media coverage, all round general hype be it positive or negative…) and surely it would be better for MS to launch Halo Wars in a couple of months when there is nothing big for the PS3 coming out, then they could have had all the hype to themselves.
That said, what’s the betting that the next batch of GTA DLC will just happen to coincide with the release GOW3…?
San Andreas IMO is by far and away still the best GTA. Gotta love listening to Eminence Front on KDST “The Dust”, while doing vigilante missions in the Hunter.
February 17th, 2009
The release dates for Halo Wars and Lost and the Damned were solidified long before then Killzone 2 Reviews started rolling in.
Halo and GTA are bigger names than Killzone. That’s what MS was banking on. In hindsight, though you’re right. It would be better for those games if they weren’t released in such proximity to KZ2.
As far as when GOW3 or the next GTA DLC come out…… Maybe…
I’m still holding onto the hope of a Nov 09 release of GOW3. They said they will have a playable demo and a release date at E3 (june) so it’s possible to see a Nov release. The next GTA DLC might be ready by that time.
February 17th, 2009
You’re probably right, perhaps they were banking on Halo and GTA overshadowing KZ2. Who knows. I guess you can make the argument either way. It hasn’t worked anyway.
When you listen to the GOW team talking on xplay (interviews I recommend you check out if not already) it sounds like they still have some stuff to figure out….March ‘10 I’m going for.
February 17th, 2009
Doesn’t really bother me, I got tired or GTA4 at the end anyways. I may even actually finish the game one these days ??
February 17th, 2009
Anybody finish KZ2 yet? Is it true it is only about 5+ hours long?
February 17th, 2009
Sorry… didn’t realize the game wouldn’t be out for another week and a half, I was just listening to the 1up podcast.
February 18th, 2009
really?? 1up podcast??? I dont even bother with that anymore…
rebel FM and the giantbombcast and even Podcastle is a lot better…
February 18th, 2009
Even if it is only 5 hours, it’d be longer than COD4s. Which was still very enjoyable.
Pre-ordered my k2 copy the other night, woo.
February 18th, 2009
The people that reviewed KZ2 have said it’s longer.
February 18th, 2009
really?? Podcastle??? I thought you would have mentioned Geekbox, IGN, or Gamespot first…
February 18th, 2009
After playing GTA4 L&D last night I have to say this is an amazing DLC that really takes DLC to another level. It’s a whole new story and it reminds me of why GTA4 was game of the year. I have to say this DLC was slept on by most people because it was DLC, even by me. Even though I was going to buy it I was not really hyped until the reviews came out and there was so much good being said about it that made me buy it immediately buy it because I probably would not have gotten it right away. It brings me back to when the game dropped and me and a buddy would compare stories on our progress through the game and the experience was different depending on how you played the game. This is going to make me go back and complete the Niko Mission so I can say I finished the game. Looks like GTA will be locked in the console for a couple weeks. I feel bad that PS3 people cannot experience this addition it truly is a master piece.
February 18th, 2009
I feel bad too CAD… but Im more than happy to buy two copies of GTA 4…
podcastle is fucking funny carl… but then again… I do enjoy potty humor…
well… let me see… seeing as Im the only one here who listens to more than 25 podcasts… MY WORD IS LAW!!! muahahahahhaah
video game show is very good… a good buncha people…
the bugle (not a video game podcast) but really funny… (no potty humor)
australian gamer podcast is only worthwile for Yahtzee…
gametrailers is pretty good…
Gamespot is ok…
and IGN and Unclegamer is meh… very very meh… I unsubscribed to unclegamer and I only listen to IGN cus its something to do while walking…
ohh the bugle episode 63… I think you will really like it…
February 18th, 2009
Not quite dwh, I’m subscribed to 71 podcasts (whoopety-doo), but only really listen to about 40 tops. ListenUp (the new name for 1UpYours) is still great, joystiq is meh, gamers with jobs is better, and talk radio is okay. Gamercast networks videogame show is alright, but I thought you would be preaching about podtoid as well, considering your fascination with destructoid…
February 18th, 2009
pfft… you said Rebel FM… that’s so last week, don’t you know it’s Rebel FM Game Club now? SO behind the times dwh and definitely not becoming of a podcast snob such as yourself
February 18th, 2009
‘that really takes DLC to another level.’
If it blows you then I agree.
What astounds me is all the reviews that are saying ‘OMGZ its actually GOOD!! Its revolutionary!!!’
And I sit here thinking, well, I’ve played a zillion PC games with a zillion quality addons (which may have cost more than GTA DLC) and none of those were taken into a room and given the bukkake treatment by a 100 male reviewers.
Gah, I hate console hype. Reminds me of the Halo days.
(Disclaimer! : I’m sure its a good download and worth the $$$, but not some kind of sex replacement)
February 18th, 2009
I liked the backlog segment but I didnt play Call of Cthulu so I didnt bother listening to the Game Club episode… podtoid is fun but its like Retroforce Go… Its nice to listen to… ok ok Ill subscribe to Listen up again…
the only one I preach about is The Bugle… its fucking awesome… seriously… episode 63… only 30 minutes long… listen to it NOW!!!
also… we do have a life carl… I cant just stay home all day listening to podcasts… jeez youre so immature…
February 18th, 2009
also listen to Major Nelson… he’s pretty cool…
February 19th, 2009
I know, to listen to a podcast and do work at the same time, that’s just crazy talk… Major Nelson is downloaded but I have yet to listen to him… and I went ahead and put the bugle on the list… thanks for the rec.
February 19th, 2009
Hows this for DLC.
Unreal Tournament 3
19 more maps, two new gametypes, two new character, trophy and offline splitscreen multiplayer for free…
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/955/955265p1.html
Been playing the game lately again with brother and his friend. Theres never enough people on.
February 19th, 2009
Nah its not part of a gang/crime game. Therefore its not ‘uber D-ell-C!’
February 19th, 2009
I’ll stick with the RPG stuff for a while.
February 20th, 2009
didja like episode 63?? I knew you would… John Oliver is one of the writers of the Daily show… and since youre a liberal commie nazi… I knew you would like british humor…
phranc… if they add easy trophies… Ill rent it in a month… then we can play it… nothing comes between me and kicking the shit out of Arvis in Street Fighter…
also… UT 3 is so last decade… the new hotness is KILLZONE!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
February 20th, 2009
also… Major Nelson is interesting.. has a pretty interesting life… but mostly talks about 360 related things… but I like his geek talk about gadgets…
also the Giantbombcast is good… but its like 2 hours every episode.. Feb 17th Ep was pretty good… so you need to listen to it if you dont feel like fidgeting with your mp3 player every 30 minutes…
but it doesnt get tiring… so its still fun..
February 20th, 2009
Yes, I see the similarities in the top one’s: explicit, about 2 hours (listenup, rebelfm, hotspot, GB, tvgs, etc), music themes, about 5 people, etc.; there is a lot of competition to see who can rank highest.
February 20th, 2009
DWH,
As if you’ve ever kicked ANYTHING out of me in Street Fighter.
-Arvis
February 21st, 2009
keep talking shit Arvis… it pumps me up…
goddam slow gamefly…