Written by Matt Cabral, 2/13/2009
Nearly three years after Peter Moore first flashed his Grand Theft Auto IV tattoo, fans are finally getting the franchise's first batch of heavily-hyped Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content. Gamers got wind of these promised packs long before Niko Bellic ever capped his first Liberty City thug, and now they'll be able to dive into The Lost and Damned when it hits the 360 Marketplace with a game-changing bang next week. On a recent visit to Rockstar’s New York City stronghold, I got a glimpse of the title’s promising potential, and believe me: Player's expectations of what 1600 Microsoft Points should snag them will never be the same.
Upon firing up this latest romp through Rockstar’s twisted version of the Big Apple, PR wiz Steve Hahnel quickly pointed out GTAIV’s play-extending pack won’t be of the typical “horse armor”, “golden gun” or “magical island” sort. On the contrary, this foray into digital distribution is much less an expansion than it is a full-on standalone experience. There’s little doubt fans would’ve gobbled up a handful of new Niko missions in a New York...er…Liberty City minute, but Rockstar’s upping the ante and giving them so much more to feast on. If you’ve been following L&D--and I’m guessing you have if you’re reading this—you already know it stars new protagonist, Johnny Klebitz, a bad-to-the-bone biker who’s second-in-command of Liberty City’s chapter of The Lost motorcycle gang. Because you’re probably hip to this well publicized info, please allow me to skip the polite set-up, and jump right into my hands-on time behind Johnny’s bike, guns, and badass attitude.
L&D takes place on Niko’s turf, but this time you’re experiencing it through a character that’s much more familiar with Liberty City. Unlike right-off-the-boat Bellic, Johnny grew up on these gritty streets, and his familiarity with them immediately translates into the gameplay. Because he isn’t a tourist in this town—and neither are you if you’ve played anyGTA4--you won’t have to wait for the action to heat up; no cell phone tutorials, controller instructions, or bowling dates. Oh, and no need to hunt down that first firearm, either—you’ll get good guns pretty much from the beginning. Johnny can also access places Niko never set foot in: biker bars, back alley interiors, and local haunts are all on his radar. In fact, the first mission I played saw Johnny caught in a close-quarters firefight in a seedy little apartment. The intense action unfolded from one tiny room to another, around stairwells, and in cramped hallways. The tight environments made for an adrenaline-pumping sequence that required I grab cover behind furniture and in door jambs, while exchanging fire with a well-armed group of baddies.
Thankfully, these jackasses weren’t the only ones armed to the teeth; one of L&D’s most appealing features, especially for itchy trigger-fingered fans, is the addition of exclusive new hardware, including combat and sawed-off shotguns and a mini grenade launcher. Pipe bombs and an automatic pistol have also been added to the arsenal, but desiring the most bang for my buck, I stuck with these room-clearing bad boys. And clean-house is exactly what I did in this particular mission, as my grenade launcher sent bodies flying like fleshy confetti. Of course, given the crowded location, I couldn’t unleash hell unchecked, lest I wound up with a grenade bouncing off a wall and landing back at my feet. The dynamic of popping off powerful weapons in such close quarters made for a fun and frantic exchange that had me recalling the sort of cinematic action usually reserved for big-screen blockbusters.
As much as I dug this hot lead-fueled indoor battle, L&D’s appeal really opened up when I hit the pavement on Johnny’s ride. Straddling a bike is second nature to The Lost’s vice president, so the motorcycle controls feel tighter than they did when Niko first hopped on a hog; Johnny’s command of his two-wheeled beast means fewer accidents and more intuitive control. Just buzzing around the streets of Liberty City is a blast when you needn’t worry about hurtling over the handle bars. The most fun I had on a bike, though, was actually riding on the back of one. Understand - I wasn’t out for a joyride, wind in my hair, arms wrapped around some burly dude. No sir, the only thing clenched in Johnny’s arms was his chaos-inducing combat shotgun. In this fast-paced on-rails mission, I was tasked with keeping the fuzz off our back while the driver navigated an escape. The seat-of-your-pants action began simple enough as I blew the hoods off a few black-and-whites, but things ramped up rapidly as the cop convoys became larger and more determined, and even police choppers began baring down on us. This non-traditional GTA mission was a visceral treat, and one I'm already looking forward to playing again when the game’s released.
While these two sequences certainly whet my appetite for destruction, there’s so much more to this content-brimming entry. Its 20+ hours of play also promise a deep story fleshing out Johnny’s battle with rival gang The Angels of Death, as well as his struggle for power within his own black leather-clad organization. Unlike Niko's more solo path, Johnny's will also offer a new dynamic fueled by the camaraderie inherent of being part of a loyal biker gang. And of course, a new story means top notch cutscenes and engaging dialogue, supported by a fresh cast of colorful characters. It also guarantees players will be treated to new music and TV stations tailored to Johnny's tastes. Just as cool, though, is how this new tale occasionally intersects with the likes of Niko, Playboy and other GTAIV faves. The opportunity to play a few familiar missions from Johnny’s perspective is definitely a surreal fan-pleasing bonus. Those brave enough to enter Johnny's world will also discover new multiplayer modes, and the much-needed ability to restart many missions from mid-level checkpoints.
After spending an hour with L&D I find it impossible to classify it as a stereotypical DLC pack. Its amount of content and level of polish clearly aim to place it in a class no other DLC has graduated to. The potential for rich storytelling, motorcycle chases, and biker bar brawls—did I mention the new arm wrestling mini-game?—ensure I’ll be refilling my Microsoft Points before L&D hits the Marketplace next week. But who am I kidding? Just the chance to hear the oh-so-satisfying “thump” of the grenade launcher again, just before it lands an explosive shell under a police cruiser, is enough to guarantee I’ll be calling in sick on February 17th.
