Release: Feb 17 2009
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action, Adventure

***Post-release content is a somewhat different beast to full retail titles and as such we do not currently award fixed scores to such products.

The Lost and Damned redefines what the increasingly fashionable DLC tag can really represent.  Over the course of the 12 to 15 hour story (depending on how you like to pace yourself) you’re introduced to Liberty City from a new and refreshing perspective.  Yes, the location is the same.  Yes, the radio stations are the same. Yes, the majority of the vehicles are the same.  However, thanks mainly to some fantastic characters, (and some equally fantastic writing) by the time the plot winds itself to a close you’ll think of The Lost and Damned as a standalone addition to the Grand Theft Auto series that just happens to takes place in the same arena as GTA IV.  This, ladies and gentleman, is no mere ‘add-on pack’.

You play the part of Johnny Klebitz, Vice-President of ‘The Lost Motorcycle Club’, a drug trafficking gang of buffed up, bearded bikers vying for control of the city with a number of rival biker gangs.  Johnny has been put in temporary charge of the burly mob on account of the club’s President, Billy Grey, serving a stint in Liberty City’s finest penitentiary.  During this time Johnny has managed to transform The Lost into a slick, somewhat professional outfit that are making significant amounts of cash in the drug business and have established a working truce with their fiercest rivals; The Angels of Death.

Without giving too much away, the game starts with Billy’s release from prison and his displeasure with the changes he sees in his gang.  Tensions mount as Johnny and Billy clash over what’s the best direction for the gang to take, setting up what is one of the most fleshed out and involving stories of any in the GTA series.

All this plays out in parallel to Niko’s GTA IV adventures, with many of that game’s cast making appearances (appearances, not cameos) throughout Johnny’s story.  It’s interesting to get a fresh new angle on many events, both bloody and decietful, that you saw through the eyes of Niko; some of which you were directly responsible for.  There are many ‘I forgot about that bit’ and ‘that was such a great mission’ moments that can be relived – reimagined even – in a way rarely seen in a videogame.  For that reason though it’s probably best if you play Lost and Damned after having finished GTA IV’s campaign, as their are some spoilers for those still doing the Niko thing (if you care about such things).

The story is great, and if you’ve enjoyed any GTA games of the past you owe it to yourself to experience it in its entirety.  Equally great is Johnny Klebitz himself, cementing his place in the GTA Hall of Fame (possibly the entire gaming HOF) in the first couple of hours of play.  He oozes charisma and effortlessly fits snugly into his environment.

You could even argue that he’s more engaging, and more likeable than a certain Eastern European gaming superstar.  There’s a feeling that you own the city with Johnny, that you’re in control of it somehow.  There’s a real sense of grandeur and power as you ride your bike, engine roaring, across the Broker Bridge with Bon Jovi’s ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ playing full blast over the radio… it’s almost poetic (wipe away that single tear now).  Much credit should be placed in the hands of the writers and character designers for coming up with someone who not only fits into, but improves and heightens a world, a game, that wasn’t primarily conceived to house him in such a direct way.

Seeing as how the bike has been indirectly bought up, it’s only fair to do it justice by going into a little more detail.  This isn’t your standard GTA motorcycle, no Sir.  This is a brand new, two-wheeled, multi-exhaust monster that sounds as though The Blitz is impending with just the slightest tap on the accelerator.  The biggest difference from the normal bikes is in the handling, a real bugbear in previous games.  She handles like the finely tuned machine she is, sticking to the surface of the road like glue – probably because of the ridiculous width of her rear wheel.  You won’t be winning any drag races, as the bike is neither particularly fast or that impressive at getting off the line, but you’ll be clean sweep the style awards every time.  GTA’s new street cruising champion has just entered the building.

The only downside to the package (if you could even call it a downside) is that the missions follow the same pattern that we’ve experienced since GTA III.  Mainly consisting of ‘travel to this place and pick up this’ or ‘travel there and kill that’ or just simply ‘kill that’.  It’s nice that you’re fellow gang members tag along for many of your assignments (essential for some of the large scale gang shootouts) but in reality there’s nothing new in terms of gameplay.  That’s not to say the missions aren’t expertly crafted, because they are, it’s just that the formula might be starting to wear a tiny bit thin.  ‘Lucky’ the story and cast are so damn good then.

Once you’re done with the single player there’s a handful of new multiplayer modes to try out as well.  Highlights include Chopper vs. Chopper, a helicopter against motorcycle race mode, and Lone Wolf Biker in which a single player must fugure out how to take on a whole gang.  It’s classic GTA IV stuff with a little ‘badass biker’ seasoning sprinkled over the top.

The Lost and Damned is the most extensive, fulfilling and flat out finest piece of downloadable content available anywhere on any game.  If this were to be released as a standalone game it would easily match up to the vast majority of titles taking up store shelve space today, in both quality and quantity.  Wonderful characters, wonderful story, wonderfully executed, GTA IV owners need not think twice, download and play now.