Pick 5: Problems with Downloadable Content

Lets face it, Downloadable Content(DLC) are everywhere in video games nowadays. No matter what, you will be bothered with new DLC promos and free ones to "enhance" your experience in a given game.Some are great, like the added content giving 2-3 more hours into your game time, but most of them are completely useless or flat-out done poorly. DLC is fairly new, and it will get better in time, but there are just very bad practices that make DLC a waste at times.

Downloadable content already on the damn disc

Yea, I'm talking about you Capcom. There's a reason why it's called "Downloadable Content", its content made after completing the final product, which is then purchased separately and then downloaded to include in your game. But when the added content is already finished and is actually on the disc? Do we really have to pay for it? It really feels like I'm paying for it twice if it's on the disc.

Big example is of course Capcom's approach with their DLC's. On the release of Street FIghter X Tekken, I guess they didn't realize that there are people in the world that actually look into the game disc files to hopefully find something useful. well, they struck gold when they noticed that all the planned DLC characters are already on the disc and is actually playable, with only a simple code to unlock(which is pretty much what you're buying, the key).  Capcom got a lot of bad rep from this one and they keep saying that it's still not complete. Well, don't add it in the disc then, and don't say complete because we see footage of the characters very much playable. bad Capcom, bad.

Map packs are always overpriced 

I love competitive online games like Call of Duty or Battlefield. It can be quite relaxing at times and at first, I was excited to "enhance" my experience by buying a couple of map packs. Well, I never did in either of my purchase of either Call of Duty or any game that has 'Team Deamatch' because it turns out to be a waste in a couple of months. Thanks to the yearly release of the popular Call of Duty and whatever FPS game EA cooks up for that year, buying map packs feel like  a waste to be honest. It's hard to justify a $15 bundle with 5 new maps when I have a lingering thought that a new game will be released next year. You also lose a good portion of players flocking over to the next best thing making you regret your purchase even more. Plus, these map packs come out more expensive that any other DLC.

Season Pass DLC can be a risk at times

Get the season pass now and get the first 5 DLC for free when released. That's pretty much the gist of what a Season Pass does in most games. Getting the pass comes out cheaper than buying the DLC one by one, that's the catch, but sometimes some of the DLC included in the pass maybe something you might not want, or simply just suck. A lot of big titles do this now like Assassin's Creed or Uncharted. I remember the pass for Uncharted 3 and looking back, I was pretty thankful I didn't get pulled into buying it. Why? because all I wanted is the coop DLC, I'm not interested in the rest.

But this method of releasing DLC isn't so bad, some can just be risky and pointless. Best application of the Season Pass? The Walking Dead game. An episodic game series that has the game divided into 5 episodes. It makes sense in getting the pass if you want the game, and you need all 5 anyway to get the most of every episode since choices get carried over.

Content that shouldn't be DLC's in the first place

I have this theory that some studios literally hold off 10% of the full game for DLC. As much as they say all DLC is done after the completion of the original content, we all know that's a load of bull. Two games come into mind that supports my theory. First, Mass Effect 3. As much as I loved the game and series, the day-one DLC that gives you an extra squad member and additional mission felt like it shouldn't be placed as exclusive content. Why? Well, because it's Shepard finding the last living Prothean and knowing their history a bit more is a pretty big deal. Mass Effect fans will agree with me on this, and for those that don't and haven't played that DLC, you are missing out, which is why it should have been added into the full game.

The second that comes into mind is with the worst Resident Evil game I've ever played. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City has this free DLC that includes a campaign of the other Spec Ops team that entered Raccoon City when all hell broke loose. What's the problem? Well it felt like they made it DLC just because the content wasn't ready. It's hard for me to think Capcom would allow DLC like that to go free, and I was right because additional missions had a price tag on them. if only the Echo Six campaign was included int the original game, maybe it would have been a better game...nah who am I kidding.

Some pre-order DLC incentives are useless

True story, and this is actually based on my latest purchase, which was Tomb Raider. Let's have a look at my free DLC shall we?

- Additional "Agility" upgrade for Lara Croft - Additional multiplayer map "Shanty Town" - Tomb Raider Combat Strike Pack, which includes "Animal Instinct" and "Headshot Reticle"  skill upgrades and the "Pistol Burst" and "Pistol Silencer" weapon upgrades.

Granted, the added map is pretty cool, but the rest is literally obtainable if you actually play the damn game. Why call it DLC?  Additional "Aglility" upgrade? It's an actual upgrade in the game and the DLC just unlocks it for you for free? Awesome. Can't you give me a golden pistol at least? That would be pretty cool...I think. I'm also not that interesting in skins, especially for my first playthrough since I'd like to see the game in its original state, that's just me I guess.

As much as they are called "DLC incentives",  most of them are usually cosmetic and I'd rather have a free mug or something at least. Some pre-order DLC are exclusive, but usually they become available for purchase anyway in a few months. So it comes out a lie, but you won't care really since you have already forgotten.

In the future, Downloadable Content will get better eventually. It's inevitable, thanks to the world slowly evolving in a digital format. Some are actually good like Red Dead Redemption's Undead Nightmare DLC, now that's "added content". Or How Gearbox Software does their DLC for Borderlands 1 and 2. But there are some that are just really bad and question some studio's if they even know the meaning of DLC.  Right now, it feels like another way to get a quick buck, and the sad part is we occasionally take the bite. So hopefully in the future, majority of the added content released will actually be worth it.

Pick 5(Spoiler Edition): disappointing final boss fights in this generation

In most video games, you are treated with a final battle, a final encounter that will conclude the journey you've invested hours in. A lot can be quite epic that leaves you goosebumps after your done, but a lot can make you go "That's it?!". That's what this Pick 5 is all about this week. Final boss battles that were simply disappointing.

SPOILER ALERT! - Yes we're talking about final boss fights so we might spoil it for you if you haven't played the games mentioned. You've been warned, but if you don't give a damn, by all means.. continue. 

Halo 4 - Master Chief vs Didact

I had a great time with Halo 4. It had its high and lows, but one thing that made me shake my head was towards the end of the game. After a good build up for an antagonist to really push Master Chief past his limits, he literally falls short in making him or you any challenge. As you meet him in the bridge, Master Chief is again unable to move thanks to the Didacts psychic-ish powers, eventually leaving the famous Spartan helpless. With the help of Cortana for one last time, you do a very easy, and very quick Quick Time Event to take him down. That's it.

I wanted a full-blown battle against the Didact, but I guess it was too much to ask. Sure, Halo 3 had nothing at the end, just a race to the Forward Unto Dawn then credits start rolling, but 343 Industries created a worthy Antagonist that deserved a good battle. Yet another reason I want QTE(Quick Time Events) to be eliminated in all games forever.

Guild Wars 2 - Zhaitan 

Oh Zhaitan, the undead Elder Dragon that has been tormenting the world of Tyria for the longest time finally meets its match towards the end of your characters personal story. I actually made a mistake thinking this would be epic. It's a battle against a dragon, and most battles against a dragon can be memorable. So I saved it, but once I finally did the final battle, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth, hoping there was another form of some sort. But no, after a tediously long dungeon, you face Zhaitan himself in the skies while on board an airship, once you see the dragon in the flesh, that's where it gets dull.

Undead forces start boarding the ship. Naturally, we dispose of them fairly easy, after that, we get to damage Zhaitan by using the cannons on the ship. THAT"S THE FIGHT. You have one of the strongest creature in the world of Tyria, clinging on a tower, getting shot at by cannons, doing nothing but scream in agony. Enemies keep boarding, with Zhaitan's tentacles on the ship as well, but is easy to dispose off if you ask one of your party members to get off his cannon and fend them off. ArenaNet failed to capitalize on a battle that could have been memorable for everybody that has reached the end of their personal story. I wish they take this as a lesson for future boss battles because I can't believe world bosses are more epic than the final one.

Dead Island - Ryder White

The final encounter for Dead Island was none other than the guy in the radio, which is also the character you play on one of the DLC. This was disappointing not because of how the fight went, but because of how easy it is to either glitch him, or simple kill. Ryder White uses the antidote after getting infected by his wife. Sad to say, the antidote made him into this crazy zombie brute.

Fight starts, and if your strong enough, use your frenzy skill and he will be down in less than a minute. The End. Me and my buddies were laughing how it was harder to get to the final fight. I actually felt bad for the guy, having 4 people gang up on an infected guy that just wanted to save his wife. My next playthrough with another character was even more depressing. Thinking I'd get a good challenge alone, for some reason I had Ryder not moving when the fight started. Only when his life hit 20% did he start moving , but by then he was dead. I would have been ok if they didn't bother including a final encounter, but they tried anyway and it turned out to be another zombie that's bigger than usual.

Mass Effect 3 - there was none

Don't worry, this won't be a rant about the ending, I'm actually one of the small few that was okay with the original endings. But moving on, why is this on the list? Because there was no damn final encounter. First game it had Saren, controlled by the Reapers. Next, ME2 had the human Reaper battle. For the final game, we get nothing really. Before reaching the beam that teleports you to the Citadel, you were tasked to hold off wave after waves of enemies, giving EDI enough time to ready the missiles to destroy the huge reaper in your way. That's about it really.

I was expecting Harbinger, the reaper that I consider as the true antagonist of the game, or anything really. With the first two games having great final battles, I'm sure everybody was expecting something.  I feel that having no final boss fight was way more disappointing than the ending people were so angry about.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Leon 

Oh god. Not only was Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City a horrible game, its boss fight was one of the worst ever. You finally catch up to Leon and your group is given a choice - Execute Leon S. Kennedy, or spare him. Now, if your playing the campaign with other players, they each get to decide individually. If you decide to kill Leon, you are with the group of people that picked the same choice. If you decided to spare him, you side with Leon and go against the people who chose to kill him. And there ya go, your final battle which turns out to be a team deathmatch with other players. To make matters worse, when the ending scene rolled, there was no audio for me. I can't believe I bought this game on day one. I'll take this opportunity to say "Don't buy this game, you will only get a headache."

There's a couple more, but these five really made a bad impression when the credits started rolling. What about you? Any final boss fights that fell short in bringing an epic conclusion??

Launch trailer for Mass Effect 3's Omega DLC

Mass Effect 3's latest DLC called "Omega" and is all about Shepard helping Aria retake Omega from Cerebrus. This 4 hour content will not only have Aria in your squad for this mission, you will also have the first ever female turian ever seen in the Mass Effect universe.

You're third squad member is Nyreen, the turian leader of the Talon mercenary group, is a biotic and assists Shepard and Aria retake the space station.

That epic music got me all hyped. It made me think of getting the DLC, but then I realized the $15 (1200 MS points) price tag. Is the price worth the 4 hour content? Depends on how you reacted to the game's controversial ending I guess.

Mass Effect 3's Omega DLC will be available on November 27 in the US (possibly tom for PH)

Mass Effect Trilogy coming this November

Bioware just announced Mass Effect Trilogy, which is pretty much all Mass Effect games wrapped up in one neat package. It's out on November and it will be available on Xbox 360, and PC. For PS3 though, the trilogy will be released on a later date.

It will be released on November 6, 2012 for Xbox 360, and PC. It will be priced at $59.99.

The first Mass Effect is finally heading to Playstation 3. I'm pretty sure they are currently working on porting the game to the PS3, which is why the PS3 version of the trilogy is planned for a later date. I didn't think they would bother to bring Mass Effect 1 to the PS3, but I guess they had to because of this package. Wouldn't be much of a trilogy without the first, now would it?

as you can see above, it will include all three games, and an exclusive artbook, all wrapped up in a premium foil box.

[Source: Bioware official website, Joystiq]

More Mass Effect 3 DLC on the way

After giving fans closure in the Extended Cut DLC, Bioware still has plans for Mass Effect 3. Next DLC will again be free and the content will be for multiplayer. Earth is the name of the DLC and will include the usual - New maps, new guns, characers, and a Platinum Mode if you consider Gold too easy at this point. 

Bioware is dumping tons of support for Mass Effect 3. I'm surprised with how many free DLC's they're throwing at us. Sure it's mostly for multiplayer, but it's still free content nonetheless.

Earth will include three guns -  Piranha assault shotgun, Acolyte pistol, and Typhoon assault rifle. The six new characters will also include new abilities and melee attacks that I wish were in the single player campaign.

Engineer class: N7 Demolisher

Abilities: Homing Grenade, Arc Grenade, Supply Pylon Description: The Demolisher uses grenades to attack at range and to terrorize the battlefield. Demolishers can also create a supply pylon that stocks allies with an unending reserve of grenades and thermal reloads.

Sentinel class: N7 Paladin Abilities: Snap Freeze, Incinerate, Energy Drain Description: The Paladin carries a powerful omni-shield onto the battlefield to block enemy fire. The Paladin also uses the shield as a heavy-melee weapon that, when modified with incendiary or cryo upgrades, creates a devastating combination attack.

Infiltrator class: N7 Shadow Abilities: Tactical Cloak, Shadow Strike, Electric Slash Description: Shadow infiltrators use implants to dramatically improve agility, making them slippery combatants on the battlefield. Their monomolecular blades are a menace from cover and close range.

Vanguard class: N7 Slayer Abilities: Phase Disruptor, Biotic Charge, Biotic Slash Description: Slayers use implants to dramatically improve mobility. Their dizzying sword attacks can hit multiple opponents, and the Slayer’s ability to slip fire makes them hard to pin down on the battielfield.

Adept class: N7 Fury Abilities: Throw, Annihilation Field, Dark Channel Description: Fury operatives use implants to fuel biotics and their incredible movement speed. These operatives wind an unpredictable path on the battlefield, moving in and out of combat before returning to unleash a sweeping biotic attack on their unsuspecting targets.

Soldier class: N7 Destroyer Abilities: Multi-Frag Grenade, Missile Launcher, Devastator Mode, T5-V Battlesuit Description: The Destroyer’s T5-V Battlesuit gives these strong-but-slow soldiers mech-like protection. Driven by eezo-assisted actuators, these frontline troopers carry heavy weapons onto the battlefield.

And best of all, new maps to play in - Vancouver, Rio, and London. More maps equals Longer lifespan. Especially when it's all free.

I stopped playing ME3 multiplayer 2 DLC's ago. Maybe it's about time I revisit when this hits. Curious on how platinum goes, Gold is damn hard as it is.

You can start downloading the Earth DLC on July 17 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

[Source: PC Gamer, Official Bioware Blog