Great DLC

Downloadable Content has become a major part of most game releases these days and it’s almost become a given that the bigger AAA titles will be supported post release with packs and extras. Sometimes these are exceptionally disappointing and are just to try and make money for something completely unoriginal or redundant; I’m looking at you Horse Armour. Other times these extras can add hours of interesting content, new characters, new maps and now gameplay modes. In this article I will be looking as some of the best DLC packs of all time. In no particular order let’s get on with the show…

Halo/GOW Map Packs

The great shooters of this generation have had an abundance of good DLC map packs to keeps us coming back for more time and time again. This has become a common theme in most of the big competitive multiplayer titles and it would be hard not to see this trend continuing. Some of the best maps in the Halo universe came from the previous generation but these were released as an add on to the Halo 3 multiplayer as a paid download. Other games have since taken this method and ran with it like the worldwide success GOW2 which has a staggering 14 additional maps released over 3 downloadable packs. Map packs are usually quite high in price but shooters have such a fan following that they usually sell really well.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2- Vietnam

Usually I’m not the biggest fan of map packs due to their high price hikes but for BFBC2 everyone should make an exception.  Vietnam added some well constructed maps, new weapons, a new atmosphere and Vietnam based action. The visuals held up the stunning Bad Company Engine and the Frostbite damage was put to great use. The DLC itself added a lot more life to a tried package and personally I still play this quite regularly.

Bioshock 2: Minerva’s Den

Bioshock 1 and 2 are both awesome games and while the impact was a bit lacking in the prequel it’s DLC pack, Minerva’s Den made up for the disappointment slightly. The pack itself was a standalone campaign story that has great pacing, tense shock factors and a brilliantly engrossing story. The level design in my eyes surpassed anything shown in Bioshock 2 as well and gave the grim reality a dangerous atmosphere. The actually story fleshed out further aspects of the Bioshock universe and is one of the best FPS campaigns available counting fully released games.

Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

Borderlands was one of my breakthrough games of 2009 and one that got critics hooked straight away. The action was fun, the loot system accessible and the humour was brilliant. The DLC that came out shortly after the games release and although they are all quite good in their own rights General Knoxx takes the tops spot. The DLC itself was really cheap considering how much came in the package. Players got an increased level cap, new weapons, new vehicles, new quests, new areas and better humour. I also found Zombie Island to be a fun pieces of DLC but avoid Underdrome at all costs.

Fallout 3: Broken Steel

As I’m sure you’ve heard before Fallout 3 is a truly epic game from Bethesda that has a real end of the world feel. Most of the expansions were pretty deep extras but the cream of the crop was definitely Broken Steel. Following on from the completed campaign with a host of new missions gave this DLC an extra edge. The enemies were bulked up and the difficulty made this a great addition to any Wastelander. The story wasn’t great but the action pieces were such good fun.

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing

With a fully fledged campaign, an awesome Mutation mode, some very lovable character and another great example of storytelling, The Passing was as good as any DLC we had been offered. In some respects the campaign mode outshines the original L4D2 content. I know the campaign was very much like that of the original but it was enjoyable in itself and a worthwhile purchase for and L4D fan. This was one of the best pieces of DLC at the time and remains a solid addition to the main game.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles

The Elder Scrolls IV is regarded by many to be one of the greatest games of all time, with its excellent level design, addictive nature and huge open world. The biggest piece of DLC for it was Shivering Isles which was also praised for the same reasons and added an additional area to explore. The open world style carried over really well and the game design took on a much more diverse world. The whole expansion was a great place to explore and somewhere that you could lose well over 10 hours. The quests were up there with some of the best of the main game and in fact this is probably the most played DLC I’ve ever purchased. Shivering Isle showed what Bethesda could do if they wanted and added lots of new features to an already vast game. The prices was slightly higher then that of other DLC on offer but the additional areas, quests, loot and story means this is still a very cheap purchase.

Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker

By far and away the best of the DLC available in all of the Mass Effect Universe. Bringing back a great character from the original in Liara - the stroy traverses around and above Illium. The story follows on from the exploits of the Shadow Broker and has some of the best combat and set pieces Bioware have ever come up with. The decisions are well handled and the two boss battles are genuinely intuitive.

Other Mentions:

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
Dragon Age: Awakening
Fifa (any): Ultimate Team

I hope you enjoyed the list, tell me what you think of it and which your favourite DLC packs are in the comments section below! If you have any favourite that I haven’t mentioned then please let me know so I can check them out.