Games That Did DLC Right

soul-calibur-vader

Does downloadable content ruin the full gaming experience? Sometimes. Really, it’ll vary from game to game. Also, the genre’s criteria affects what kind of DLC you’ll be able to play. Different genre’s seem to introduce different selections of content.

Fighting games seem to have to most troubling DLC. In the previous generation, you were able to get a pleasant stack of DLC characters. A good example, was Bandai Namco’s Tekken Tag Tournament 2 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. You received a surprise bonus of extra, free characters to play with. No currency was required.
Another good example from Bandai Namco was Soul Calibur IV. In that edition, you could order the iconic Star Wars characters Yoda, and Darth Vader for each console. Yoda was the exclusive for Xbox 360, and Vader was Playstation 3. After the release, you could order either character to appear on the opposite console as DLC. It only cost a couple of dollars.

Now, if you wish for a full roster of characters in your fighting games, like Street Fighter V, better pay up. Do you really need every single character to play the game? Of course not, but there’s an unspoken rule of getting the full content you pay for. DLC use to be the cherry on top for your gaming dessert.

Even if you aren’t a fighting genre gamer, you still expect to have a finished game. Capcom dropped the ball on having their iconic fighting franchise step into the ring half finished. A couple of characters and stages aren’t worth the $29.99 price for a season pass. This isn’t me bashing Capcom completely. They did provide some interesting DLC for other franchises.

DMC: Devil May Cry had a extra chapter that you could order for $8.99 on the last gen consoles, or if you ordered the HD remastered definitive version, it came pre-installed to the game. That showcased how DLC should be. A nice add-on. One that captivated you and extends your stay within that world, but wasn’t required for the full experience. So if it’s not specific producers and developers, then it must be the specific game that causes this debate to appear.

streetfighter v

Ubisoft is a prime example with its flagship Assassin’s Creed. When you ordered Assassin’s Creed IV, you could choose excellent DLC that would add to your experience. The most effective weapon skin was Altair and Ezio’s blades. You could duel wield them, plus they had excellent stats for combat. Or, you could choose the extended game of Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry. You could control a different assassin, and dive into a new area of the game. It didn’t spoil anything from the main story, and you got to partake in a few different mechanics. Every aspect added a layer of joy.

Now look at another Assassin’s Creed franchise. The one that took a Leap of Faith and missed the haystack. Yes, we’re talking about Assassin’s Creed Unity. The DLC acted like a epilogue to the game’s plot. It contained elements that reflect the common plot device of all the Assassin’s Creeds games. In this extra content, Arno finds a new Piece of Eden, and a vault that’s linked to Those Who Had Come Before. We’re not sure what role this new artifact will have on the series, but the contents are what showcase an irritation.

One of the main themes of the DLC was Arno’s renewal faith in people. After the events of Assassin’s Creed Unity, Arno is looking to leave France. He makes a deal with the infamous Marquis de Sade on finding an item for the madman. In return, Arno will get safe passage to Cairo, Egypt. Along the journey, Arno comes upon a boy thief Leon. The boy’s eagerness for reviving France touches Arno, causing him to fight for the people once more.

assassins_creed_unity_poster-wide

What’s irritating is this whole segment should have been how the original game ended. Arno’s means of finding redemption for his actions. Finding a new purpose with Leon. Locating a new artifact. It all worked to being a common Assassin’s Creed game. It shouldn’t of been a DLC pack. Also, since Ubisoft’s blunder on this game, the season pass became free. For those who did the pre-order for the pass, you were able to download one Ubisoft game for free. That doesn’t change the facts though.

Open world games and fighting games: both have shown cases where DLC can work, if done right. If it’s made as extra content and not material that’s needed to understand the plot of a game. Now we have season passes that allow you to download content whenever the developers see fit to release it. Overall, this method is a wiser choice financially, but it’s still causing you to add more money to the product.

A season pass has become a gamble with your hard earned money. You’re investing your limited time into these games. Hoping to get even more content, excitement, and fun. DLC should add a layer of excitement for the gamer. The cherry on top. The frosting on the gamer’s cake. It shouldn’t be a whole separate game. No, it should be the final ingredient that maximizes the products experience.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.