If I'd given out awards to last year’s games, my vote for Game of the Year would’ve most certainly gone to Grand Theft
Auto IV. So it was with much excitement that I fought off sleep to download The Lost and Damned, the first downloadable content available for my favorite game of 2008.
The Lost and Damned comes in at a cool $20 - or 1600 magical Microsoft Points if you prefer thinking of it that way. In TLAD, you step into the shoes of Johnny Klebitz, Vice President of a biker gang called The Lost. The story begins with Johnny and the rest of The Lost awaiting the release of the gang’s President – Billy Grey – from prison. Billy wastes no time in reclaiming his position as leader of The Lost, reigniting a war with rival gang The Angels of Death which had been dormant during his time on the inside. These early scenes with Billy Grey are some of my favorite in the game, as they do an excellent job of setting up the story to come and getting you truly excited to explore Liberty City again through different eyes.
If you recognize our protagonist Johnny Klebitz, it’s because he crossed paths with Niko Bellic a few times during the course of Grand Theft Auto IV, most notably in a diamond deal gone wrong in which Niko finds himself shooting his way out of a museum. Playing as Johnny, you’re given the opportunity to relive those missions from a different point of view, offering a bit more perspective on the events of GTA4. Of course, Niko isn’t the only character from GTA4 to cameo in TLAD. Along the way, you’ll also run into Elizabeta Torres, Ray Boccino, and Playboy X, among others.
For the most part, anyone familiar with Grand Theft Auto IV will instantly feel at home with The Lost and Damned. The formula is essentially the same: Drive to a mission marker, watch a cutscene, complete the mission, repeat. There are a few minor differences that could take some getting used to, mainly Johnny’s ability to use his cell phone to call in backup from his brothers in The Lost. The extra firepower and be invaluable, and is oftentimes a requirement for certain missions. Each member of The Lost has a set of stats that develop of the course of the game, so the more often you call on their help, the better help they’ll actually be. Your Lost brothers aren’t just good for an extra gun in a firefight though. They can also be called on to bring you a new bike or a shady van full of deep discount firearms and weapons.
Rockstar has also made some additions and tweaks to the multiplayer side of things. Most of the new modes feel more like remixed versions of those found in the GTA4, but those who enjoyed the multiplayer of the core game will likely enjoy the fresh take on the old game types. Personally, I was never truly enthralled with GTA4's multiplayer component, and when I ventured into online territory, I tended to stick with the game’s free-roaming Party Mode. If you’re anything like me, TLAD’s multiplayer probably won’t pull you away from games like Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3.
Of course, The Lost and Damned comes with packed with its own set of side activities separate from the main story. You can call on any of your brothers to join you at the strip club or play a totally manly game of air hockey. The Split Sides comedy club returns as well, adding comedian Frankie Boyle to the lineup. There have also been some additions to the TV and radio stations, which are cleverly integrated into the material already found in GTA4.
Perhaps the high point of The Lost and Damned is the storytelling. The voice work and cutscenes are top notch, something I suppose we’ve come to expect from the series. The character of Johnny Klebitz is just as layered as Niko was, often times torn between his conflict with Billy Grey and his loyalty to The Lost. However my favorite part of the story is his give and take relationship with his on again/off again addict girlfriend Ashley. The trouble she drags him into and his inability to cut ties with her does an incredible job of humanizing Johnny.
Unfortunately, here and there you'll notice certain features from GTA4 have been removed, most notably purchasing clothing and the dating system. Of course, these aren't terribly important features, but if you enjoyed them in GTA4, you may find yourself missing them in TLAD. For the most part though, The Lost and Damned has shaped up to be an excellent piece of downloadable content - perhaps even the best available on Xbox Live - and offers up more depth and gameplay (the main story alone took me about 10 hours) than many retail packaged games these days for a third of the price. If you fancy yourself a fan of Grand Theft Auto IV, it is well worth your time.