Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Dammed Impressions

GTA IV was one of the greatest games of last year, indeed, of all time and gamers chomping at the bit for the continuing adventures of Niko Bellic will have to wait a little longer, as Rockstar have unleashed their first Xbox 360 exclusive download for the game, The Lost and Dammed.

The Lost and Dammed centres on Johnny Klebbitz, a member of motorcycle gang The Lost, and opens as the chapter leader is released from prison. The gang pick him up and he immediately starts to get them mixed up in things Johnny doesn’t believe they should be involved in, and, predictably, it all spirals out of control from there. The actual mechanics of the title are almost exactly the same as that of Niko's adventure (indeed, any modern GTA) except bikes are a major theme and a lot of the stuff you had to unlock by being friends with people is there from the beginning.

Johnny can use his mobile phone to call in Lost members as backup, ask one for a van full of guns, another to bring him a bike and also maybe take in a show with him. It is all almost exactly the same as the original, except the some times irritating friendship stuff has been taken out.

This title introduces two new weapons as well, though they don’t make that much difference to the game play so it is actually irrelevant as to whether you should use them or not. No this is a title to get for the story, assuming you liked the mechanics of the original game, and what a story you will get.

I personally loved the story as much as Niko’s, the biker gang frame working fantastically to draw me into the tale, as well has give a great focal point for Johnny. This is a guy who loves The Lost and its members as brothers and will do anything to keep it going, even if he doesn’t believe it is the right course of action for the chapter. As he gets double crossed and has to watch his beloved brothers turn on one another, you can really feel for him as he watches his life be really turned upside down.

This is how DLC should be done, and with Johnny’s story interweaving with Niko’s at certain points, Rockstar has shown you can make meaningful add on content for your game, one that enhances not only the original, but also the universe it inhabits as well.

The Lost and Dammed is spectacular, and every fan, no matter how fleeting, of GTA IV should download this.