Besides a ton of new game releases, we’re also seeing a lot of new DLC content pop up – time for a closer look at new content for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Pokémon Scarlet, Heavenly Bodies and Crime Boss: Rockay City.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge’s Dimension Shellshock review (PS4)
Dotemu and Tribute Games have taken Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to new heights with the Dimension Shellshock DLC. This expansion injects new life into an already exceptional beat-’em-up, offering a captivating new game mode, vibrant character palettes, and the addition of two iconic characters to help the Turtles in their quest to rid New York City of the nefarious Foot Clan.
The introduction of Survival mode is a standout feature of Dimension Shellshock. Faced with relentless waves of foes, players must strategically utilize boosts and collectible crystals to increase their chances of survival. The mode’s roguelike elements also add depth and variety to the gameplay, ensuring no two runs are the same.
Karai and Usagi Yojimbo join the roster as playable characters, enriching the gameplay experience. Karai’s dynamic playstyle and combos make her a standout character, while Usagi focuses more on speed and ground/air capabilities. Their unique abilities and personalities add depth to the gameplay experience, adding movesets that feel distinct from those in the base game.
Each character now also boasts different variants, providing an extra layer of customization. The new color palettes and visual enhancements add a fresh dimension to the Turtles’ appearances, allowing players to further personalize their gameplay experience, although not all of the power-ups offered in the Survival are equally useful and a switch can feel like a temporary downgrade.
In conclusion, with its enthralling Survival mode, new characters, and expanded customization options, this DLC elevates an already outstanding title to new heights. Dotemu and Tribute Games have once again demonstrated their dedication to delivering high-quality content, making this DLC an essential addition for fans of the Turtles and beat-’em-up enthusiasts alike.
Pokémon Scarlet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero review (Switch)
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC breathes new life into Pokémon Scarlet. Released nearly a year after the initial launch, it expands the lore of the original games (the DLC can also be applied to Pokémon Violet). The Teal Mask, the first part of the expansion, offers a compelling standalone adventure set in the picturesque land of Kitakami, a region with distinct Japanese influences that provides a tranquil backdrop for the narrative.
The DLC seamlessly integrates with the base game’s plot, offering a captivating continuation of the journey as it revolves around the mythical Loyal Three and Ogerpon, a legendary Pokémon. New companions, Carmine and Kieran, add depth to the narrative, as their unique personalities and shared desire to overcome prejudice and misunderstanding add emotional resonance to the story. The DLC maintains the base game’s challenging battles, testing players’ strategic prowess. The Gigantic battles, in particular, offer intense and satisfying encounters.
The Teal Mask introduces a range of gameplay enhancements as well, including a photo mode and a balloon-popping mini-game. The addition of new consumables like mochis provides strategic advantages for Pokémon training, and the introduction of fresh Pokémon designs is a nice touch as well. Catching the Loyal Three and completing the Pokédex entries provide rewarding challenges for dedicated trainers, and the level scaling ensures a balanced difficulty curve, keeping battles engaging.
But while The Teal Mask delivers a captivating experience, it inherits some of the technical challenges from the base game. Occasional slowdowns and frame rate issues still persist, and certain environmental textures may lack polish. The character models still look great, but the Switch can struggle to keep up. Despite these technical hiccups, The Teal Mask successfully expands the world of Pokémon Scarlet with engaging characters, challenging battles and new Pokémon designs.
Heavenly Bodies – Cleanup DLC review (PS4)
The Heavenly Bodies Cleanup DLC extends the original game’s adventure in space, tasking players with restoring a damaged space station after a catastrophic event. Equipped with new tools and gadgets, players navigate a semi-open level set across seven days, uncovering the truth behind the disaster. The confined yet detailed space station setting adds challenge and immersion, immersing players in the aftermath of the event in a DLC campaign that’s roughly the size of the original campaign.
The DLC introduces a range of new tools and devices, enriching the cooperative gameplay experience. Navigating the station using the Piloted Manoeuvring Unit (PMU) provides a quick and engaging means of transportation. The thrill of using new gadgets, combined with the cooperative element, offers a refreshing experience. However, these tools can be finicky and prone to glitches, leading to occasional frustrations, especially in tasks involving retrieving data from floating ship debris, where the relative lack of control can really be felt.
Some of the tasks that the DLC throws at you demand careful planning and strategic thinking, from pressurizing areas to navigating airlocks and utilizing a range of tools. This adds depth to the gameplay experience, but the game’s over-reliance on the PMU for tasks can become a little monotonous over time. The limited map guidance can make navigating objectives a little challenging, which is where the semi-open design works against the game. Overall, the Heavenly Bodies Cleanup DLC offers an engaging extension to the base game, providing an intriguing narrative set in a confined space station environment, and despite some small frustrations, it still offers an enjoyable experience for fans of the base game.
Crime Boss – Dragon’s Gold Cup DLC review (PS5)
The Dragon’s Gold Cup DLC for Crime Boss: Rockay City introduces an enticing new narrative centered around a heist collaboration between Travis Baker and the notorious Dollar Dragon. Players are given the opportunity to dive into a brand-new plotline focusing on Dollar Dragon, culminating in a large heist to steal the King’s gold. The expansion offers alternate paths for preparation, allowing players to focus on the storyline without the need for excessive grinding for cash.
One thing to note is that the DLC keeps the Gold Cup campaign separate from the regular one, rather than integrating it seamlessly. This design choice may leave some players wishing for a more integrated experience. Additionally, for some players this will raise questions about the permanent rewards the new campaign offers beyond the new campaign, outside of the inclusion of Dollar Dragon in Crime Time. For us though, Crime Boss was always about the story-driven content anyway.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, Dragon’s Gold Cup Heist introduces a diverse range of approaches, adding depth to the heist gameplay. The expansion also provides more turfs and starting cash, streamlining the experience and allowing players to focus on the heist’s narrative. And while some players might have hoped for a more integrated experience with the base game, the Dragon’s Gold Cup DLC adds an intriguing chapter to the Crime Boss: Rockay City universe, providing an exciting heist narrative and gameplay variations. And more of Michael Madsen and Danny Trejo is always a good thing.
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