Downloadable content can be a great way to breathe new life into familiar games, whether by introducing new challenges, expanding existing worlds or bringing beloved characters into the spotlight. However, not every expansion offers the same amount of substance, and some additions are more appealing than others. In this roundup, we take a closer look at three recent DLC releases: The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park, which takes players into a darker corner of New York; NBA THE RUN’s 2000s Legends Update, featuring five iconic basketball stars; and Judge Dredd, a classic arcade pinball table making its return in Pinball FX. From new gameplay opportunities to nostalgic additions, we find out which of these releases are worth adding to your collection.
The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park DLC review (PS5)
The Division 2 has returned to New York for another expansion, this time finally allowing players to explore the infamous Central Park. Published by Ubisoft, Echoes of Central Park takes players into an overgrown section of Manhattan where a mysterious threat and several familiar enemy factions await. The expansion introduces a darker, horror-inspired narrative that makes for an interesting change of pace, with seven story missions gradually uncovering what happened inside the park. The atmosphere is particularly effective, and the environmental storytelling gives the new locations plenty of character. However, the supernatural direction might not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer the more grounded military-fiction approach traditionally associated with the franchise. The story also takes a little while to get going, and although its central mystery provides a compelling reason to keep exploring, not every narrative twist delivers the intended impact.
Fortunately, the familiar gameplay remains one of the expansion’s strongest assets. The Division 2’s combination of cover-based shooting, tactical positioning, gadgets and extensive weapon customisation continues to feel satisfying, with the new environments offering plenty of opportunities to experiment with different builds. The Upper West Side is filled with interesting locations, hidden pathways and collectibles, while its verticality encourages players to make better use of their available skills. The addition of three AI companions also provides some welcome support, each bringing different combat specialisations and abilities to the battlefield. Their assistance can be particularly useful when playing alone, although their limited customisation options and occasionally unreliable behaviour prevent them from becoming a consistently dependable alternative to human teammates. Repetitive dialogue doesn’t help either.
There are some frustrating gameplay moments, however, particularly when it comes to difficulty. Although the cover mechanics and familiar control scheme remain responsive and intuitive, returning players who have been away for a while may struggle to remember all the different abilities, equipment systems and combat options. The expansion offers a level 40 boost to get newcomers into the action, but provides little assistance in reacquainting them with the game’s mechanics. Solo players will also encounter some particularly demanding encounters, with heavily armored bosses, aggressive enemy behavior and powerful area-of-effect attacks occasionally making fights feel unnecessarily punishing. Certain encounters can become ammunition-draining exercises in persistence rather than engaging tactical challenges. The new exotic weapon, gear set and six skill variants provide additional opportunities to refine existing builds, although not every new ability feels equally useful.
Visually, Echoes of Central Park is a welcome addition to The Division 2, with its overgrown streets, abandoned buildings and distinctive New York landmarks creating an appropriately unsettling atmosphere. The environmental detail is particularly impressive, and exploring locations such as the Natural History Museum provides some memorable moments. The darker lighting and fog-covered areas help establish the expansion’s horror-inspired identity, even if the actual scares are less effective than the presentation initially suggests. Audio contributes to the atmosphere, although the repetitive companion dialogue can become tiresome during extended sessions. Beyond the campaign, the additional endgame activities, exploration opportunities and rewards offer some incentive to stick around, but the relatively short main story and familiar PvE structure may leave players wanting more substantial additions. Echoes of Central Park is therefore a worthwhile return to New York for dedicated Division fans, particularly those who enjoy exploring every corner and experimenting with new builds, but its uneven difficulty, underwhelming companions and occasionally questionable narrative direction prevent it from being an essential expansion.
NBA THE RUN 2000s Legends Update DLC review (PS5)
NBA THE RUN’s 2000s Legends DLC brings five familiar faces from basketball’s early-2000s era to Play by Play Studios’ fast-paced streetball experience. Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady and Dirk Nowitzki are welcome additions, particularly for anyone who grew up watching these players dominate the court. More importantly, they aren’t simply alternative character models, as their individual playing styles are reflected in their animations and abilities. Carter’s spectacular aerial finishes, Iverson’s devastating crossovers and Nowitzki’s distinctive shooting form help give each legend a recognisable identity. It’s a relatively straightforward piece of downloadable content, but the selection of players makes it an appealing addition for basketball nostalgics.
The new roster also has implications for the competitive side of the game. Iverson’s ball-handling abilities make him particularly dangerous when creating space, while the other legends offer different strengths that can influence team composition and match strategies. This variety adds another layer to the existing three-on-three gameplay, although the actual value of the additions naturally depends on how much time players spend experimenting with different combinations. The accompanying update also introduces championship belts as rewards for tournament victories, replacing the previous trophies with a more distinctive visual reward. Combined with the different court-specific rules and scoring conditions, tournaments have a little more personality, although the occasional frustration of opponents abandoning online matches without consequences remains.
One of the more noticeable additions is the Drive Cam, which offers a different perspective on the action and brings the presentation closer to a traditional televised basketball broadcast. It makes reading the court and following transitions easier, particularly for players who prefer a more conventional basketball viewpoint. However, the implementation isn’t entirely convincing when it comes to camera angles – sometimes forcing you to adjust your angle of approach. These are frustrating shortcomings in a game where movement and ball control are so central to the experience. Visually, the authentic player animations are a highlight, although the new content doesn’t fundamentally change the game’s existing presentation. The audio similarly remains part of the established experience rather than being a notable reason to pick up the DLC.
For around $10, the 2000s Legends DLC offers a reasonably priced opportunity to add five genuinely iconic players to NBA THE RUN. Their individual characteristics make the roster feel more substantial than a simple collection of familiar names, and the accompanying tournament changes provide some additional incentive to keep competing. Nevertheless, the camera inconsistencies and gameplay-related issues show that there is still room for improvement beyond expanding the roster. The potential is certainly there, especially if Play by Play Studios continues adding recognisable players and refining the underlying experience. For fans of this particular basketball generation, however, Carter, Iverson, Garnett, McGrady and Nowitzki are already a pretty compelling reason to return to the court.
Pinball FX – Judge Dredd DLC review (PS5/Quest)
Zen Studios brings a piece of pinball history to Pinball FX with Judge Dredd, a digital recreation of Bally’s 1993 arcade machine based on the iconic 2000 AD comic series. Rather than adapting one of the character’s movies, this table embraces the comic’s distinctive vision of Mega-City One, complete with criminals, futuristic machinery and the threat of the Dark Judges. Its colorful presentation and numerous references to the source material give it plenty of personality, even for players who aren’t particularly familiar with Judge Dredd. The original design also has a wonderfully chaotic character, although its busy playfield can initially make it difficult to understand exactly where to direct your attention.
There are ten different play modes to tackle, each offering its own objectives and leaderboard. The standard mode provides a more traditional introduction to the table, while Super Game immediately throws players into multiball action, making for a considerably more hectic experience. Pursuing criminals along the Mega-City Super Highway, increasing crime levels to improve rewards and eventually confronting Judge Death in The Ultimate Challenge provide plenty of reasons to keep playing. The miniature Deadworld section and its robotic arm, which releases locked balls, are particularly memorable additions. Learning the different shots and understanding how the various objectives connect is important, especially when trying to maximize scoring opportunities. Although the unusual layout and occasional frantic multiball sequences can make things feel somewhat unforgiving, the table is surprisingly approachable once its rhythms become familiar.
The familiar flipper controls translate well to both traditional PlayStation 5 gameplay and Meta Quest VR, although the latter naturally offers a more convincing sense of actually standing in front of the machine. The physical depth of the ramps and mechanical features makes a noticeable difference in VR, with the robotic arm being a particular highlight. Having Judge Dredd standing beside the table also adds a nice touch of atmosphere. On a conventional screen, the fast-moving ball and crowded playfield can occasionally make tracking everything difficult, particularly during multiball sequences. The colorful comic-book presentation is nevertheless appealing, with plenty of activity across the table, while the original dot-matrix animations and familiar pinball sound effects help preserve the character of the 1993 machine.
Judge Dredd is an excellent addition to Pinball FX’s growing collection, particularly for players who appreciate classic arcade machines with a distinctive identity. Its combination of varied objectives, unusual mechanical features and two different starting modes gives it considerable replay value, while VR makes the experience feel considerably more tangible. There is a learning curve, and the occasionally overwhelming playfield won’t immediately appeal to everyone, but mastering its many features is part of the attraction. Zen Studios has done a good job preserving what made Bally’s original machine special, resulting in a table that feels just as entertaining today as it must have been in the arcade. For pinball enthusiasts and Judge Dredd fans alike, this is a worthwhile addition.