Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost and Damned Review

Exclusive to the Xbox 360, Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost and the Damned is a new episode for Grand Theft Auto 4. Just like Sony realized that the GTA series was a big moneymaker giving Rockstar big money to keep the GTAs on the PS2 exclusive for a period of time, Microsoft is also no dunce handing over $50 million for development of two episodes that will only be on the Xbox 360. As a new episode, GTA4: LD offers a side story to the GTA4 game, but instead of just using the same engine and keep everything else the same, this time around Rockstar North added onto the game. Typically, we'd associate this kind of content with mission packs of other games but it's so much more. Almost every aspect of GTA4 has been expanded with this episode, and it makes this kind of content a much more desirable product. DLC has been taken hits of late for being content that should have been in the game when it was released, but instead was taken out to make the street date. Then there's the conspiracy theory that such content that should have been in the game was taken out for the simple reason to make more money. In any case, GTA4: LD is an incredible addition to the original game, and sets a high standard for DLC in the future.

In GTA 4, we follow Niko and his new life in Liberty City. GTA4: LD tells the story of a motorcycle "club" called the Lost whose leader, Billy Grey, has returned to the group after years of prison and rehab. You take the role of the second-in-command, known as the Vice President in the group, named Johnny Klebitz. While Billy has been away, Johnny has taken the Lost to a new level in both status and financially in exchange for burying old rivalries with other clubs. With Billy back, there will be a big shakeup in the city and it's up to Johnny to either follow the hierarchy of the club or risk no longer being a brother anymore. As this takes place during Niko's story, there will be many instances where you see the other side of certain missions and plot points that you saw on the first play-through of GTA4.

Being that the game uses the same GTA 4 engine, you'd assume that the graphics are just alike. Well you'd be wrong you dumb bitch. Rockstar North took advantage of the extra development time and improvements on technology to give the graphics a little boost. Everything has been given a nice smoother appearance over the original graphics, and another graphic change was done purely for story purposes. In GTA4, Liberty City was given a much brighter look as in a way that an immigrant would view the city the first time in comparison to the desolate country they came which Niko came from. However, in GTA:LD, the city was revamped to give a more grittier and lived in look that would be more along the lines of someone who's lived in the city for years. Hats off to Rockstar North for adapting the city to correspond to the storyline of the protagonist.

On the other hand, the gameplay is pretty much the same as GTA4 but that's because there was not much to improve on. Combat was done very well to begin with, and there was simply no reason to mess with it. They did add a few weapons into the mix including pipe bombs, grenade launcher, a sawn-off shotgun, and a new automatic shotgun which helps. The driving mechanics, however, are still hit-or-miss. Fact is, as being part of a motorcycle club, you're going to be on a bike...A LOT. Because of that, handling the big American hog of a motorcycle has been improved over that of GTA4, but it's still the less sought after bike to travel with. To go along with the motorcycle club motif, now riding around in a pack is both a requirement and benefit. You'll have to either lead the group, since your VP, or follow the leader in a biker formation. An icon will show up where you position your bike in the pack that will let improve your health and repair your bike while riding. Being a part of the pack means that your gang buddies will join up in the firefight, and even doing a "level up" if they survive. If they die, they'll be replaced by some other shmuck. Adding to that, Rockstar North decided that since Johnny rides a bike all the time, that his driving skills of regular vehicle is lacking. With that explanation, they've dodged the issue of bad driving mechanics.

Once again, audio focus on two aspects of the game: the radio stations and voice acting. While I took a hit on GTA 4 for the lackluster soundtrack, Rockstar North did a solid, and went all out with the good tunes. Like I mentioned in the GTA4 review, GTA: Vice City and San Andreas were great because they followed with their respective themes that garnered a whole catalogue of great songs that fit. GTA 4 on the other hand, didn't have that same theme that connects with a genre of music. GTA4: LD on the other hand does have a certain music that works perfectly which is good ol' fashioned rock-n-roll. Songs like Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills", Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive", and Motley Crue's "Wildside" gel perfectly with the motorcycle club theme of the game. The rock stations weren't the only ones with new songs. The hip hop station, The Beat (pffft like that's an original name for a hip hop station), alternative/indy rock station, Radio Broker, and hardcore punk/metal station, Liberty City Hardcore, have received several tracks to go along with the 200+ of GTA4. The talk radio stations have also added new shows into the rotation even adding a new Howard Stern/Opie & Anthony type shock jock.

Surprisingly, the developers are sticking to their guns with not hiring big name Hollywood stars for voice actors. Once again, it works great because the voices just fit the characters so well. However, a known comedian, Frankie Boyle, has a set in Liberty City's comedy club providing another distraction for players.

Those who enjoyed GTA4 online, something I find hard to believe since it was filled with prepubescent douchebags that have no idea what teamwork means, will be happy to know that online multiplayer has been reworked to correspond with the new episode. Deathmatch and Free Mode are still available since they just work very well. Other modes have been changed to include bikers than regular thugs like Club Business that has your gang rolling around on their bikes doing missions, Race that has you start off with bikes and melee weapons a la Road Rash, and Witness Protection where the bikers have to kill the witness under police protection. New modes include Lone Wolf where one guy is the Lone Wolf fending off other players, and Copper vs. Chopper that has a biker racing through checkpoints while being chased by a helicopter. Nice additions but doesn't help with all the assholes online.

Gamers focusing on the main missions will spend about 10 hours on the game even though that could be extended if you spend some time on with other activities. It's fair to say that Microsoft is going to make out like a bandit for investing in these episodes. With how great GTA: The Lost and Damned turned out, it makes me hopeful that the next episode will be just as good if not better.

- O.G.

article id: 330 | poster: OG