I’m not a big shmup fan, but Final Form Games’ Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony broke down my barriers. With it’s unique setting (17th Century Mars?!) memorable sprite-based artwork, and killer gameplay it became my favorite shmup.

Well, now I have a reason to play it again. Final Form Games have released the Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot DLC today! Hit the jump for more details.

According to the game’s official website, the DLC focuses on the Gunpowder Plot, but with a sci-fi, steampunk twist. Instead of being sentenced to death, the conspirators are sent on a suicide mission to Mars to destroy a Spanish munitions factory.

The best part about this whole package: new ships or Conveyances as the game calls them. According to the site, there are at least four new ones, each with their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Personally I think either Gunpowder or Plot would be my favorite.

Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot is available on Steam for just $2.00. Or you can buy the Deluxe Edition of the game which comes with the original game, DLC, and the official soundtrack for just a little over $10. The soundtrack features extended and remastered editions of some of the game’s songs. Considering how highly we thought of Jamestown in the first place, you’d be a fool to pass this up.

The last bit of New Vegas DLC is finally here! The core premise of Lonesome Road is a final confrontation with Ulysses – the mysterious courier that passed up the job that almost got you killed. What are his motives? Does he really want you dead, or did he just try and save his own skin?

More importantly: is the DLC worth buying to find out? Read on for the answer.

Like most of the New Vegas DLCs, you can take all of your weapons with you, but no Mojave companions. That latter limitation won’t really matter, because shortly into the DLC you meet a cute clone of ED-E, your trusty floating robot friend, who will help you in numerous ways; from attacking enemies, to unlocking various shops, to providing very helpful buffs and perks. This upgraded version of ED-E is a blast to play with, and is easily the best part of the expansion, especially given his pretty expansive [and depressing] backstory that’s told to you throughout your journey through the divide.

Once you’re dropped into the DLC, your mission is pretty clear – find Ulysses and figure out what he wants. As you trek your way across the great divide and beyond, you’re given little tidbits of information on why your apparent rival has acted the way he has through ED-E’s communications raido, in addition to some extra (interesting) backstory on ED-E. None of it is really earth shattering, unfortunately, but it does help clear up some lingering questions and wrap up the courier’s storyline in a neat little package.

Juxtaposed to the intimate narrative, Lonesome Road offers some pretty drab locales that you’ve seen before – other than one short mine-shaft explosion segment [that's highly reminiscent of the Resident Evil series] and the final room everything is extremely familiar. A short while into the DLC, Lonesome Road hands you a detonator device, which allows you to blow up specific warheads that remove obstacles from your path – most of them seem arbitrarily placed however, and there’s really never a sense of excitement when you blow them up, because the vast majority of the time, they’re simply just in your way.

The enemies are standard fare, basically consisting entirely of ghouls and a slight remake of the “lickers” from Fallout 3′s The Pitt. Lonesome Road attempts to make the ghoul enemies seem a bit cooler than they are, by claiming that these “Marked Men” have had their flesh ripped from them by the strong winds of the divide. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed by them, given that their tactics/gear are pretty much the same as every other humanoid enemy in the game; at the end of the day, they still act and look like ghouls.

Other than a few distractions such as the “seek and find” mini-game where you can find all of the remaining warheads to detonate, or collect all of ED-E’s upgrades, Lonesome Road is fairly linear, which is a disappointment compared to the open-world style of Old World Blues or Honest Hearts. As previously mentioned, your mission is pretty clear from the get-go, and the only non-predictable tidbits are few and far between. However, despite the linear nature of the expansion itself, there is a ton of content here, that can easily last you around ten hours if you let it – so if you really, really love New Vegas and are content with roaming around something other than the Mojave, you won’t be disappointed with your purchase.

The final confrontation, however, is a bit of a disappointment to say the least – it morphs from an enthralling philosophical question into a “thug fight” really fast, for no apparent reason. The final encounter is billed throughout the entire DLC, from beginning to end, as this epic duel of ambiguous morality, but as the curtain falls, you’re basically battling more thugs, robots, and a guy with a big gun. Something similar to the mine-shaft segment would have really shined here, but unfortunately we’re stuck with this.

Thankfully, there are around four different endings you can obtain, depending on the course you take with the final choice of the game; but most importantly, the final choice you make completely changes the storyline when you return to the Mojave and even opens up a few completely new areas to explore. While it isn’t technically the final ending of the game, Lonesome Road’s conclusion, in my opinion, is even more satisfying than the actual ending. Part of the allure for New Vegas, for me, is that you’re able to delve into the story of the courier just as often as the epic battle for New Vegas itself – for those types of gamers, Lonesome Road is probably the epitome of Courier fan service.

Loot wise, Lonesome Road is pretty standard fare – you’re able to obtain the laser detonator, a rocket launcher called the “Red Glare” and a few hodge-podge items such as a nailgun and a welder. It’s not an enthralling collection of items, but they still help mix things up a bit once you bring them back to the Mojave.

Overall Lonesome Road is a fairly standard romp through the world of Fallout, but I can’t help but expect more out of the game’s supposed final expansion. While the experience overall is enjoyable, other than the very end; after everything is said and done and your choice is made, there isn’t anything truly exciting on offer on this DLC.

So far, Obsidian has given us Dead Money and Honest Hearts – both of which had their positives and negatives, but nothing on New Vegas’ table has been as definitive as Fallout 3′s Broken Steel.

Thankfully, Obsidian’s latest offering, the appropriately titled Old World Blues, comes close.

Unlike most of the DLC in Fallout 3, or New Vegas’ two DLCs thus far, Old World Blues attempts to familiarize players with it’s plight before they actually get there, with a three minute primer movie that’s played before you actually delve into it.

Without spoiling much, there are basically two feuding robots, the “virtuous” Doctor Klein and “evil” Doctor Mobius, each of which who think they are entitled to do what they wish with The Big Empty – a sprawling, multi-function laboratory city, capable of horrifying experiments, the biggest of which is body modification.

Honestly, I wish open world games took this “set-up” approach more often with DLC: the immediate advantage of this method of storytelling is that it gives you the sense that the creators actually took the time to craft a miniature world large enough to warrant an explanation.

Speaking of said world, ss soon as you start Old World Blues, you’ll be given a clear birds eye view of the Big Empty, and quite honestly, it’s easily one of the coolest looking places in the last two Fallout games. Thankfully, you get to explore it in it’s entirety, because like Honest Hearts, Blues is an open world DLC that will allow you to run around as you see fit.

You’ll also notice one immediate bonus: you get to keep all of your loot from the start of the DLC! That’s right – no more “reduced to rags” gimmickry with Old World Blues. You’ll also be able to re-visit it, and even build up a home base of operations, which I’ll highlight a little later.

While you won’t find a whole lot new in terms of questing, Blues does a great job of injecting a ton of charm into your tasks. You aren’t just fetching various modules to power up meaningless accessories – you’re creating new NPCs for your new home.

Additionally, the kill quests have unique elements to them, and getting to see what types of experiments the various denizens of the Big Empty perform is a treat in and of itself. As far as length goes, you could probably rush and complete the main story in a few hours or so; but you would miss out on exploring the Big Empty’s 35 locations, most of which will no doubt keep you occupied for quite a while.

Old World Blues features an interesting gameplay mechanic that probably should have been present in New Vegas – it gives you a constant sense of flight or fight. Often times you’ll exit from an area you previously cleared and find yourself completely swarmed by Dr. Mobius’ evil robo-scorpions, which makes for a much more exhilarating experience.

I also hope you’re old enough to warrant that “Mature” rating, because you’re going to get a lot more adult themed jokes in Blues - don’t even ask me about penis toes, and fully erect hand-penises (you’ll see!). The evil Dr. Mobius also keeps you pretty entertained throughout your adventures, as he has complete control of the area’s loudspeaker system. Make no mistake, Old World Blues has a ton of charm.

Unlike most Fallout DLCs, the bulk of the loot (weapons) is given at the beginning, which is a nice touch, because it helped me get into the “theme” even quicker. You also get the grandaddy of DLC loot – your own home base of operations, complete with robots of varying personalities (one of which allows you to re-spec your traits), and vendors!

Considering you can return to the Big Empty anytime you want after the DLC is finished, it’s kind of a big deal, and I’m really glad they added this touch in to help add to the fun factor of additional playthroughs.

Old World Blues is one of the best Fallout DLCs yet. It’s funny, it’s packed with content, and it offers solid rewards for players who are looking to add to their Courier’s arsenal. If you skipped on the previous two content packs, make sure to pick this one up.

If you haven’t seen “Tell Your Children [Reefer Madness]“ the movie, go find it – it’s incredibly funny, educational, and it’s the basis for the brand new L.A. Noire DLC, appropriately titled Reefer Madness.

So what’s Cole up to this time? Oh, you know, same old, same old – rotating coke cans, chasing down bad guys, and accusing old women of brutally torturing and murdering their baby grandkids. Thankfully, it’s still a ton of fun.

Since Madness is a Vice case, it’s time to re-unite with your favorite old time sleazebag, Roy Earle, in an epic quest to bust some heads, and hopefully profit from said head-busted thug’s coffers (or at least that’s Roy’s plan). After a tip from an informant, Cole is alerted to a marajuana distribution ring – madness ensues, and our heroes are caught up in a cartel that goes so far up L.A.’s nether-regions that even Roy can’t find it.

Narrative wise, Reefer Madness isn’t all that engaging, but the banter between Cole and Roy certainly is. There are even a few extra conversations you can view by investigating obscure items, that really show the chemistry between actors Aaron Staton and Adam Harrington. One scene in particular stands out while touring how soup is made in a factory – on paper, going on a digital tour of “How it’s Made: Soup Edition” sounds pretty boring, but Roy helps lighten the mood a bit, and make it work.

Cole and Roy’s complicated relationship is especially accentuated at the end of a case, with a particularly awkward scene, that helps highlight how fundamentally different these two characters really are, and helps signal the beginning of the end for Cole and Roy’s partnership.

In terms of actual gameplay sequences, you’re going to be pretty much doing more of the same (which more often than not, isn’t a bad thing, provided you haven’t tired of the L.A. Noire formula by now). A few gunplay sequences pepper a canvas of questioning and investigation, and other than a pretty well done police raid sequence, you won’t be too out of your element in Reefer Madness.

As usual, the supporting cast does a great job in their motion capture performances, and Roy’s color commentary helps make investigation that much more entertaining. Like the rest of the DLC, Madness should last you anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Reefer Madness might not be the most exciting DLC case, but it’s a pretty solid way to go out, featuring one of the best duos in recent video game history. Hopefully, we’ll see more DLC in the future, but if this is the last bit of content, at least Team Bondi went out on a good note.

Alien Zombie Megadeath, a new Killzone 3 map pack, three new PSP minis, a host of deals and bundles and more are now available via the PlayStation Network this week. The full details await you after the break.

PlayStation Plus Discounted Games

• 3 on 3 NHL Arcade (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, regular price $9.99)
• Madden NFL Arcade (PlayStation Plus price $5.00, regular price $9.99)
• Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Eagle Pack (PlayStation Plus price $20.99, regular price $34.99)

Updates

• Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 – Sale (PS3) (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
• Bionic Commando: Rearmed – Sale (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)

Downloadable Games

• Alien Zombie Mega Death ($7.99)

Demos

• Virtua Tennis 4 PS3 Move/3D Demo

Add-on Game Content

• ModNation Racers Moon Colony Props Pack ($4.99)
• Killzone 3 From The Ashes Pack ($4.99)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Ressurection ($9.99)
• Record of Agarest War Zero – Additional Costumes and Packs (free – $7.99) (x14)
• Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds – Shadow Battle 10 ($0.99)
• Cars 2: Add-ons ($0.99 – $2.99) (x4)
• Mortal Kombat – Warrior Skarlet ($4.99)
• L.A. Noire: “Nicholson Electroplating” Arson Case (Free with purchase of L.A. Noire Rockstar Pass) ($3.99)
• YOU DON’T KNOW JACK: Jack Pack 4 ($4.99)
• F.E.A.R. 3 – F.E.A.R. Pass ($9.99)
• Yoostar 2: various scenes ($1.99 – $6.99) (x13)

Rock Band 3

• “Blurry” – Puddle of Mudd ($1.99)
• “Control” – Puddle of Mudd ($1.99)
• “She Hates Me” – Puddle of Mudd ($1.99)
• “Misery” – Maroon 5 ($1.99)
• “This Love” – Maroon 5 ($1.99)
• “Won’t Go Home Without You” – Maroon 5 ($1.99)
• Maroon 5 Pack 2 ($5.49)
• Puddle of Mudd Pack 1 ($5.49)

Rock Band Network V2.0

• “Chameleon Carneval” – Andromeda ($1.99)
• “Deception – Concealing Fate Part Two” – TesseracT ($1.99)
• “Half Crazy” – Jukebox the Ghost ($1.99)
• “Veil Of Illumination (Part 1)” – Andromeda ($1.99)
• “Veil Of Illumination (Part 2)” – Andromeda ($1.99)

Bundles

• Killzone 3 Map Pack Bundle ($9.99)
• Buy Marvel Pinball – Get ZEN PINBALL FREE ($9.99)
• Cars 2: The Video Game – Undercover Character Bundle ($2.99)
• Sonic’s 20th Birthday Bundle Sale ($19.99)

PSP minis

• Brick Breaker ($3.99)
• Labyrinth ($3.99)
• Solitaire ($3.99)

Today word got out that Activision will be launching a new subscription based service called Call of Duty Elite in conjunction with the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 this fall. Activision is still trying to determine the right subscription pricing for the service which is said to “provide extra content that isn’t offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs.”

Aside from extra content, Elite will also provide gamers with stat tracking tools that analyze their performance and tendencies in game, in hopes of directing the player to guides and tutorials on how to improve. “These can cover things like the best way to employ a certain weapon, pros and cons for their attachments, or how to make the best use of different perks. Video tutorials will also be part of the package.”

Elite will have some features that are available to everyone, even those who don’t subscribe to the service. For example there will be a social media aspect that allows gamers who share similar interests to meet up online and blow each other away.

Gamers will be able to access Elite in several ways. Primarily, it will be built into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as well as future CoD titles, so you can access the information in game. You will also have access via the CoD Elite website as well as on iOS and Android phones and tablets.

What do you guys think about this? To be honest, I haven’t played CoD in a long time and generally stayed away from the multiplayer. Maybe I’m a gaming hipster or whatever, but I just always stuck with my old favorite Counter-Strike for multiplayer FPS action. I’d be curious to hear what the hardcore members of the CoD community think about this.

If you’re a big CoD fan, leave a comment below letting us know what you think.

Source: Shacknews

Remember when I told you about this little game Magicka that is selling like hotcakes? Well, today publisher Paradox Interactive announced that there is an expansion coming to the popular action-RPG. The thing is, rather than tossing players into more dungeons and the like, developer Arrowhead decided to do something out of the norm; put Magicka in the Vietnam War.

That’s right, taking a cue from Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Magicka will allow players to lightning bolt and fireball Charley back to the Stone Age. Why put a fantasy action-RPG in the Vietnam War? Why not!? Paradox asks, “Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if wizards were allowed to roam the jungles of war-torn Vietnam, attempting to bring peace and stability to the region by casting spells on all opponents?”
As of right now, no price point has been revealed for Magicka: Vietnam. What we do know is that it will be released this spring.

What do you guys think about this? Are you interested in playing a fantasy action-RPG set in Vietnam? In general, have you guys been enjoying Magicka? Would you say it’s worth checking out? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Source: Shacknews.com

While it may not come as that big of a surprise considering all the delays, it still stings a bit to hear developer DICE finally confirm that the PC versions of Battlefield 1943 and the Onslaught Mode DLC for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 have been axed.

Karl Magnus Troedsson, general Manager of DICE, said the cancellation was “to balance work on the new against the already shipped, prioritizing the amount of energy spent on the known franchises and the time spent on developing something entirely new.”

He continued, “While we’ll continue supporting Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and previous games, it’s time to look ahead to the next giant leap for DICE–the release of Battlefield 3. Our goal is crystal clear: we’re going to build the best Battlefield game ever, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make this the biggest launch in DICE’s history.”

While I’m slightly upset about these cancellations, I guess it’s for a good cause. I mean, if Battlefield 3 is everything people are saying it’s going to be, I guess I could care less about Onslaught Mode or 1943. On the other hand, I’ve been waiting a long time for Onslaught in particular because the prospect of playing co-op BC2 with my brother would be a sure fire recipe for fun. I guess at this point what’s done is done, so there’s no use in crying over it. Let’s just hope that Battlefield 3 is everything it’s cracked up to be.

What do you guys think about this? Are you PC gamers upset about not getting 1943 or the Onslaught DLC? For those console gamers who jumped on these titles when they were released, were they actually worth playing or were they just a mere distraction? Let us know what you think with a comment below.

Source: Shacknews.com

It’s time for another weekly installment of PS Store updates, with this week’s standout offerings including the anticipated Angry Birds Mini, along with a playable demo for Winter Sports 2011 and some delicious DLC for ModNation Racers, The Sims 3 and a Linkin Park pack for Rock Band 3.

Check out this week’s update in full after the break.

Special Offers

(Offer prices available until the 19th January)

• UNO (PS3) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £0.79/€0.99)
• H.A.W.X. Supremacy Pack (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
• Blood Bowl (PSP) (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £9.99/€12.99)
• Pro Cycling 2010: Tour de France (PSP) (was – £23.99/€29.99 now – £13.99/€17.99)
• UNO (PSP) (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £0.79/€0.99)
• Driver (PSone) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.99/€3.59)
• Alien Havoc (mini) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)
• Bubble Trubble (mini) (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £2.49/€2.99)

Permanent Price Reductions

• Alien Breed: Impact (now – £7.19/€8.99)
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Tom Clancy’s EndWar (now – £7.99/€9.99)
• Prince of Persia: Revelations (now – £11.99/€14.99)
• Prince of Persia: Rival Swords (now – £11.99/€14.99)
• Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (now – £11.99/€14.99)
• Splinter Cell Essentials (now – £11.99/€14.99)
• Driver ’76 (now – £11.99/€14.99)
• Brothers in Arms: D-Day (now – £11.99/€14.99)

Trial and Unlock (PS3)

• Faery: Legends of Avalon (£11.99/€14.99)

Downloadable Games (PS3)

• Germany’s Next Top Model (€9.99)
• PopStars (€9.99)

Subscriptions (PS3)

DC Universe Online

• 30 Day Subscription (£9.99/€12.99)
• 90 Day Subscription (£27.99/€34.99)
• 180 Day Subscription (£44.99/€64.99)

Downloadable Games (PSP)

• Buzz! The Ultimate Music Quiz (£21.99/€26.99)
• Crystal Mines (£11.99/€14.99)

minis (PS3 and PSP)

• Angry Birds (£2.49/€2.99)
• Jane’s Hotel (£2.49/€2.99)

PSone Classics (PS3 and PSP)

Tomb Raider Chronicles (£7.99/€9.99)

Demos (PS3)

• Winter Sports 2011

Demos (PSP)

• Crystal Mines

Add-On Game Content (PS3)

ModNation Racers – Jak and Daxter Mod Pack (£1.39/€1.75)

The Sims 3 – Asian Fusion (£7.99/€9.99)

Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage – Shin and Thouzer: Original costume and 2 new missions (£4.99/€6.19)

Super Street Fighter IV – Ultra Shadaloo Pack (£3.19/€3.99)

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

January Mega Pack (£13.99/€17.99) (contains the following tracks which are also available separately)

• ’2nd Sucks’ By A Day To Remember (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘All I Want’ By A Day To Remember (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘Buried Myself Alive’ By The Used (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘Closer’ By Nine Inch Nails (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘Head Like A Hole’ By Nine Inch Nails (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘Rescue Me’ By Hawthorne Heights (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘The Downfall Of Us All’ By A Day To Remember (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘The Hand That Feeds’ By Nine Inch Nails (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘We’ve Got A Situation Here’ By The Damned Things (£1.59/€1.99)
• ‘Wings Of A Butterfly’ By Him (£1.59/€1.99)

Rock Band 3

Linkin Park Pack 01 (£4.99/€7.99) (contains the tracks listed below which are also available separately)

• Crawling (£0.99/€1.49)
• In The End (£0.99/€1.49)
• Numb (£0.99/€1.49)
• Somewhere I Belong (£0.99/€1.49)
• Waiting For The End (£0.99/€1.49)
• What I’ve Done (£0.99/€1.49)

Rock Band Network

• ‘Gasoline’ by The Bouncing Souls (£0.59/€0.79)
• ‘Let Us Slay’ by GWAR (£0.59/€0.79)
• ‘Saint Simon’ by The Shins (£0.99/€1.49)
• ‘Smokahontas’ by Attack Attack! (£0.99/€1.49)
• ‘White Knuckles’ by Okay Go (£0.99/€1.49)

Add-On Game Content (PSP)

• Prinny 2 – Asagi Wars Premium Special Ticket (free)

FirstPlay (PS3)

• FirstPlay Episode 40 (£0.99/€1.20)

Avatars (PS3)

EyePet

• Looking Back Sitting Pet (£0.20/€0.25)
• Rapper Pet (£0.20/€0.25)
• Boxing Pet (£0.20/€0.25)

Themes (PS3)

• Spare Parts Theme 1
• Top Darts Theme

Premium Themes (PS3)

Disruptive Themes

• Smooth Notes (£1.19/€1.49)
• Draco: The Return (£1.19/€1.49)

Dynamic Themes (PS3)

Thumbstar Themes

• Shine (£1.59/€1.99)
• Cube (£1.59/€1.99)
• Destinations (£1.59/€1.99)

Wallpapers (PS3)

• Dragon’s Lair HD Wallpaper
• Eat Them! Purple Monster Wallpaper
• Eat Them! Red Monster Wallpaper
• Spare Parts Wallpaper 1, 2 & 3

Wallpapers (PSP)

• Legends of War: Patton’s Campaign Wallpaper 4

Videos (PS3)

• Faery: Legends of Avalon Trailer
• Dead Space 2 The Sprawl
• Crazy Taxi Launch Trailer
• Kung-Fu LIVE! Launch Trailer
• Dead Nation Housemarque Trailer
• MotorStorm Apocalypse Developer Diary

Source: PlayStation Blog

Blimp: The Flying Adventures is not a terribly deep or substantial game. It’s a twenty level downloadable Steampunk 2D version of Crazy Taxi with bombs available for the PS3, PSP and iOS devices. If that sounds like your cup of tea hit the jump for the full review.

In Blimp, you take control of hardened war veteran, Zed Pelin, who is forced back into service when his small planet is attacked by a big evil empire. The story is told through text and still images before missions. It’s there if you want it, but for the most part it’s neither terribly gripping nor consequential – merely servicing as a backbone for the real meat of the game: the gameplay.

In Blimp, you control…a blimp. While there is a war going on, instead of being out there on the front lines you’ll be more like the resistance’s taxi service. You’ll spend your time be picking things up from one point and dropping them off somewhere else. At first you’ll literally be a taxi service shuttling people around, but before long you’ll be dropping reinforcements off into combat zones, planting explosives and bombing enemy airships.

Everything controls well, as well as you would expect a blimp to anyway. Just don’t expect to have pin-point accuracy. A little bit of realism here is actually nice. I imagine it would be a little disconcerting to be looking at a blimp that controls like the Ikaruga.

It starts off fairly easy and you may even think you’ll be able to beat the game in a half hour. While I imagine that is possible, and the game encourages it since you’re constantly playing against the clock,  the difficulty begins to increase steadily and ramps up a lot towards the end of the game. The last level is particularly challenging and definitely involves quite a bit of strategy, finesse and luck to successfully complete.

The visuals are all really nice and I really love the Steampunk vibe.  Everything is animated smoothly and is really crisp. The art style is bright, colourful and looks really good. The landscapes are particularly notable, looking like something out of a well-illustrated children’s book.

I played the PSP Minis version of the game, and the entire time I played it Blimp came across like something you could find on the AppStore for a dollar or two. In fact, it is on the AppStore for $0.99. Now compare that with Blimp’s $4.99 price-tag on the PlayStation Network and you run into my only real criticism of the title.

As horrendous as most touch screen controls are, the ability to use real buttons isn’t really worth an extra four dollars. If Sony wants to be competitive in the portable gaming market, they are really going to need to figure out how to be smarter with pricing. For the most part, people just aren’t going to be willing to pay five, ten, fifteen dollars for an experience they can get elsewhere for a buck or two just so they can play it on a Sony.

The sad thing is, there’s nothing wrong with Blimp as an experience. There are just much deeper, more enjoyable downloadable titles out there for the price. While I haven’t played the phone version myself (it’s not available on the Droid Market) if you’re at all interested, for a dollar, I would definitely recommend picking up iOS version.

Until now, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has been cruelly starved of worthwhile DLC for too long. The optimistically priced online co-op Onslaught was completely lacklustre and the recurring influx of “new” VIP map packs was becoming a running joke.

Coincidentally timed with the release of a game that bears the initials of a certain breed of fish, DICE finally served up a tastier DLC dish comprising of four free maps, which did well to accentuate the aforementioned fish’s astronomically priced map packs. This, however, was only the start of DICE’s extensive DLC plans.

Announced in the most fleeting of teaser trailers during this year’s E3, Bad Company 2: Vietnam is DICE’s latest and most substantial DLC offering to date, stealthily creeping into the market after months of uncertainty surrounding the release date. But with such stiff competition in the FPS pond, is there any room left for Vietnam to engage?

True Battlefield veterans will recall that this is not the franchise’s first venture into Vietnamese territory however – Battlefield Vietnam, the official sequel to the original Battlefield 1942, was released back in 2004.

Whereas the original was a full standalone game, DICE’s new attempt to rally its troops into Vietnam acts as an online expansion pack for Bad Company 2, adding four brand new, Vietnam-themed maps (along with a fifth map that has now been unlocked after the community achieved an ambitious 69 million assists on each platform), 15 new weapons and an army of new vehicles. Each map is also playable in the same game modes from Bad Company 2, i.e. Rush, Conquest, Squad Rush and Squad Death Match.

Bad Company 2 was already rife with impeccably designed battlefields, but Vietnam’s rank among the best the game now has to offer, a point that is dramatically apparent when you first set foot in the standout map Hill 137.

As armed jets soar overhead, the previously serene jungle becomes visually engulfed by a sudden napalm strike, rendering a section of the environment completely devastated in a valley of burning backdrops. For this alone, it’s an awe-inspiring set-piece and one of the most visually striking multiplayer maps I’ve played in any game.

An abundance of enclosed trenches also ensures that Vietnam often enforces close combat compared to that of Bad Company 2, resulting in battles that are more immediate whilst still retaining Battlefield’s trademark sense of staggering scale.

The remaining maps are equally impressive, for the most part. Vantage Point’s uphill route is a welcome change from Bad Company 2’s predominately flat terrain that creates some truly tense stand-offs, whereas Phu Bai Valley is the map of choice if you want all-out war in the game’s numerous vehicles. On the other hand, Cao Son Temple doesn’t feel quite as captivating due to its bland setting but the newly unlocked Battle of Hastings more than makes up for it with its multiple branching routes and dividing bridges.

Vietnam retains Bad Company 2’s graphical splendour, but sports a grittier visual style to represent the Vietnam era to set it apart from Bad Company 2. DICE has implemented their usual admirable attention to detail too, adding an air of authenticity that makes the battles feel all the more immersive as, unlike Bad Company 2, the game is set in a real-life conflict. Even the briefing videos before each game contain pre-emptive narrative providing context to the Vietnam War.

Vietnam‘s new weapons often make you feel naked in combat thanks to the lack of high-tech red dot sights and motion mines, but this only adds to the sense of foreboding danger. As a result, it’s certainly more challenging than Bad Company 2 which may deter some players accustomed to its modern luxuries, but I found the contrast to be refreshing and satisfying due to the reliance on skill alone.

New weapons such as the Ak-47 are worthy additions to Bad Company 2’s attractive armoury, but nothing prepares you for when you first encounter an enemy with a flamethrower – there’s nothing more sadistically satisfying than torching scores of panic stricken enemies, especially when the flamethrower is mounted to a tank which is made possible by a new specialisation.

Bad Company 2’s barrage of playable war machines made each game a spectacular spectacle as fleets of tanks, helicopters, jeeps and boats ran rampant, and Vietnam doesn’t disappoint in this regard either. The imposing AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, the defining aircraft of the Vietnam War, are particularly deadly, but their lack of armour makes it surprisingly easy to destroy with stock weapons. Marvellously, a rocking soundtrack can now also be played whenever you commandeer a vehicle – it’s especially comical to hose enemies down with heavy machine gun fire to the tune of the Rolling Stones. And yes, because it’s Vietnam, Fortunate Son has not been omitted.

There is just one thing that baffles me however: why isn’t it a standalone release? Battlefield 1943 proved that online exclusive distribution was a very feasible market and Vietnam is a very similar package in terms of both content and price, yet it requires ownership of Bad Company 2.

This lack of segregation is particularly evident by the fact that Vietnam retains the same online ranking progress from Bad Company 2, meaning that everything is already unlocked if you’ve previously clocked in the hours. I have mixed feelings about this decision, as while it’s useful to soldier on with your main game rank, it makes playing Vietnam feel a tad aimless without any unlocks.

Speaking of rankings, an unfortunate glitch that resets your ranking (therefore leaving you without the weapons and gadgets you unlocked) still plagues the game to this day. It’s a minor inconvenience, yes, but one that DICE has had ample time to fix.

Considering Vietnam’s price point of £9.99/$15, it’s difficult to complain about the amount of content on offer here, and DICE’s generosity puts COD’s equivalent DLC to absolute shame. In short, Battlefield’s excursion to Vietnam makes it feel like a completely different game altogether, therefore making it a must have for trigger happy Bad Company 2 fans longing for a new reason to return to the battlefield.

Fallout: New Vegas had its fair share of glitches, but overall, it was one of my favorite games of all time. Running around with a .44 Magnum, a prophetic robe, and Danny Trejo is one of my deepest badass fantasies. But I’ve had my romp, and now, I’m just waiting to see what the planned DLC can offer.

The newest contender, Dead Money, set in the doomed wasteland of the Sierra Madre casino, just launched on the Xbox 360. Does it match up to something like The Pitt, one of the quality packs from Fallout 3? Or does it completely fail like Mothership Zeta?

First off, for those who are curious, this initial pack of DLC does increase your level cap by five – unfortunately, it doesn’t do much else for your core game. You still aren’t going to get to continue the main storyline after the Hoover Dam showdown (they’ll probably sell us another pack for that), your current companions are automatically sent home, you can’t return to the Sierra Madre once you leave, and the rewards aren’t that astounding. Now that the setup is out of the way, onto the bread and butter!

In typical Fallout DLC fashion, a new quest and radio station will pop up on your pip-boy. Once you follow it to a tiny metal grate in the sand, prepare to be gassed, and have your equipment taken away until the end of the DLC. When you wake up, you’ll find out an elderly gentleman named Elijah wants you to crack into the vault of the prestigious unopened Sierra Madre Casino, so that he can reap the benefits.

It sounds simple enough, but there’s a catch: Elijah fashioned an explosive collar around your neck – and if you try to escape, he’ll detonate it. He also wants you to find three other team members with varying skillsets, and rescue them to help you on your way. But there’s another catch: to prevent one person from betraying the others and running off with the treasure, if anyone dies, everyone dies. Oh, and did I mention that being in proximity with active radios and speaker systems will set off your collar too? Sounds like fun!

Before you get into the casino, you’ll have to romp around the outside villa area for about an hour and a half, and deal with deranged, gas mask equipped inhabitants called “ghosts”, that seem to have gained super human strength from the area’s noxious fumes – but you’ll have some help in dealing with them. Your companions range from a schizophrenic mutant, a cautious mute, and a cocky ghoul playboy. All of them have a bit of mystery to them, and their own specific perk, which really adds to the package. For instance, your mutant companion will eat ghouls, preventing them from getting back up. You can also talk to your team, and build up a bit of a personal relationship. Once you actually get into the casino, you have some options in regards to what you want to do with them – but getting into the casino isn’t going to be easy.

In fact, make no mistake; this DLC is hard. The enemies do a ton of damage, they’re resilient (you’ll have to blow their heads off to really finish them, otherwise they get back up), speakers that activate your bomb collars and poisonous gases are at every turn, and health replenishing items are extremely scarce.  Towards the end of the DLC especially, having to constantly watch for radios and speakers really starts to get tedious. A lot of them are hidden in spots that require you to get into position to shoot them with only a few seconds to detonation left, meaning there’s going to be a lot of trial and error involved.

Unfortunately, in addition to the sudden spikes of difficulty, the actual act of completing the DLC is bogged down by familiar surroundings throughout, and as previously mentioned, tedious trial and error in certain sections when you’re trying to not set off your collar. Also, a few required quests are needlessly complicated by the imprecise quest map, and other general mechanics of the game. While these issues have been present since Fallout 3, it would have been easy to design around them.

In spite of some mechanical issues, the writing for Dead Money is on par with the quality of New Vegas. All of the characters have their own demons to deal with, and I really enjoyed talking to them at great length, as well as dealing with their fates at the end of the package. While your team’s backstory and narrative is fleshed out, the actual quest isn’t as engaging – like the Resident Evil series, the bulk of your information is going to come from various notes and computer logs – not from the events of the main story. While there are a few key tidbits here and there that really bring the narrative together at the end, a lot of players will most likely glance over them. In the interest of not spoiling the game for everyone, I don’t want to talk about the story more than that, as pretty much anything else I could reveal would ruin it.

Personally, I also felt like the buildup to get into the casino itself was too long, and the surrounding areas housed too many drab looking locales – I know that you’re supposed to get the feeling that poisonous gas has overrun the area, but it could have looked a little more detailed.

Despite the fact that it was a bit too difficult at times, and sometimes felt uninspired, what I liked most about Dead Money is the fact that everything is encapsulated. The Sierra Madre has its own currency to spend on its own unique vending machines; most of the characters involved play into the main storyline somehow; and it has its own set of multiple ending sequences. Once you’re actually in the vault and get to see what’s in it, don’t expect to be excited; you’re either going to be completely let down, or complacent. I was the latter, as there isn’t really anything “fun” item-wise in the vault, or in the entire DLC package to bring back to the Mojave Wasteland. That’s perfectly fine with me, but I know a lot of players have come to expect “super” items from their Fallout DLC.

Ultimately, while Dead Money is a pretty fun affair, it doesn’t really have the “wow” factor a few of the DLC packs did in Fallout 3. While the three hours it took to complete is on the longer side for downloadable content, I’m not really sure Dead Money is worth the full $10 asking price.

Gamer Limit gives Dead Money a 7.0/10