Ultimate Gadgetry: The Lost And Damned
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - John Greene
When I get a chance, I am a fiend for my XBox. I’ve got a nearly-regular Friday night party set up with my friends scattered over three continents, the better half loves Netflix being built into it, it allows me to watch those delightfully out-of-date HD-DVDs of the original Star Trek series, but the real highlight of the system for me has been Grand Theft Auto IV.
The core game itself is a rich experience, to be sure, with a compelling story, great animation and voice acting, and an interface that lets you truly enjoy the sandbox aspect of the world you’re in. The saga of Nico Bellic ranks right up there with some of the best movies I’ve seen, and the cast of characters make it an experience more than a game. The strong multiplayer aspect makes it a regular part of our Friday evening rotation with a broad selection of missions and a “Free For All” mode that lets my gang engage in activities that would end in dismemberment and jail time in the real world. In conversations, I’ve stated that I honestly couldn’t see how they’d improve the game.
Then I downloaded The Lost And Damned, an all-new storyline featuring biker gangs in Liberty City. Rockstar has stepped their game up with this one, combining some of my favorite aspects of shows like The Wire and Sons of Anarchy with their unique blend of satire, over-the-top action, and compelling story that provides an even more immersive experience. You play as Johnny, the level-headed vice-president of The Lost, a crew of riders who have just been reunited with their leader, Billy, fresh out of a stint in Liberty City’s finest correctional facilities, and you find yourself having to deal with a man who’ll tear apart his family to take over a city that’s been peaceful in his absence.
And just in case an expansive storyline, great action, and some truly fun missions weren’t enough, they’ve thrown in awesome new additions to the multiplayer functionality that has made the game such a perennial for me. If you want a way to get some honest thrills out of taking out other people and the cards have been a bit cool for you, you can do a lot worse than this.
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Tags: grand theft auto, gta4, gtaiv, xbox, xbox live
