Category: PS3

Extra Arkham City action is far from purr-fect

Taking the form of a single player scenario rather than the various combat and predator challenges available for purchase in Arkham Asylum, Arkham City’s first piece of downloadable content fits perfectly into Rocksteady’s second instalment of their Batman games. Although there may be a huge contrast when playing as Batman for long periods only to then be thrust into the high-heeled boots of Catwoman, it flows very well within the context of events.

Begin a new game and you assume the role of Catwoman in the first of four parts of her scenario that are interspersed throughout the Bat’s main adventure. When you start your journey through Hugo Strange’s super-prison as the Dark Knight your first task is to rescue Selina Kyle from Two-Face’s clutches and with the DLC plugged in you get an insight into Catwoman’s dealings with Dr Strange and Harvey Dent.

It’s easy to assume that these intrude on …

Chock-full of explosions, pecs and loot, Mr Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage centres around the Badass Crater of Badassitude, whilst an illegal tournament takes place with the purpose of finding Pandora’s biggest badass. As a heroic Vault Hunter, it’s not long before you’re in the running to become the ultimate badass.

The contest, and DLC, is fronted by the loud-mouthed Mr Torguef. Arguably one of the most extravagant personalities Gearbox has ever dreamed up, he’s the perfect guide through the intricate workings of the tournament; namely, killing things. Everything outside of explosions, expletives or executions is seemingly lost on this one-sided character, including spoilers as he lets slip that a new character ‘seems like he’s gonna betray the f**k outta you’. Subtle.

Disappointingly, a lot of Campaign of Carnage is similarly one-dimensional. The main missions see you climb the ladder of the tournament by routinely killing off various underwhelming bosses. There’s a re-skinned Ellie – the top-heavy mechanic – called Motor …

Undead ass-whooping is over before it’s even begun

If there’s one game that manages to ‘get’ itself in a way that isn’t too serious or overly tongue-in-cheek, it’s without a doubt Sleeping Dogs. And just like how the original game was a tribute to the crime-drama of Asian cinema, the new Nightmare in North Point DLC practically drips with a fan-boy romanticism for the hammy horror movies of 70’s Hong Kong.

Rather than appear as a yellow mission marker, as with previous Sleeping Dogs DLC like the Zodiac Tournament, Nightmare in North Point serves as a separate game world. Think Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare and you’re about there. Trapped in perpetual night, Wei Shen wanders out of cinema showing a horror flick only to find Hong Kong has been overrun with the kind of evil he’s just watched on the big screen. Mainly a load of freaky spirits and weird, floaty vampires. Not one to confine ass-kicking to the …

More guns, more loot, and new lands ahoy!

Having set the quality standard so high in Borderlands 2, Gearbox could easily have just added more of the same with DLC and we’d be happy. But with Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty they’ve dared to experiment with some new ideas that really pay off.

The enticing promise of a hoard of lost loot drives the main quest line of the new Pirate’s Bay area, but you’ll have to fight for it. The legendary ‘Leviathan’ boss stands between you and the booty, not to mention the legion of pirates under the command of the ruthless Captain Scarlett.

For all the greatness of Borderlands 2, the leveling-up system leaves much to be desired. Complete every side-quest and your character soon becomes an unflinching killing machine and a majority of main quest areas and enemies are seen off with ease. In Captain Scarlett’s the bad guys level-up with you and offer a challenge …

Bruce Lee inspired adventure lacks the staying power of the kung-fu star

The latest DLC for 2012 sleeper hit Sleeping Dogs is here and it’s got a taste for retro style violence. Following in the same vein as previous DLC, Nightmare in Northpoint, The Zodiac Tournament is another tribute to the colourful history of Honk Kong Cinema, and this time it’s the turn of the classic seventies’ kung-fu flick, Enter the Dragon.

Set on a mysterious offshore island, The Zodiac Tournament sees undercover bad ass Wei Shen investigate rumours of dodgy millionaires with a taste for illegal blood sports. And just like the main game, this new DLC is less of a tongue-in-cheek parody and more a faithful nod to its cinematic inspiration. With a brand new location to explore, the mission is split into a series of arenas where you face-off against waves of enemies and go toe-to-toe with a series of increasingly tougher fighters vying for the grand …

New modes are slick, but have few ugly fouls in their game too

The first major slice of NBA 2K13 DLC comes in the form of the all-singing, all-dancing, erm, All-Star Weekend pack. We first thought this should’ve already been included on the disc anyway – after all, what’s an NBA season without the mid-point showcase? However, as soon as you fire it up you realise that 2K Sports has spent a lot of time to make the feel of this DLC unique and worthwhile. Because although the regular on-court action plays the same, the brand-new minigames are a whole different game. And not always for the better.

Firstly, the three-point challenge is overcomplicated. Despite using the same ‘release at the top of your jump’ mechanic, there’s now a horizontal bar that shows a basketball racing along it on every shot. You’re supposed to let go when it hits the sweet spot on the line, but it only serves to …