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DLC Digest Double Bill: The Walking Dead Episode 2, Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013, Mini Ninjas Adventures, BF3 Close Quarters, GT5 DLC, HD and Fry for WipEout 2048
| Date Posted | Author |
|---|---|
| 1st July 2012 | Matt Bailey |
To make up for the lack of a "DLC Digest" last week while Matt was swanning away at the European GP in Valencia, this edition will be a double bill covering the past two weeks of digital releases on the consoles and handhelds.
First up is brand new games, including last week's release of Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013. Well, this one is pushing the definition of "brand new" a bit, but the sequel does feature a first look at about 100 cards that will feature in the "Magic 2013" set ahead of the launch in a couple of weeks. There's a bunch of other additions and enhancements to the game too, and we'll be looking them in our upcoming review. It's out now on the App Store for iOS, Steam for PC, PlayStation Store for the PS3 (£7.29) and Xbox Live Marketplace for the 360 (800 MSP/£6.80).
There's three new games on the Xbox Live Arcade this week, including the latest episode in Telltale's adventure games based on the popular US TV series. The Walking Dead - Episode 2 is now out on the 360 (and PC), but curiously European - but not North America - PS3 owners need to wait a bit longer. It's out now for 400 MSP/£3.40. Also available is off-road racing game Jeremy McGrath's Offroad - apparently he's a popular American supercross star - for 800 MSP. And also going for that same price is Square Enix's Mini Ninja Adventures, a Kinect-based spin-off from IO Interactive's action-adventure game.
Most of the new games on the PlayStation Store lately are actually digital releases of games that are also on Blu-ray, either getting a re-release or a simultaneous digital appearance. This includes the first two Uncharted games at £14.99 each, BioShock for £11.99, and the new HD re-release of the original Ratchet and Clank trilogy - either together (as they are on Blu-ray) for £23.99, or £11.99 when picked up separately. Ridge Racer 7 gets an unexpected re-release over 5 years after it came out (it launched with the PS3 in Europe), with the new "3D Licence Version" coming with support for 3D TVs, naturally. It's £14.99. It's also Namco Bandai's first digital PS3 game, apparently. They've also bundled up the bits of content for the PS Vita version of Ridge Racer which was available at the handheld's launch in a cut-down budget-priced package, but now it's all together in the "Ultimate Edition" for £19.99.
Also on the PS Vita is the digital release of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, something Matt Bailey heavily praised when it was released on the PS3 earlier this year. This package doesn't include Peace Walker which originally came out on the PSP (and is available digitally already, compatible with the Vita too), but it does arrive at the budget price of £19.99. Another re-release worth highlighting is the Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection, which is actually only available from the PlayStation Store. As well as a graphics update, it also supports the PlayStation Move - alongside traditional controls - allowing you to play The Umbrella Chronicles and The Darkside Chronicles which were originally Wii exclusives. The package cost £21.99.
There's also been a fair bit of high profile DLC released in the last couple of weeks. A few days ago we highlighted the new content for Skyrim and Mass Effect 3, and it seems that EA's Battlefield 3 also received an expansion in the form of "Close Quarters". The £11.99 (PS3) or 1200 MSP/£10.80 pack includes four new maps, ten new weapons, ten new assignments, five new dogtags, and a new game mode - Conquest Domination - which is a version of regular Conquest adapter for smaller spaces. Rival military shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been getting a bunch of maps via the "Call of Duty Elite" scheme, but you can now pick up the latest bundle - Collection 2 - without the subscription for £11.49 on the PS3. It was previously released on the 360 as part of a deal with Microsoft.
If you've completed the campaign in WipEout 2048 then you'll be pleased by the new content Sony released on the PS Vita racer last week. You can now grab game pack for WipEout HD or its "Fury" expansion for £6.49 each which add the content and modes from the PS3 games into WipEout 2048, giving you two new campaigns to get through, and an expanded range of cross-platform multiplayer options. You can also grab both together for £9.99. Better still, if you already own the PS3 parts you get the content for free on the Vita - just head to the PlayStation Store to download it - and if you don't own the PS3 games but buy the Vita packs you get the PS3 equivalent for free too.
Sony's flagship racing game Gran Turismo 5 has a curious DLC release schedule which is a lot slower than Microsoft's with Forza Motorsport 4. Coming to GT5 in the latest PS Store update is the Scion Fr-S '12, which you can add to your garage for no cost, or you can pay for the Twin Ring Motegi track pack which gives you four configurations of the famous Japanese course for £3.99. And separately if you want to get involved in the beta for CCP's upcoming free-to-play multiplayer first person shooter Dust 514 you can buy your way in for £13.99 with the Mercenary Pack which also carries a bunch of advantages you can take with you into the full game when it comes out later this summer.
Lastly there's the Nintendo stores which have had some underwhelming DSiWare and WiiWare lately, but there are a couple of 3DS digital games worth highlighting. Renegade Kids' Mutant Mudds is an interesting 2D platform with some puzzles thrown into the mix. It costs £8.10 from the Shop. And arriving in the last few days is Zen Studios' Marvel-themed take on their own excellent Zen Pinball games. Marvel Pinball 3D is a £6.30 game with four tables themed around Marvel Comics characters.
