14 DAY TRIAL // Downloadable content has become a staple of the gaming world nowadays, as almost all titles will receive some form of add-on after their actual release.
From purely cosmetic customization items, to new features, mechanics, missions, or even characters, developers are expanding their games well after their actual launch in order to keep players connected to the experience.
Many big expansions and DLCs appeared this year, but by far the most impressive was Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.
Even if it's a standalone expansion to Far Cry 3, which was my Game of the Year in 2012, it still took place in largely the same world and universe, although quite a few things were changed, starting with the protagonist, to the overall theme, and much more.
That, in my opinion, is one of the only two routes an expansion can take. Either further flesh out the main story and world, or do something completely different that just bases the core mechanics on the main experience.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon did the latter, delivering a game that parodied the cheesy 1980s sci-fi movies, complete with the neon color scheme, to the stereotypical characters, including protagonist Rex "Power" Colt.
The futuristic world was based on the tropical island from Far Cry 3, but all the animals received cybernetic implants, while the actual Blood Dragons were introduced as giant beasts capable of shooting lasers if something got near them.
This unique premise, coupled with the already solid shooting and exploration mechanics from the regular Far Cry 3, resulted in a parody experience that was a joy to watch and interact with at the same time.
I just hope that, with the inevitable Far Cry 4, Ubisoft will continue to think of fun ideas for a potential Blood Dragon-like expansion, while delivering a realistic core experience.