Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned

Being one of those unfortunate Playstation owners who had to wait for the much anticipated slice of Grand Theft Auto's DLC I can certainly say it was worth the delay; delivering a fantastic story that links into to the original instalment as well as a new protagonist, new weapons and pretty much everything a faithful DLC is made up of.

Johnny Klebitz is a member of the ugliest biker gang in Liberty City - The Lost (There is yet to be a playable character of the series that doesn't look like a shaven monkey - Sorry Rockstar). He has to, as expected; deal with all sort of shenanigans set to come his way within the course of roughly six to eight hours of story gameplay.

Now if you haven't already played the marvellous Grand Theft Auto 4(though you probably have, if you didn't purchase Episodes From Liberty City), then it is strongly recommended to play through Niko Bellic's story since plot details, characters and the ashamed knowledge that you know Liberty City better than your own city will all be very important to helping you appreciate the finer details of this DLC. If you do the unthinkable habit of skipping cut scenes then this obviously wont matter too much, but will help never the less.

The gameplay is the exactly the same as before so players who haven't used their dusty console in a long time shouldn't have too much trouble remembering the basics. The Lost and Damned adds plenty of fun elements to the sterling gameplay though - such as whacking people in the face with a baseball bat while racing and a Grenade Launcher that makes the old RPG look like an antique. Helpfully there are also some more useful elements such as checkpoints in long missions meaning no huge back tracking that was seen in the end of Grand Theft Auto 4.

The story ties up some unanswered loose ends of GTA 4, and creates new ones which The Ballad of Gay Tony will inevitably finish off. Also the plot despite using similar ideas seen in the previous game displays them in a different context and scenarios throughout, which does justice to the gritty tale of GTA 4 and makes the shoot-outs and killings feel more significant and varied because of this strong sense of story.

Rockstar have made a DLC worthy of any gamer's attention and made it in keeping with the tone, realism and depth fans received when they first stepped into Liberty City.

"The Lost and Damned" expansion for "Grand Theft Auto IV" offers a unique take on Liberty City's criminal underworld - this time, not through the eyes of a lone immigrant, but from the perspective of a true biker. And if you thought life in a gang was all about beer, rock music, and cruising around the city, you're in for a surprise: there's betrayal, brutal showdowns, and even a hint of drama. Well... almost.

The protagonist is Johnny Klebitz, a member of the biker club "The Lost". Johnny's life is anything but smooth: loyal brothers on one side, internal strife and turf wars on the other, plus the constant feeling that everything's about to spiral out of control. The story unfolds with confidence and keeps you engaged, with events stacking neatly and characters that stick in your mind. At some point, though, it becomes clear that the game tries to be emotional - but never quite hits those truly powerful notes. Still, it's nice how well the story fits into the broader "GTA IV" narrative and even intersects with it at times.

In this game, the bike is more than just a vehicle - it's practically the co-star. Everything revolves around two wheels: missions, side activities, getting around town. If you didn't know how to handle a motorcycle in "GTA IV", you'll learn here - there's no other choice. And for me, those rides were an absolute blast.

Visually, the game seemed slightly different. It felt darker, the colors more subdued. Though maybe that's just how I remember it.

"The Lost and Damned" is a solid biker story that could easily stand on its own. With engaging characters, intense shootouts, and its own gritty vibe, the expansion is well-crafted and genuinely fun to play. I definitely enjoyed it.

7 out of 10.

Forget GTA4 as Lost and Damned is the game that GTA4 should have been. Better Missions, better characters and even better music tracks too. I had more fun and excitement playing as the member of the biker gang than I had playing Niko in the proper game of GTA4. The story is good and the action is actually quite realistic, more realistic than GTA4. The music is to die for as it has grand bands providing the tunes like Deep Purple and Motley Crue for starters. It really helps you get into "the Zone" and then the concentration on the game becomes more clear and then the fun really begins. Also it incorporates some of the original characters of GTA4 into the new storyline which is a great touch, I think they did that just so the original characters are forgotten. If you wanna ride, I guarantee it will bring out the biker in you.

WELL! Just when I thought Grand Theft Auto 4 was superb, they went and brought out something that rises above the already extreme grand yardstick! Cruisin around Liberty City on your Harley Davidson, messing around with your sawed off shot gun, blowing people across the boundaries as well as knocking them over... But wait... You have a gang of other bikes on your side following you in formation where ever you go! Really Rockstar have outdone themselves again and I'd have confidence in them for every chapter they have to sell us.

I won't be second in line to get it this time.

GTA fans, do not hesitate in any way to buy this fantastic Expansion, especially at such a cheap price. It is well worth it, Believe Me! Overall rating: 10/10

This time around, you get put in the driver's seat as the Vice President (and eventual President) of Liberty City's hardest-riding Chopper gang, The Lost, as Johnny "The Jew" Klebitz, a commander trying to keep his M.C. chapter together as it splinters into factions. This entry feels more toned-down than the main game, and probably the weakest of the GTA IV trilogy, but it's still a solid ride; the controls (especially the driving) are solid, the motorcycles handle smoothly, the action is fun, you've probably heard this whole rundown before. Point is, these characters thunder down the streets of Liberty, full-throttle, this be-damned-to-you attitude where you're part of Liberty City's alpha pack, and it's a fun ride-along to go on when you have a few hours to kill. Not their best, but still another fine example of why Rockstar are among gaming's best.