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Back in 2006 we got the news that Grand Theft Auto’s ‘epic episodic’ downloadable expansions were scheduled to be exclusive to Microsoft. Nearly three whole years later and Rockstar have delivered on their end of the deal with The Lost & Damned. A brand new adventure with new characters, missions and much more that fits right into Liberty City but will it live up to the hype and amount of money that Microsoft placed on the table?

You play as Johnny Klebitz, a member of a biker gang who call themselves The Lost. As temporary president of The Lost, Johnny restores order and arranges truces between rival gangs but when Billy Grey, the real president of the gang, is let out of rehab the gang starts to descend into it’s old ways. A power struggle then ensues while you meet up with some minor characters who’s backgrounds get fleshed out a bit, along with some well known faces from the original like Elizabeta, Ray Boccino and even Niko Bellic himself. You’ll probably remember a few key scenes that happened during the original game but this time played from Johnny’s perspective. It’s odd to see these events from Johnny’s side as you probably didn’t notice him too much during the core game. For all intents and purposes the game’s story plays out really well especially with the nods to the original story that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

The core structure of the game is pretty much intact. You’re still just driving or catching a taxi somewhere, watching a cutscene, then playing out a mission that seems to involve a lot more combat than we remember. The expansion wastes no time easing you in, so past experience is a must but not necessarily required. The problem with the mission structure is that it’s very samey. Most missions involve epic standoffs that last for ages while you’re just trying to survive when your back is up against the wall. These missions worked excellently during the original but when every mission is meant to be an epic shootout, they kind of lose their appeal.

Seeing as you are in a bike gang this time, Rockstar have added a plethora of new bikes for you to ride and new ways for you to ride as a gang. For the most part the new bikes handle great but most differences between the eighteen new hogs are mainly cosmetic. Although when in a gang the new bikes make your gang look more believable. You have to stay in formation when you aren’t the leader and vice versa.

Meanwhile there are a few new cars and trucks for you to try but nothing to write home about. On the other hand the in-game media has been improved and then some. New internet sites have been included along with a few more television shows and a surprising appearance from regular Mock The Week panelist, Frankie Boyle at the in-game comedy club. The Lost also have a whole host of new tracks to ride to on the Liberty Rock Radio and Liberty City Hardcore Club stations. These fit into the game perfectly and compliment the characters and vibe to a tee. They’ve also added a few more hip-hop and indie tracks to numerous other stations.

For the most part The Lost & Damned is a brilliant story that adds a lot more content and media to the game. But it’s nothing more than a content add-on pack. Nothing revolutionary, nothing to shout about but just more of the same high level story and script work that you’ve come to expect from Rockstar. The nods to the original story are great but we love the whole different vibe within the same city you know. This combined with the cheap price makes it easily value for money considering the 10+ hours of content you’ll be getting here. Fans of the original really have no reason not to pick this up as it is an excellent lesson in how to expand on a story and deliver on downloadable content.