BioShock 2′s multiplayer is about to take a turn for the worst.
Earlier this week, Take-Two announced that the first of several DLC packs for BioShock 2 would be released starting in March. I’ve been digging BioShock 2′s campaign so far, even if it does feel a bit unnecessary, but multiplayer is still up in the air for me. If you’ve read my initial impressions on the game, you’ll remember that I thought the multiplayer was playable as it’s set up just like Modern Warfare’s rank progression and unlock system, but it still doesn’t compare with Modern Warfare 2. Take-Two’s recent announcement of DLC has sort of infuriated me in a way, on two counts. Read on to to see what gets me to proclaim that this series has sold out.
From Take-Two’s press release:
Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, the first of several planned downloadable packages, contains a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2′s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience. The pack includes:
- Rank Increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
- New playable characters Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
- 20 new trials
- A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
Strike #1 – Releasing DLC to a game only about a month after its release
Other games are guilty of this as well, including Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, but for the most part, I believe that most of the “launch DLC” is generally free as part of EA’s new initiative to bundle DLC as part of a retail game in order to dissuade people from buying used copies. But this new BioShock 2 DLC will cost us $5, and all it is is server-side stuff. There’s probably going to be nothing that we’ll have to end up downloading, so not only does it leave a bad taste in my mouth that they are trying to make money off of me so soon after release, but over content that probably won’t even really be downloaded.
Take-Two should have at least had some tact and perhaps waited a couple more months or so to make it seem like they didn’t plan on releasing this DLC one month right after the game shipped. But, maybe it seems like these days, even after games go gold, the studios keep working on the “DLC” since it’s now pretty much normal to try to make more money off DLC. It’s a disturbing trend, but because people do buy this DLC, I can’t complain too much on this issue but the next one is what really caused me to flip my lid.
Strike #2 – Releasing DLC that increases Multiplayer Unbalancing
BioShock 2′s multiplayer already seems a bit unbalanced since when you rank up you unlock new weapon types, weapon upgrades, and plasmids (a level 30 would demolish a level 1 player). But now Take-Two has decided to go down a more ridiculous path by being the first company I am aware of that is charging for DLC that will allow for the increase in level cap for multiplayer competitive play. People loved when level caps were increased through DLC in games like Fallout 3 and Borderlands, but that’s because it allowed gamers to continue enjoying the game solo.
If we read the details of the press release, it’s shocking to see that if someone pays $5 more, they can rank up to 10 levels higher than us, get access to better rank rewards, and more weapon upgrades. Is this a bit too far? It would be like Modern Warfare 2 DLC increasing the level cap to 80 for those that bought it, but it’s not even a fair comparison because Modern Warfare 2′s starting equipment for a new player can stand toe-to-toe with higher level players. BioShock 2 is not quite the same. In any case, I am not happy about this and hope that no one buys it to send Take-Two a message: this DLC is the worst of the worst!
yep, that’s pure bs. the way it sounds, people will be forced to buy the dlc if they want to stand any chance in multiplayer, which is ridiculous.
it’s basically a multiplayer tax.