DLC Quest Review: More DLC Please

Remember how enraged the Internet was when Capcom revealed that fans had to shell out an extra $5 to play Resident Evil 5’s online mulitplayer mode? How about the tizzy that fans rolled themselves up into when they discovered that the Beautiful Katamari DLC was a tiny file that unlocked content already on the disc? Going Loud Studios sure does, and their latest indie, DLC Quest, playfully pokes fun at the occasionally ludicrous DLC plans that plague some retail releases.

Want to move to the left? Buy some DLC. Care to hear sound effects? Pay up. Want to access a new area of the map? I think you can see where this is going. Thankfully the payments are made with in-game coins that are sprinkled throughout the levels like a gold volcano recently erupted. In fact, the game is so easy that it really feels more like you’re watching an interactive Flash video and less like you’re playing a game. Success is all-but-assured, but even though DLC Quest can easily be completed in a single sitting, it’s still a wholly satisfying experience that left me thirsty for some DLC of its own.

Find the sword! Collect the coins! Rescue the princess! Yeah, I think we’ve all been here before, but as you may have construed from the game’s mocking attitude, that is kind of the point. You play as an unnamed hero, a googly-eyed boy, who has to rescue the helpless princess from the mustached villain. But, you won’t be able to really do much until you acquire the aforementioned sword and upgrade your abilities by purchasing more DLC from the game’s merchant.

The bulk of the game is spent exploring the cheery 2D world in search of those coveted gold doubloons. There aren’t really any enemies to get in your way and the gold easy to come by, so it’s a pretty low-stress affair aided by the upbeat chiptunes that accompany your adventure. Collecting the coins unlocks new DLC packs with abilities  such as a double jump that unlock new areas, where you’ll collect more gold and repeat the pattern. Some of the gold is hidden in secret areas or caves, but the discolored walls make them easy to spot, and the game shouldn’t be challenging for anyone who isn’t baffled by a D-pad and a jump button.

The lack of difficulty isn’t really a bad thing, and it allows the game to keep the humor flowing, which is really what it does best. The DLC has some amusing descriptions (The pause upgrade: “Need a break? Purchase this pack to gain full control over time itself. Sort of.”) and the characters can be pretty silly. This is far from the type of game where you will strategize over that intense boss fight. In fact, there really aren’t boss fights or combat of any sort. That sword I mentioned? It’s just for hacking down bushes to advance to new areas, and don’t let those zombies in the pic fool you: they are total pushovers and you really can’t even die.

Of course the lack of difficulty means that the experience is rather fleeting and can be completed in about 25 minutes. But while DLC Quest might not be a very long game, I never got frustrated or stopped having fun throughout the entire experience. Everything about the game just oozes charm from its 8-bit pores, and it does a great job of playfully poking fun at some of gaming’s tropes. It’s the perfect bite-sized experience if you’re in the mood for a stress-free mini-adventure that is an absolute joy to play.

Rating:

DLC Quest was provided for review by Going Loud Studios. It can be purchased on the Xbox Marketplace for $1 and there is a free demo. 

By Mike Wall at January 30, 2012.

About Mike Wall

Mike grew up and lives near Philadelphia and has been intrigued with games ever since his parents preached that they rotted his brain. He studied journalism at Penn State and got his master's degree in secondary education before realizing that not even summers off would make that job palatable. He now works in marketing and is trying to find time to continue writing a book about zombies, aliens, vampires, the end of the world, and a talking cat.