Summary
Video game DLCsare in many cases, a new opportunity to revisit a game players already beat but from a new perspective. In some cases, DLCs are also new beginnings or side stories that add context or expand the original plot to new levels. But the most radical DLCs change the story so much, that they look like a whole new game.
Some of the cases here not only add context to the things players knew when they beat the game but completely alter the story in new and fascinating ways. The heroes become the villains, the tired main character retires, or a new story begins that has nothing to do with the player’s original experience.
7Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries Of The Sith
Introducing One Of The Most Popular Characters Of SW Legends
The vast and iconicStar Warsuniverse hasa lot of great charactersthat were born of the pen of many talented writers tasked by George Lucas with creating the Expanded Universe, now called SW Legends. Among them, Mara Jade (Skywalker) was one of the favorites. The first former Dark Side female user appeared in the franchise as a main character.
In this standalone expansion ofJedi Knight Dark Forces 2Mara Jade made her debut as a playable character for the first (hopefully not last) time, as Kyle Katarn’s apprentice. The game narrates the events happening 10 years afterDark Forces 2(Light Side) ended, where Katarn and Luke Skywalker founded the Yavin Academy. Kyle and his apprentice, Mara, are sent to investigate an ancient Sith Ruin, and Kyle falls to the Dark Side. From there on, players take command of Mara Jade, the first wielder of a purple lightsaber (yes, even before good old Samuel) fans saw on a screen.
WhenDragon: Age Inquisitionsaw the light of day for the first time, fans got to play with a party of quirky characters, from the battle-junkie Iron Bull to the aloof and detached Cassandra. But perhaps the most mysterious companion was always Solas. But, surprise, surprise—he was the bad guy all along.
WhenDragon Age: Inquisition’s main storyline ends, fans can play a different story, set years after the Rift crisis and where the Inquisitor must face a final challenge. As the Inquisition faces dissolution, Qunari raiders pop up in the middle of the party using the Eluvian (magic elven mirrors/teleporters) network. Everyone suspects Solas has a hand in this sudden invasion of the Orlesian lands, and plans to stop him once and for all. It’s a must-play before fans dig into Veilguard since this DLC definitely hasthe answers everyDragon Agefan needs.
So,if players are done screaming at dragonsand raiding Falmer tea parties, there’s a whole island to explore, with a friendly fellow dragon-blooded chosen one dying to be their host. EntersDragonborn, the last DLC ofSkyrim,where the Dragonborn travels to the coasts of Morrowind, to the island of Solstheim where a cult of deranged dragon maniacs is making a rave and the player was not invited.
It seems a little bit strange that after being the one and only Dragonborn, now there’s another one leading a cult on an island, waiting for players to stop him. This storyline diverts too much from the main game and even takes us to a whole different region of Tamriel. However, the same thing can be said about the otherSkyrimDLC:Dawnguard,where players choose a faction and play as if Alduin and his litter of dragons weren’t invading Skyrim.
IfBlood & Wineis notthe most perfect conclusionto Geral Of Rivia’s journey, then nothing is. Traveling across the Arthurian-esque region of Touissant, where Knight-errants roam, the vineyards are aplenty, and courtiers are at it again. Geralt must put up with a last (hard-bargained) monster-slaying contract, before retiring once and for all. And here’s where the story diverts so much from the original character and all the things that Geralt stated throughout theWitchergames. The only possible retirement for a Witcher is death. Either in bed being too old to survive, or under a monster’s claws doing what they were made to do.
But many surprises await the oldWitcherin this colorful new life, like his old friend Regis, the Vampire, and many other characters from the franchise that will make their appearance for the first time. The main quest is tremendously fun to play, a good old-fashioned vampire hunt, but the side quests are what make this DLC shine in a brighter light, and discover the magical Toussaint region like it was never described in the books. If players stumble across a maiden holding a sword in a lake, remember: “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.”
V did a lot of things in Night City while trying to find a cure for his skull invader problem, and among those things, the worst idea of them all was to dive into the ruthless Dogtown district, a lawless zone directed by an autocratic (former) military tyrant, that wants to take down the government of the New United States of America. This DLC isthe ultimate conclusion to V’s journeyand a must-play for everyCyberpunk 2077fan. The game adds many new cool features; weapons, airdrops, and side quests.
Since the main appeal ofCyberpunk 2077was playing as a freelancer/mercenary who owes his allegiance to no one, it might seem a bit strange that Phantom Liberty forces players to pick a side and stick with it to the dire end. The DLC seems like a total change of paradigm from the first run, and even Johnny Silverhand has s thing or two to say about our limited set of choices, which end up with the revelation of V’s final destination.
The epic conclusion of the Courier’s saga begins with a cryptic call from former “Courier Six” (AKA Ulysses), and the man who is technically responsible for the player’s character being shot in the face at the beginning of theFallout: New Vegasstory. This DLC is an overall new story to play, more of a personal quest (seeking answers) than the usual to save the wasteland from imminent doom every Friday.
Lonesome Roadfeels more like a new storyline, and for some, it is quite a hard pill to swallow, since the main villain has been looming around all the time, playing in the shadows, and the ultimate face-off against him can be a little anticlimactic. But, in truth, this is one of the most interesting DLCs that theFalloutseries has ever seen, and Ulysses isdefinitely an underrated villain of the franchise.
The main story of the epic RPGNeverwinter Nightsnarrates the events happening in the Jewel of the Sword Coast when a mysterious plague struck, and players are the heroes on duty at the time. From investigating the labyrinth-like streets of this Faerunian city to delving into the massive sewer systems slaying cultists, this game has it all.
But everything changes when playing theShadows of UndrentideDLC, which not only adds lots of classes, perks, and more, but another epic tale to play. This is a standalone story campaign, where players take on the role of one of the apprentices of a blacksmith, who is actually a Harper, a member of Faerün’s order of secret agents of good. It is up to the players to discover the secrets behind the poisoning of their mentors, and to unveil an evil plot to acquire a (potentially world-destroying) set of ancient relics for an evil sorcerer.ClassicD&Dat its finest.
