The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we dive head first into BioShock 2’s Minerva’s Den DLC.
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Developer: 2K Marin
Region(s) available: North America, Europe
Price: $9.99
An emotional, narrative-heavy slice of DLC, Minerva’s Den plonks players in the shoes of Subject Sigma; a Big Daddy guided by the booming voice of the unseen Charles Porter. Fans will be pleased to know that the nucleus of Minerva’s Den isn’t at all derivative of the core BioShock titles, with players slogging through Rapture gobbling up plasmids, uncovering new areas and completing objectives.
Since the events depicted here transpire during those of BioShock 2, there’s plenty of familiarity to be had. You’ll square up against the same foes as you saw in the underwater sequel, and utilize a host of familiar weapons, plasmids and other items. And, while the proceedings are coated with a distinct ‘been there, done that’ vibe, there’s still plenty of new additions to keep you distracted. Fresh content the ion laser and new foes such as the brutes, frost-covered splicers and a new, terrifying breed of Big Daddy that is able to bind you with cannons.
Plasmids are just as instrumental in your efforts as they’ve always been, and the new gravity type is especially useful for sending limbs airborne and flaying. The meat-and-potatoes of Minerva’s Den is pretty much your bog-standard BioShock bonanza, mixing heated combat sequence with atmospheric exploration. In particular, ADAM-rich corpses are found in zones that require much vigilance in regards to protecting your Little Sister, though still rewards the strategically-minded for those who love to set up turret and rivet traps. The Big Sisters are still just as brutal as ever, and are sure to keep you on your toes.
Join us again tomorrow for another gander Inside PlayStation Network.