Recently released as a compilation of both expansion packs for GTA IV, Episodes from Liberty City is something that simply should not be missed if you’re a fan of GTA. As mentioned, the recently released PS3 and PC versions contain both expansion packs which were once exclusive to the Xbox 360, first as downloadable content and then subsequently on a compilation disc. Episodes doesn’t require the original GTA to play, but I would recommend that you play through GTA IV before firing up the expansions as there are a lot of references, in-jokes and plot tie-ins that you might not entirely understand. It’s also recommended that you play The Lost and Damned before playing The Ballad of Gay Tony. Of course, if you don’t give a crap about story, plot or the game’s insanely awesome writing and voice-acting, you can choose to play Episodes whichever way you want.
The first expansion, The Lost and Damned, follows protagonist Johnny Klebitz, an integral part of Liberty City’s ‘The Lost’ motorcycle gang. Johnny is the vice president of the Lost MC, which at the beginning of the story is en route to pick up its president, Billy Grey who is in court-ordered rehabilitation after being picked up from drug possession. In Billy’s absence, Johnny has been making truces with rival bike gangs to ensure that business deals run smoother — but Billy doesn’t approve of this. Living in the past, Billy aims to ruin all Johnny’s productive efforts by waging all-out war on rival gangs. Needless to say, this means Johnny has to get his hands real dirty. He also encounters several characters from GTA IV including Ray Boccino, Niko and Roman Bellic, Elizabeta and others. A lot of stuff that was left unexplained is cleared up when you see things from Johnny’s perspective. The writing is more serious in an overall sense this time around, but there’s still a lot of tongue-in-cheek and dark humour throughout. Johnny is a lot more proficient at riding Motorcycles than Niko, so you’ll be able to pull of some neat handbrake turns and shoot more accurately while riding, but his car-driving skills are not up to the mark. The game adds fun activities to do at the gang’s clubhouse, which also serves as a save point and a pick-up point for weapons. New weapons include a sawed-off shotgun, assault shotgun, machine pistol etc. Johnny can also call one of his Lost gang members to bring him weapons, bikes or give him backup on various missions. ‘Gang Wars’ and Races are also interesting new additions.
The Ballad of Gay Tony explores Liberty City’s nightlife, with its debauchery, drugs and healthy doses of European electronic music. Oh, and let’s not forget the paparazzi, bulimic supermodels, crazy Jewish and middle-eastern mobsters, Hispanic drug dealers and bare-knuckle fighting contests! TBOGT also sports the best-written characters and voice-acting this side of GTA IV, even managing to surpass it at times. You play Luis Fernando Lopez, bodyguard of Liberty City’s most notorious nightclub owner, Anthony Prince, who goes by ‘Gay Tony’, thanks to his orientation. Tony has borrowed money from all kinds of people you don’t borrow money from, and he’s having a little ‘difficultly’ paying the dough back. His nightclubs aren’t doing too well, so Tony and Luis have to do favours for all of Tony’s creditors to keep them from ‘whacking’ him. Since Luis is Tony’s muscle, it’s up to you to kill union leaders, manage nightclubs, dance and get laid, jump off helicopters, scare the pants off bloggers and steal armoured vehicles. Typical GTA stuff, but it’s the presentation this time around that makes it special. There’s all this new interesting content that fits in so perfectly, often leaving you wondering if it was all there in the original game. Add to this some nifty new additions like in-mission checkpoints (accessible via cellphone), even more weapons (the deadly P90 Assault SMG being one of them), parachutes, new helicopters, cars and remote explosives. Audio is further enhanced by the presence of three new radio stations and more songs/sketches for stations old and new.
Looks like Rockstar Games have succeeded in their mission of showing the various sides of Liberty City with these two expansion packs. The level of detail is staggering, and when you’re playing as any of the three protagonists, you can simply feel that there’s a lot more going on than the missions you’re on. God only knows what GTA V (or even Rockstar San Diego’s Red Dead Redemption) will achieve, with development teams having access to even more advanced tech.
Verdict
Episodes from Liberty City features more of the same, brilliant content that we have come to know and love from the chaps at Rockstar North. GTA fans will not be disappointed.
—videep@gmail.com
