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| Back With A Vengeance: Crimson Alliance First DLC Is Here |
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The price point on Crimson Alliance: Vengeance, the first DLC for Certain Affinity's Gauntlet-styled dungeon brawler, is right on the money at 240 Microsoft points. From this low, low price you might infer that this is only a minor addition to the game, considering that some games have offered premium themes or avatar awards for around the same cost. In the case of Crimson Alliance: Vengeance, there's real, playable content in this new pack. Treasure, maps, challenges, and enemies get a refresh for at least a few new romps in the world you will have thoroughly explored by now. The most glaring omission, the add-on we're all really waiting for, didn't make it to Crimson Alliance: Vengeance. You won't be buying a new character class just yet, but perhaps Santa can arrange something for later this year...
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What's in the box is a set of new levels that take you through some familiar territory above ground and below. The first brings us a trope that hasn't failed to entertain for the past year or so, and shows no sign of lagging: zombies! Yes, that's right. The zombies here are fast and can take a beating, so you'll get a workout if your character isn't fully maxed from playing the earlier campaign levels. There's a force driving all the undead that you're going to have to defeat, a new ninja character. Hmmm... ninjas? Think that might be a hint as to the fourth playable character? Nah, too much like the previously available Assassin, we think. Most everything in this add-on level looks familiar, but some new items make an appearance and, of course, there is new equipment to be found.
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If Shadow Ninjas hold reign over the undead, Fire Ninjas are what you'd expect to find in the lava-filled caverns below ground. And you'd be right. This isn't the first time the game has descended below street level, but the fire effects are really a great feature here. Likewise, the enemies now include a familiar cast plus the massive Infernal Crag. These giants are really one of the most annoying enemies yet, impervious to some attacks and capable of smashing away tons of life in one massive hit. And they're fast. Accompanying all the fiery enemies in this add-on level are plenty of skeleton hordes, flaming Wargs, and the larger mini-bosses you will recall from earlier in the game. Again, there's a secret room for each class to be found here, along with treasure to add to your already generous stash.
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Accompanying these story-driven maps you'll find a challenge level, designed to test your stamina against wave after wave of enemy fighters. All aspects of the Crimson Alliance: Vengeance DLC are geared toward playing with a group. There were levels you could complete easily as solo runs, very early in the original game, but nothing in the DLC should really be attempted without at least one partner. Unlike some games that nerf enemies or modify the surroundings for single-player efforts, Crimson Alliance throws everything at you, all the time. Bringing three or four fighters into play would be ideal for this DLC, as it's appropriately ramped up to reward players that may be finding the original levels too easy. It's a bit disappointing not to get a new character, but fans of the original game now have a genuine challenge for characters developed during the original levels.
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-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock |
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