THE FACT SHEET

RELEASE DATE: September 21st, 2010
PUBLISHER: Rockstar Games
DEVELOPER: Rockstar Games
GENRE: Sandbox, Action-Adventure
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
PRICE: 800 MS Points

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

• New Achievements
• New Game mode: Stronghold
• Brand New Weapon: Explosive Rifle
• Seven New Hideouts and Four Hunting Locations
• Multiplayer Poker, Horse Racing and Liar’s Dice Games
• Fifteen New Multiplayer characters from Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar returns with even more downloadable content for its western masterpiece with the “Liars and Cheats” DLC pack. Just like my previous review on Red Dead Redemption’s DLC, I am going to pick apart the package, piece-by-piece, so you can evaluate if it’s worth spending your Microsoft points on.

Straight away, the most talked about and hyped addition to the online free-roam for Red Dead Redemption was the opportunity to play both Poker and Liars Dice. Thankfully, the games do not take place during the free-roam sessions, otherwise people would be sitting ducks.

The great thing about these game modes is how games differ depending on the location you pick. For example, if you want to have a fun and care-free Poker game, you are more likely to get one from MacFarlane’s Ranch. Chuparosa is a different story. Along with that, people who rage quit will automatically be removed from the session and not effect in-game play. My only complaint about the online gambling modes would be the limitation on funds per-day; however I can understand why Rockstar put it into place.

Besides the online gambling modes, Rockstar also added Horse Racing. For something that is considered to be fast-paced and action-based, it feels incredibly slow and unrewarding. I ended up in a race where I kept my pace and had a nice steady place in second. However, after pushing my horse to run faster, I swiftly ran out of momentum and ended the race in fifth.

Combat on horses is no easy task. Since the right joystick is used for both the camera and aiming, you should avoid the risk of shooting, and instead hope to avoid getting shot. One way Rockstar could improve this would be to add either a Normal setting, instead of the default Expert, or a Racing mode without combat and faster horses.

Next up, we have the brand-new hunting locations and gang hideouts. All of these new locations are short and simple, yet a lot of fun. While they aren’t as complex as, say Fort Mercer or Tumbleweed, they help build up lower levels and are fun to visit when travelling from one large hideout to another. My only issue with the hideouts is the amount of experience points you earn feel almost insulting, since some locales are much larger than Twin rocks. Hopefully Rockstar re-evaluates the experience points earned from the hideouts and balances it out in a more sensible way.

Upon completion of the hideouts, the highest scorer will earn themselves the Explosive rifle to use in free-roam. The only way I can describe it would be to call it a mini hand-cannon. It has impressive range, capable of killing a sniper from 200 yards out. While a devastating weapon to use, ammo is sparse and once you are killed, you lose the gun. If Rockstar lets players at least keep the gun after being killed, I wouldn’t have to pick at such minor details. After all, if you earned it, you should be allowed to keep it.

Aside from the additional free-roam content, Rockstar added a brand new game mode called Stronghold. To sum it up, it takes game modes such as capture-the-flag and attack-and-defense, and merges them into a chaotic team-based mode. The biggest issue with this game mode is the word “Team”, which seems to have no meaning in the world of Red Dead Redemption. Instead, you’ll you spend more time watching your teammates rush out to try and get the best time, costing the game for everyone else. Another flaw with this game mode is a recurring issue in Red Dead Redemption DLC, which is the spawning system. If you are one of the many lone-wolfs of the free-roam mode, you will not enjoy this game mode at all.

Finally, we have the brand new character skins taken from the story mode of Red Dead Redemption. I, for one, loved the magnificent selection of choices. It was great to see characters such as Bonnie MacFarlane, Marshal Johnston, Abraham Reyes, and even Bill Williamson available. My only issue with the selection is the final two names featured, Nigel West Dickens and Harold MacDougal (I also have a personal dislike for Jack Marston, but he is a key feature to the story).

Now, while they are entertaining characters from the story mode, they don’t fit into the free-roam world; that’s because they aren’t violent people. If there were two people that should have been added, but weren’t, are Landon Ricketts and Javier Escuella. Landon Ricketts helped John when he first came to Mexico and was even hinted at helping Jack Marston towards the end of the game. Javier was once part of John Marston’s gang and would have been a fantastic addition for Machinama film makers. Yet, as I begun to write this review, I read a recent Q&A from Rockstar about this situation, and while I don’t completely agree with them, it is their choice alone. Hopefully in the future, a wider selection of Red Dead Redemption characters will appear.

Conclusion: It seems I must fold to Rockstar and let them take all my chips this time around. While yes, The Liars and Cheats DLC Pack isn’t the most honestly advertised content at the poker table, it does have perks which make it worth the 800 Points. The free-roam content and addition of Poker and Liars Dice add a lot of variety to the online western world. Just don’t bet on the Horse Racing and Stronghold being as interesting as advertised.

Special thanks to Rockstar for providing us with a copy of this content for review.