DLC Quest(PC)

 Due to a sudden change in our regulations, I'm pleased to announce that we, at Distro's random blog, are now offering our reviews as DLC. You want to read them? DLC. You want to see the pictures? DLC. You want to leave a comment? Well, that feature isn't implemented yet, but we got it as pre order DLC. Order these amazing features NOW!
As everyone most likely knows, DLC means "Downloadable Content", and is additional content for games and software that usually involves paying a small fee to be able to use. In other words, DLC items are "official" game mods and add-ons you have to pay to use. Although it's meant to be used as a  way to add to the already supposedly satisfactory content you own, some view it as way to make a bit more profit from the overly pricey product they have made. DLC quest, a 3$ game on steam, takes this idea and plays it straight, illustrating just how bad DLC can get .

To make things clear right from the start, DLC Quest is not a game that forces you to buy DLC. You will be using in game money to pay for all the DLC you have to get, and take notice of the bold word "have". The game is a 2D platformer which has had almost all of it's features removed and made into DLC. When you start the game, you should consider yourself lucky that it has graphics as the music, the animation and even the ability to move to the left has been completely removed from the game. To progress, you have to collect coins to buy the DLC needed to play the game, with quite literally almost every single thing you will need to actually play the game being DLC and having to be bought with (in game) money you've collected. As stated above, the game does this for laughs and is simply exaggerating the "DLC market" of modern day gaming. Many concepts and jokes are lampshaded by the NPCs and especially by the main character himself. This goes as far as placing some obviously pointless DLC into the game's items to illustrate jsut how reidiculous things can get and going all the way as locking each possible ending into DLC. DLC quest offers an enjoyable 30-45 minutes of game time,depending on how fast you are, and is quite fun to play. But wait, there's more! If you buy the game, you can play the sequel: DLC Quest Live Freemium or DIE! The game takes place after the original DLC quest and offers an even deeper look into the problems of DLC and how bad it can get, as well as more lampshading and humor. Allot of the jokes present in the sequel point out the lack of effort many put into DLC and just how much it has become an expected feature from a game. Areas that are left unfinished, empty spaces for future DLC NPCs even "day 1 patches" are lampshaded, mocked and played for laughs. With this version, you will easily get a good 1-2 hours of play, which makes sense considering it's at least twice as big as the original DLC quest.

One thing both games have going for them is their self aware sense of humor. The main character continually lampshades various tropes and memes, as well as just how ridiculous the DLC concept is getting, especially in Freemium, which also has some of the better moments for the main character. One of my favorites is when he actually thanked one of the NPCs for having left all the items for a quest in one same area,saying it was one the nicest things to happen to him that day. Anyone who, like me, has played many RPG's with fetch quests know just how nice that was.

Wow, I'm....actually touched. 

The game's message, on the other hand, bothers me. It's not the fact that it's about DLC, but more the fact that it's implying that all DLC is bad and that those who create it would sell their own soul as DLC if they could sell it for a nice price, something I heavily disagree with. Yes, DLC is often abused for stupid add-ons, but at the same time, it can be used well. It can add to an already good game, expanding it's universe and story, it can make for a more diverse cast to play with and it helps keep some games up and running at their best. It's not all bad and I find it doesn't portray the better aspects of DLC very well.

Overall, DLC Quest was a fun game, though it was also quite short. It's views on DLC are a bit too black and white to my taste, though it still remains a charming little game thanks to it's humor and constant lampshading. Overall, I can't say it's one of the first things I would recommend, but I can easily say the game is worth your time.

Final Verdict: 7/10
Pros:
+Cheap(3$ on steam)
+Funny and entertaining
+Uses humor to illustrate some valid issues with the DLC market.
Cons:
-The way it portrays DLC is a bit too black and white.
-Very short.