Legends & Killers is a relatively small download, clocking in at about 40MB, and is available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for 800 MS points and AU$15.95 respectively. For all the merit in the multiplayer of Red Dead Redemption, the plain and simple truth is that the game’s primary shining star is the single player. While Legends & Killers primarily expands on the multiplayer, there have been a few minor additions that can be used in single player.
There's a new sheriff in town.
This comes in the form of a new weapon: the Tomahawk, which can be purchased at the Manzanita Outpost. For use in both single and multiplayer, this versatile little do-hacky can be considered both a melee and ranged weapon. In the single player, you’ll get a whole new set of challenges to accompany your new toy, which will take you a while to get through. In multiplayer, there is nothing quite as satisfying as hitting a ‘Hail Mary’ on an unsuspecting opponent. Used sparingly, it can be fun. But as the saying goes, don’t bring a Tomahawk to a gun fight…
Simply put, if you’re only in Red Dead Redemption for the single player, a Tomahawk and a few challenges isn’t really worth your points/dollars. However, the multiplayer has been given the most additions. Free Roam still remains pretty much the same, though a DLC pack is meant to add to this mode before year’s end. Otherwise, the Legends & Killers pack is adding to your maps and characters for the more traditional multiplayer modes. These additions are easily accessible from the multiplayer menu and will open up upon purchase.
Horsey fights back.
Upon purchase of the Legends & Killers pack, you’ll have access to eight characters from the cast of the game’s spiritual predecessor, Red Dead Revolver. This includes Red Harlow, the protagonist, and instantly recognisable characters such as Pig Josh (who like Red, has a new achievement attached) and Ugly Chris (no, that's not an ironic name). All characters manage to retain their looks while adapting to the more realistic locales of Red Dead Redemption. Furthermore, it seems that people can see your Red Dead Revolver character in Free Roam, regardless of whether they've purchased it as well.
Aside from the addition of characters, nine multiplayer maps have been added. Encouragingly, this substantially increases the number of playable maps. Disappointingly, all of these ‘new’ maps are simply recycled from the single player/Free Roam. We guess that this explains the download size. To the game’s credit, these maps actually make for good multiplayer maps, but it’s disappointing that more wasn’t done. For example, there are no maps that pay homage to Red Dead Revolver. Also, additions such as the Gatling guns aren’t too useful, as you’re essentially giving away your position way too easily and becoming a sitting duck, while some individual spawn points aren't the best considered, often leading to concurrent spawns or positions that favour campers.
I smell bacon!
Three of the existing maps: Diez Coronas, Pacific Union Railroad Camp and Tumbleweed are now available with more playable modes. Interestingly, it seems that a lot of the players that are still plugging away at the frantic multiplayer matches have jumped on the Legends & Killers bandwagon, as the multiplayer was well-populated and often free of lag. The regular multiplayer modes seem to have been… deserted.
As often seems to be the talking point with DLC, the big question around Legends & Killers; is it worth the money? Well, if all you do is play single player, then no. It’s disappointing that the theme of rekindling Red Dead Revolver really hasn’t been utilised to the fullest possible extent and that the new multiplayer maps, while applied well, aren’t really 'new'. However, there was the little matter of a DLC pack called the Stimulus Package for this other little game, which cost more and didn’t give you that much… So as far as multiplayer packs go, Legends & Killers in the very least provides the minimum from what any multiplayer afficionado would expect from a multiplayer DLC pack.
Worth buying? Maybe
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Downloadable content ratings system
We've given a 'buy' rating of 'Yes', 'Maybe', or 'No'.
Yes means that the content is either great value or brings some substantial additions to the game, or possibly both.
Maybe means that the content may be fun while it lasts, but may either be too short or not enough to fully justify the price tag.
No means that we don't recommend downloading this insubstantial content.
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