When Irrational Games asked us to return to Boston for a preview of the long-awaited Bioshock Infinite DLC, I went in with some expectations. i used to be anticipating that the primary pack would introduce a brand new character (and perhaps a brand new companion), embroiled in a richly woven narrative. I also expected that we wouldn’t see the content go live for no less than a number of weeks. i used to be wrong your complete way down the road.

The first Bioshock Infinite DLC, Clash inside the Clouds may be out in precisely a number of hours (12 pm Pacific on Steam and rolling out on Xbox 360 and PS3 during the day). And while it isn’t entirely with out narrative, the emphasis isn’t on character, and the theory of Columbia’s “setting” gives strategy to “level design.” It is an arena mode that specializes in guns and vigors, and as someone who found this the least appealing element of the Bioshock Infinite experience, i used to be a chunk underwhelmed.

Clash within the Clouds offers four maps that evoke different areas of the campaign. The Finktown Docks, Emporia, the Boardwalk, and the luxurious town center all make an appearance. Each map features skylines and tears changing around the total 60 different encounters, which keeps the challenge high.

“If a wave was going to be trivialized by having the skyline in there, then we pulled it out,” lead game designer Forrest Dowling told me for example. “In terms of the time spent in development before you stop and do bug fix, it was probably about 50-50. The primary half was spent hashing out the spaces, like knowing where the skylines were going to move and where we were going to put cover.

“The second one half was spent making each wave exceptional, and realizing which tears we would have liked, what we would have liked to do with skylines, etc. We did retune enemy and player damage a section faraway from the bottom game, but i think that any one however the most hardcore or systems designers would notice.”

The combat is definitely competent, using traditional arena and horde mode mid-round restock mechanics. After each brief bout, players are sent back to the staging area, inclusive of free guns and ammo, vending machines to upgrade arms and vigors, and an infusion (boost of utmost health, shields, or vigor-powering salts) or piece of substances. A pop-up discloses the following encounter’s “blue ribbon challenge” and enemy types, so players may be able to prepare accordingly.

The blue ribbon challenges aren’t essential to progress, but accomplishing this kind of bonus tasks awards more cash. These are varied and keep things interesting from bout to bout. Using specific weapons, varying kill types, executing only headshots, avoiding headshot and heartshots, and using the skylines (or avoiding them) are all examples of varieties of challenges I faced. 

The only enemies that aren’t featured in Clash within the Clouds are Songbird and the men of Silence. In my time, I encountered soldiers, firemen, motorized patriots, sentry balloons, and handymen.  Smart use of skylines and the available tears are crucial to success.

Clash within the Clouds offers varieties of experiences to fit more than a few players. Players can continue on should they fail a round, however the blue ribbon challenge for that round and the leaderboard ranking for all the run are forfeit. For those simply inquisitive about working during the content, it’s a superbly suitable option. The competitive among us will find numerous meat at the bone, with a deep challenge to push through a whole map without failure.

Cash isn’t just used for upgrades, and Dowling desired to make sure players had something to do with their surpluses. Outside of the world, the hot Columbia Archaeological Society allows players to profit for concept art, behind the curtain videos, the period versions of modern music, character models, and a neat surprise. There’s a little bit of narrative hidden within the gallery for players to search out.

Thankfully, for people that are only interested by the theory art, videos, and music, one time through Clash within the Clouds ought to be enough. “If they spend all their money on every weapon and vigor upgrade, maybe they won’t have enough for everything inside the archaeological society,” Dowling said. “If you simply really desired to consider unlocking things, you must probably do it by the halfway point.”

Click to enlarge

If you’ve got a season pass, Clash within the Clouds will tide you over for a short time. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but my love for Bioshock Infinite was within the narrative, not the action.

Additionally, watch out for bugs. i used to be playing at the PS3 and encountered a freezing glitch that wiped my progress at the first map’s encounter 14 of 15. A colleague playing at the Xbox 360 bumped into a controversy with the vending machine improperly recognizing a purchase order, taking his money but not delivering the products. These will likely get fixed, but as we were playing content just a day before release, it’s reasonable to expect that individuals purchasing today might run into them.

Thankfully, the genuine meat of the additional content is coming within the final two packs. For more on that, read our preview of Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea.

Bioshock Infinite’s Clash within the Clouds DLC is out later today for $5 and as portion of the season pass.