It was a little more than six months ago when Rockstar released the first set of exclusive downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360.  The Lost and Damned proved to be an enjoyable, quality add-on that not only let players view arching storylines from different perspectives but gave us new multiplayer modes, weapons and other changes as well.   With so much effort already put into their first add-on, it seems impossible Rockstar might be able to top that.  The Ballad of Gay Tony looks to change all perceptions about GTA IV’s downloadable content, and if for the name alone, this addition to Grand Theft Auto IV looks to cause the biggest amount of mayhem.

The Ballad of Gay Tony focuses mainly on a Liberty City native named Luis Fernando Lopez, a self-made hustler who is soon employed by Gay Tony as his own personal bodyguard and business partner.   Luis will never find himself rubbing toes with Niko Bellic or Johnny Klebitz, the stars of the main story and The Lost and Damned, as Gay Tony is in the upper echelon of the city’s aristocracy.  Luis lives in luxurious mansions, wears expensive clothes, and drives only the hottest car models and it is in this lifestyle that he will also meet the most peculiar and troublesome characters yet in the Grand Theft Auto IV world.

One character in particular is a ruthless real estate broker named Yusef Amir who wants nothing more than to own every piece of property in Liberty City.  Of course you can see the problem with that, but Yusef is willing to do anything, and everything, to get his hands on whatever he desires.  Helping Yusef is no easy task, but thankfully Luis will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including some new treats such as explosive shotgun shells, explosive C4 grenades and a sniper rifle that increases accuracy and power.  Parachutes have also been added (reminiscent of San Andreas’ best moments), which allows Luis to leap from tall structures and glide safely to the ground below.

Whereas The Lost and Damned had Johnny feuding with a rival gang and ultimately working with fellow familiar characters around  the city to gain a stronghold in a portion of the city, Luis’ intentions are of a much grander scale and the missions for which you partake in are much more dynamic and explosive.  One mission we saw had Luis stealing one of the Liberty City Trains (because Yusef wanted it) and fighting off police helicopters and enemies before escaping on a transport helicopter carrying the detached train along with it.  The newly acquired parachute also allowed Luis to make a quick getaway by leaping from the top story of a skyscraper and landing in the back of the getaway car.  Missions are now ranked with statistics after each completion which lets you know how well your shooting accuracy was, how much damage you caused and more.  Performing well nets you a percentage close to perfection, and the closer you are the more points you are awarded which then unlock special prizes for Luis back at his safehouse.

Besides running around on foot (or in the air), players will also get to enjoy crushing vehicles with tanks (and a new high-powered helicopter), racing through the waters in speedboats and performing insane stunts with new base-jumping events.  Luis can pick these events up across the entire city and while some of the easier events force you to land on a stationary target, some of the harder events have you jumping from hundreds of feet in the air and landing on a moving car.

The multiplayer mode has also been improved to include the new weapons and vehicles as well as the parachute, which should make deathmatches even more chaotic.  Besides multiplayer, players also have the option to now replay any mission they previously completed in an effort to get 100% and extra points.  Luis can also gain side missions from the various clubs scattered around the city, and since Luis is allowed into any club at any time, expect to see dozens of tasks that can range from you helping a drunken dancer off the floor to delivering goods from one club to another.

With a bigger lifestyle, setting and explosive thrills, The Ballad of Gay Tony looks to be a much more action-packed over-the-top expansion to Grand Theft Auto IV as opposed to the semi-realistic stories of Niko and Johnny.  With a slew of new weapons, vehicles and the incredibly fun parachute at your disposal, expect things to get a little crazier as you venture through Liberty City yet again.  Living it up in expensive cars, houses and clothes never felt so good and players can soon live out their wildest dreams when The Ballad of Gay Tony drops exclusively for the Xbox 360 on October 29.

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About This Author: Josh Schwartzman

Been into gaming for as long as I can remember and have enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoy playing with everyone and anyone online and I am an avid PS3 and Xbox 360 player.

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