Have we really reached the point where a game offering a DLC season pass is considered a selling point? Sadly, that appears to be the case based on a press release sent out this week by Warner Bros. proudly proclaiming LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham to be the first ever LEGO game to offer a season pass. Season passes are great for episodic series and games that can actually benefit from new multiplayer maps and story expansions, but is one really necessary for a LEGO game with DLC predominantly made up of extra playable minifigs and content that seems more suitable for pre-order bonuses?
Even sadder, is the fact that half the LEGO Batman 3 season pass content will be made available on the game’s launch day–three packs will be released on November 11th, and then another three packs will follow sometime in the future. The $14.99 season pass won’t even offer much of a savings like most season passes do, as each pack will be sold separately for $2.99 (that’s a difference of less than three bucks).
Again, I don’t get it. For a LEGO game, a season pass just seems like a money/marketing hype grab. But hey, maybe I’m just in a grumpy old gamer mood at the moment. (Hey! Get your crummy day one DLC off of my lawn!) Take a look at the content the season pass has to offer and determine for yourself if there’s any worthwhile value to it.
Also, just to be clear here, the season pass will be available only for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions of the game. LEGO Batman 3 will be available on 3DS, Vita and Wii U as well, but Warner Bros. has not stated whether or not the standalone DLC packs will be released on those platforms.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham season pass includes:
• The Dark Knight Pack (available 11/11/14): Experience the heart-pounding chase scene from the iconic film complete with cool vehicles and explosive action. Play as the legendary Dark Knight and Commissioner Gordon, as well as the Joker and his goons as they chase down Harvey Dent’s police escort. Bane and Catwoman from the third film are also playable.
• Man of Steel Pack (available 11/11/14): Help Jor-El, his wife Lara and their robot Kelex send the infant Superman “Kal-el” into space towards the safety of Earth as Krypton falls into chaos. Find a way inside Jor-El’s home, fight General Zod’s invading forces and battle against Zod himself to save Superman.
• Batman 75th Pack (available 11/11/14): Play as Joker and Harley, setting up a variety of celebration set pieces. Be the Batman and play as some of the most iconic faces of Batman through the years, including his first appearance in Detective Comics #27.
• Access to Future DLC Content: Gain access to three additional game packs, featuring new playable characters, vehicles and levels. Details about the additional content will be revealed at a later date.
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I like the idea that they are adding actual levels to the DLC and not just more playable characters that I’d never actually use.
I just wish they’d list what the other 3 levels are. My guess is they either are going to be scrub levels from the game that didn’t work, or they have no idea what the other 3 are and could end up getting season pass money and then never release them.
freemantim Nah, they couldn’t do the latter. That would be outright fraud, selling a season pass with an announced amount of content and then not cancelling half of it. Most season passes are vague about the majority of the DLC that will be included. They usually announce an initial lineup and then tease what future packs might be.
Even with a level per pack, I still don’t see the value. If there’s a story connection tying the DLC together, that would be one thing. But the differing themes for each pack suggests to me that each level will be its own thing. Little one-off levels seem rather pointless.