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BioShock 2: Protector Trials DLC Impressions
BioShock 2's most memorable moment altered my perception of the Little Sisters. I don't want to spoil the surprise for people who haven't finished the game yet, but the twist explains how a young child could have such a jovial demeanor in such a violent atmosphere. I walked away from BioShock 2 liking the Little Sisters more than I already had.
After playing through The Protector Trials, BioShock 2's first single player focused DLC offering, my admiration for the Little Sisters has been replaced with rage-filled frustration. If I ever play through BioShock 1 or 2 again, I'll cackle maniacally as I harvest Adam from all of these brats. In the Protector Trials, they take their sweet time collecting Adam, never once recognizing that you (the weakest Big Daddy of them all) have been stripped of most of your weapons and plasmids, and that swarms of enemies are attacking from every angle.
This DLC made me feel like a pinball that was constantly getting batted around and shot. In my first match, I used six medkits, and felt as though I was getting hit either by a steel pipe or a bullet throughout almost every second of play. The thought of "Maybe I just suck at BioShock 2" crossed my mind. When the match concluded, I was awarded an A+ and a 20-point Achievement for my apparently awesome performance. The levels that followed played out exactly the same: I took a beating, yet ended up doing well.
The goal of each level is the same: Protect the Little Sisters so that they can collect as much Adam as possible before time expires. If you can prevent the Little Sisters from taking damage, they will gain Adam multipliers. The arenas are small, and the abundance of enemies keeps the pressure on from the moment the Little Sister plungers her syringe into a corpse up until she sucks out the last of its Adam. Each level limits the player to a set number of weapons, plasmids, and tonics. I enjoyed being forced into using different strategies and weapons than I normally would, but the overall balance of this DLC favors constant healing over any chance of the player truly holding their own. Keeping the eye on your health meter at all times is not fun. I never once felt comfortable as a combatant in any level.
If you are looking to elevate your blood pressure significantly or simply want DLC that is unfairly challenging, The Protector Trials won't hesitate in kicking your ass all over Rapture. No one else should even think about touching this frustrating add-on. The BioShock 2 Protector Trials DLC is available now on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network for 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99.
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