Hello! I have some exciting news regarding the recently released DLC content for Dawn of the Monsters, the Kaiju brawler from 13AM Games and WayForward. This paid for DLC adds a new playable character to the game, alongside a new playable character, skins and more for players to experience. There is also a free content update that will give players even more to enjoy with this release, regardless of owning the DLC or not.
Disclaimer: before I get into the coverage, I would like to thank WayForward for providing the DLC code that was used for this piece. The provision of this content has not influenced the contents of this coverage, all thoughts and opinions included are my own. I previously covered Dawn of the Monsters for Nintendo Switch, which you can find (HERE).
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the contents of this new expansion to Dawn of the Monsters. Please note, screeshots used are from official press kit so they may not match user experience on different platforms.
As a refresher, Dawn of the Monsters is a side scrolling brawler, where the player controls a Kaiju/giant hero who must battle the monsters that have invaded earth. These monsters are known as Nephilim, capable of mass devastation if they are left unchecked. The organization DAWN, have released their own giant defenders to battle this threat to the world. In this title, the player must battle through various locations and crush the invaders.
The new content introduces a new playable character, the powerful combination Mech, Meteor Temujin, a towering mecha unit piloted by Team Meteor. This new character has unique mechanics, that are specific to Temujin, who can use special powers to switch between three weapons, a Hammer, Sword and Axe. These mechanics and unique gameplay style refresh the experience, allowing players to play through the game again in a new way.
Alongside the new member of the roster are new skins for existing characters, additional gallery content, special archive files, challenges and achievements to unlock. The biggest addition with this DLC is the Arcade mode, a special gameplay mode which pits the player against 11 challenging stages, which remix the existing stages. These new takes on stages must be cleared in one shot, with the player having limited lives to make it to the end, with the chance to earn extras.
This is a challenging addition to the gameplay formula, which can be made more challenging by the optional settings that are included. When the player starts the Arcade mode, they can choose between two difficulties, standard and nightmare which is brutally difficult. Then we have the power-up system, which is the choice of Classic and Rogue. While playing Classic, the power-ups available between stages are the same each time, in Rogue the boosters are randomized.
When players challenge the arcade mode, they can add their name to an internal leaderboard, challenging themselves solo or with a friend locally to get the best score. This is due to the inclusion of co-op for Arcade mode, where players can take on the Nephilim hordes together. there is a caveat to this though, as the players share a pool of lives, with a life being lost when both are taken down. But if the player has rage (earned by fighting) they can use it revive a downed teammate.
Now the DLC content isn’t the only addition to the game that has hit Dawn of the Monsters. There has been a major free update that gives players something meaty to sink their teeth into, with no extra cost required. In the title update, there is a new game plus system, which gives those who have cleared the game the ability to challenge it again, with increased difficulty while keeping upgrades. There will also be new enemy variants that will appear during a new game plus play through.
Alongside the new game system is the addition of Trials, special challenges for players to take on where they will have their skills tested. There are bonus challenges tied to the trials for players to prove their mastery of the titans. Rounding out the package is an all new voice over in Japanese, for that authentic Kaiju experience that players can switch between during their time playing.
Now with the details of the new content covered, I want to give my personal thoughts on this extra content that has been added.
Personal Thoughts – I very much enjoyed my time with the base version of Dawn of the Monsters, as it was a relatively distinct take on the Kaiju formula. This new paid/free content takes that experience and knocks it up a notch, providing new challenges and a whole new way to play to play the game. The new character is an excellent addition, with the unique weapon system that makes the character distinct from the others on the roster.
I found that the arcade mode was brutally punishing and after spending days playing it I have only beaten it once, which I think is a positive for this. The difficulty of this new mode will really push players and makes this extra content worth it alone, with the extra character and cosmetics being a bonus. I have absolutely no issue with recommending this extra content to everyone who has enjoyed the standard release of Dawn of the monsters.
Outside of the premium additions, the free update makes the game more robust and provides extra replay value, further bolstering a game that already had a lot of depth to it. I quite enjoyed the new game plus system, as it let me test my skills against the new enemies and the trials were a fun and satisfying addition. All of these features from both the paid and free content drops make this one of the best modern titles in the Kaiju genre.
If you want to check this content out for yourself, you can find a link the paid DLC for each system below, priced at 6.99USD/5.89-6.29GBP/6.99EUR.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
Link to Steam version (HERE)
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