Review - Bioshock Infinite Clash in the Clouds DLC
Paul Fiander
In terms of downloadable content Clash in the Clouds is one of the best examples of a stealth release in current times. With less than a day's notice the DLC came out to a mixed reception. The Clash in the Clouds is essentially just a set challenge rooms, it's the second story based DLC called Buried Under the Sea that has most people excited. The chance to experience rapture in all its pre downfall glory has many people excited. So where does that leave clash in the clouds, I've spent some time investigating to find out if this small piece of non-narrative DLC is actually worth the price. 

To begin with the most exciting part about this DLC is the fact that it allows you to re-enter the city of Columbia. You begin in the Colombian archaeological Society and this acts as the main hub of the game. Here you can find access to global leaderboards, vending machines, a Mueseum of unlockable collectibles and most importantly access to the challenges. It's wonderfully well crafted and looks every bit as impressive as the rest of the floating want to be utopia. For those of you who missed the amazing recreations of songs like Everybody wants to rule the world and Tainted love they are available for purchase to listen to. It would have been great if this also constituted an MP3 download that alas you have to make do with listening to them in the Society itself.
At the beginning only one map is open to you, it's called Ops zeal (The rest of the maps are opened up through purchase). Each map has its own quirks and challenges. The aforementioned Ops zeal is very skyline heavy, making use of the verticality of platforms that are available gives you the best chance the success. This is the easiest of the maps to complete and will give you a good reintroduction to the mechanics of the game. The other three maps are called Duke and DeWitt Theatre, Ravens Dome and Emporia arcade. Each represents an escalation in difficulty both in terms of the enemies faced and the blue-ribbon challenges you get to complete. The vistas offered by each map are as well created as in the main game, with the snow filled Emporia arcade easily being my favourite to look at. (See below)
The challenge rooms are essentially horde modes, with a specific number of enemies to take down in each wave. These can range from a small group of Soldiers to Patriots and my least favourite the Handyman. The usual structure of challenge rooms remains with escalating levels comes greater difficulty. Once you have played for a while and leveled up enough most of these do become easier to handle. To counteract this irrational games have created blue ribbon challenges. These are specific tasks for you to complete such as kill all enemies using just skyline attacks. Trying to get all the available ribbons in one run can be a pain as one accidental use of Vigor in a sniping challenge will mean you need to start the whole challenge again from the beginning, to claim that perfect 15 Ribbons.
The fall repertoire of weapons from both founders and the Vox are all available to use from the outset, they can be easily accessed in the preparation lobby before each mission. Thankfully they are also open to the same level of upgrading that was available during the game. The vigors act slightly differently, as we only begin with four of them (Bucking Bronco, Undertow, Devils kiss and Possession). You're able to purchase the rest through the vending machines available in the Colombian archaeological Society and ready room. In terms of money you are rewarded for completing challenges, making kills with extra bonuses for kill streaks and head shots etc. Looting also gains you monetary rewards much like the main game. At the end of each round you get an additional 10 seconds to clean up any corpses and strip them of their valuables. The RPG nature of the game is really well represented throughout this DLC and this along with the challenges really give you the desire to keep coming back.
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Of course one of the biggest factors in Bioshock infinite's success was the companionship of Elizabeth. Wonderfully she is at her resource finding best throughout the challenges Complete with the ability to open tears, giving you the opportunity to enhance your combat even further. The Elizabeth AI still has some of the wonderful reactions that were available previously. The exclamation of "stop aiming that thing at me" while messing around with a loaded gun still makes me chuckle. She's a tough cookie and so has no diminishing health bar to worry you, this makes gameplay essentially a one-person show with Elizabeth there to give you aid. This is set to change in the Second part of the Buried at Sea DLC as we will be given the chance to finally play as "LIZ".
I received cash in the clouds via the season pass, in its stand-alone format it will cost you £3.69 (UK PSN). If you enjoyed the combat in Bioshock Infinite then suggesting this DLC is an easy thing to do. It will allow you good preparation for the buried at sea DLC to come while being genuinely fun to experience. However if you are on the fence about the game this is not the DLC that will push you over the edge into a purchase, hopefully that will be Buried under the sea.

Wrap up

The good - Great Maps, Reintriduction to Colombia
The bad - No Story, Only four maps

Score - 4/5
Images Courtesy of Renegade PR
Game - reviewers own copy, PS3 version