From the daunting and challenging path of Seteki, to the frantic shores of the Isle of the Dead, and all the way to the lost Sunken Kingdom, our finest secret service agents – The Strange Brigade – have seen it all. Their adventures aren’t quite over yet though, and with one final task standing before them, the Strange Brigade are off to face the unknown forces of their swansong adventure, one which is found to be taking them to the Great Pyramid of Bes for the third and final chapter in Strange Brigade The Thrice Damned DLC campaign.
In this finale players go head first into battle in a bid to find and restore the last remaining piece of the mystical shield that they’ve been hunting throughout their last two outings. But before they can finally put the legendary shield back together, they must first traverse the deadly passageways and survive the horrific terrors that lie within the large pyramid that stands before them – the Great Pyramid of Bes.
I have to say that whilst they may have only been a single mission long, the previous two DLC additions included in The Thrice Damned have left me feeling happy with everything that’s come from the Strange Brigade Season Pass. The content has been enjoyable, fresh puzzles have been appreciated and the solid foundations put in from the base game have been retained to ensure the DLC rightfully feels like an extension to the main game. This time round it is no different. Well… it is, but not in a bad way!
If you thought the 30/40-minute excursions seen last time out left you wishing for more or ended just as things were getting all exciting, then the finale to this mini campaign is certainly going to bring a sigh of relief. Not only is it longer than both previous content add-ons, but it’s also a thrilling finale that brings a true ending to the Strange Brigade’s adventures. And boy does it do it well.
In terms of gameplay, this pack doesn’t exactly provide anything we haven’t seen before in terms of puzzles or enemy types, besides the boss, but by now, you’ll know that’s not a bad thing. From start to finish players will find a slightly different feel from the previous adventures as enemies close in within the claustrophobic confines of the various passages, cornering the player at every opportunity. Because of this, the Great Pyramid of Bes requires a more strategic approach.
What’s more is this level is also a lot longer than the previous ones, and with entire areas dedicated to puzzles and combat, the core mechanics of the game are showcased beautifully, reeling players into the ultimate finale, a monumental battle with the hardest enemy we’ve seen yet in Strange Brigade – the Titan of the Pyramids.
I have to be honest here too and whilst games like these rarely cause me too many issues, and I can often be found ramping up the difficulty to find a challenge, the Titan of the Pyramids boss fight is one that had me squeezing my controller hard enough to pop the screws through the shell. Of course, players can play this one solo with A.I. counterparts joining in for the role of your teammates, or you can choose to go on a co-op adventure with friends. It is the latter you’ll want to do in order to beat this colossal boss.
In general though, the Great Pyramid of Bes level is a rather brilliant addition. Once more we only see one level being added to expand on the adventure, but as is becoming commonplace for any DLC adventure that comes from the team over at Rebellion, it will more than satisfy the appetite by bringing more of the same quality gameplay, plenty of thought plundering puzzles and some incredibly satisfying and tense combat throughout.
Strange Brigade revels in the rather eye-catching collectibles that are available and this DLC provides plenty of opportunity on that front. The now iconic cats are back too which provide plenty of reasons to go exploring through the finely crafted areas of this finale. Whilst it may seem like more of the same, those who pay close attention will agree that the dedication given to the minute details is fantastic and should you decide to take a stroll through each area properly after dispatching the many enemies, the visuals and intricate design will certainly prove pleasing on the eye, with some beautiful and unique locations bringing some stunning vistas into play.
Besides the expectedly fantastic additional level brought within the DLC, players can also get hands on with one more member of the Strange Brigade – the mesmerizing and powerful Anjali Khan, whose fluid manoeuvrability, explosive Cluster Grenades and magical Spear of the Ice Age Amulet attack work a treat in laying the swarms of the pyramids cannon fodder to rest for one final time. Of course, if you’ve played with most of the characters by now then you’ll realise that there is not a massive amount or difference – besides amulets and weapons – between each one, but as far as characters go, Anjali Khan isn’t the worst addition we’ve seen arrive in Strange Brigade. With her Harry Potter-esque Spear of the Ice Age move making us feel like wizarding heroes, she’s certainly one many will be happy to see arrive to fight the mythical monsters that lie within the pyramids.
If you’re a fan of the previous DLC additions that Rebellion have delivered with Strange Brigade then getting involved in the concluding chapter of The Thrice Damned with the Great Pyramid of Bes is quite obviously a no-brainer. It’s bigger, it’s better and it’s a joy to play and there is no reason why you wouldn’t want to jump in with one last hoorah with the Strange Brigade.
