DLC Quest trailer microtransactions its way into our hearts

Downloadable content is out of control. While it started off innocently enough this generation, with the occasional map pack here, and the downloadable character there, it has gotten to the point where large chunks of games are withheld from release and charged for down the line. Some DLC packs reward players for pre-ordering games with unbalanced upgrades, while others charge for cosmetic nonsense like horse armor or outfits. Luckily, DLC Quest is here, and while it doesn't fix the problem, it sure as hell makes fun of it.

Comedy in games is hard, especially when it's making fun of something as relatively unfunny as DLC. Yet, despite this hurdle, DLC Quest makes it seem effortless. The game is a basic 2D platformer at heart, where a hero-type character needs to wander around a series of levels collecting coins and talking to scattered NPCs. This currency doesn't earn him extra lives or anything like that, though - it's used to buy in-game DLC, which unlocks a wide-array of downloadable content. In the beginning of the game, basic fundamentals like moving left and jumping are locked away, as well as "cosmetic" enhancements like animations and sound effects. Purchasing DLC packs unlocks these features and more, and lets the player advance further... to get more coins and buy more DLC. It's satire at its finest, and it's only 80 Microsoft Points. 

Check out the trailer above to see how it works, or just man up and go buy the game.Though it only lasts about 20 minutes, it's likely to be 20 of the funniest minutes you spend this holiday season.