Ask any Xbox 360 owner for an opinion about Microsoft’s downloadable content policies, and the response will likely include the words "rip-off," "nickel and dime" or "horse armor."

While the Xbox 360’s "microtransactions" have given developers the opportunity to release new content for games that have already made it to retail, many game companies have been abusing the feature by rationing out downloadable content in small, separate packs (usually at inflated prices) or deciding to withhold content from the original disc so it can become "release-day DLC."

But for every "horse armor" or "dynasty accelerator," there comes the occasional piece of justified downloadable content, such as the Trials HD Big Pack that goes for 400 Microsoft Points ($5).

For a third of the cost of the original $15 game, RedLynx’s downloadable Big Pack doubles the content in all of Trials HD's chief areas.

Tournament mode, skill games and the trademark obstacle courses are where most of the fun in Trials HD could be found. The original game boasted 43 different maps within that core group of modes -- ignoring the beginner/easy tracks, which no one plays more than once -- and the Big Pack boasts a total of 40 maps and challenges tailored for the game’s intermediate-advanced difficulties.

These new courses are not simply retreads of the original set either. Thanks to the 50 new track-editor parts, fans will be navigating hazards like monster trucks, gravity fields and rocket turbines -- just to name a few standouts -- all of which make the Big Pack the most exciting and memorable Trials experience to date.



While many of the downloadable games on Xbox Live can be beaten in a matter of hours, the Big Pack's 40 unique challenges come with the same bone-crushing level of difficulty that had Trials fans spinning their wheels for weeks just to complete the original game, let alone the months of dedication required to earn all gold medals.

Certainly, the Trials HD Big Pack is no "horse armor." Instead, it may just be the best piece of downloadable content available on Xbox Live. And at only $5, it is one of the best values you can find on a service that has a reputation of nickel-and-diming its customers.

+s
Big on content, low on price
Difficulty hits sweet spot
New tracks continue to innovate

-s
It's not free
New skill games are mostly repeats
Leaderboards now slower to load

Recommendation: Buy