The protector trials are a series of ADAM gathering sessions that force you to adapt using limited weapons and plasmids
Contains: Strong Bloody Violence, Menace and Threat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bioshock 2 protector trials pack is a DLC that presents the player with a little sister to defend using the limited weapons, plasmids and tonics provided on various, recognisable areas from the main game.
There are 6 maps, each with 3 separate trials, meaning there are 18 individual protector scenarios, with an added 6 bonus trials when all others have been completed. To unlock trials, you must complete the already unlocked ones, and earn a specific amount of stars. Each map increases in difficulty, with 1 star being the easiest, and the 2 stars being moderately challenging, and then the 3 star trial that requires further skill to succeed and subsequently qualify to play the next set of trials on a new map.
Tenenbaum needs you to defend a little sister while she does her ADAM gathering with a rather long and creepy needle, and you must hold off waves of Splicers using the load-out you've been given. When the little sister is gathering a multiplier appears. The longer she goes uninterrupted, the higher the multiplier, and at the end of each session you'll get graded on how much ADAM collected. The load-out ranges in each trial, some proving more difficult than others, but all of them are to test your ability to adapt to the weapons and/or plasmids you have been given. During the trial, you'll be given money for each enemy killed, which can them be spent at the vending machine, ammo machine or health station. Placing a defence for the little sister is advisable, especially when some machines are far from the gather location. Before you put down the little sister though, you'll always have the opportunity to lay down traps and understand the layout of the area you're in. Hack security turrets if you can, and place traps in the spots which will prove better advantages. The ADAM bar goes up slowly, a lot more slowly than in the main game, which is why these trials question your ability to adapt and survive in random situations where you can't always use the weapons you want. But none-the-less, these trials are all chaotic once the action gets going, and if you keep an eye on your health and spend money wisely, there's barely any chance of frustration occurring, and lots of excitement is always achievable.
Completing all of these trials proves worthwhile aswell, as since you've done, you unlock the bonus trials, 1 for each map, and instead of having a limited choice of attacking options, you gain access to every weapon and every plasmid, each fully upgraded. So if Brute Splicers get on your nerves, you can use the Hypnotise Level 3 plasmid to get them fighting on your side, and you can just sit back and watch all the gory action unfold. If you don't want to fight much at all you can even use the summon Eleanor plasmid, and let her do the work for you, just set up a huge parameter around your little sister and yourself and the violent fighting will occur under your watchful eye with you having little need to interact. There's also an option to customize your gene tonics, and you have access to every one of them, so experiment and play around with load-outs you previously never thought of using, and just enjoy the moments of dispatching Splicers in the beautifully haunting dystopia of Rapture.
===========================
OVERALL SUMMARY - 8.5/10
===========================
Good Points: 18 trials set over 6 familiar areas of Rapture that cleverly test your ability to adapt using limited weapons and plasmids, The gameplay gets hectic and tense as you defend your little sister against waves of deformed splicers, 6 unlockable bonus trials which give you access to all weapons and plasmids fully upgraded.
Bad Points: Once you've finished there's nothing to pull you back for a second playthrough.