Is the JWE2 Dominion DLC Worth It? An Enthusiast‘s In-Depth Breakdown
As a huge Jurassic World Evolution fan who has sunk hundreds of hours into constructing elaborate dinosaur theme parks, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting the new Dominion Biosyn Expansion DLC. This $19.99 add-on brings a brand new campaign mode focused on the secretive Biosyn Valley seen in the recent film, along with new Chaos Theory levels, dinosaurs, missions, and more.
But is it actually worth picking up? After taking the content for an extensive hands-on test drive, here is my critical breakdown as a JP/JW superfan and games enthusiast on everything the Dominion DLC has to offer.
A Fun New Campaign That Expands Dominion‘s Story
The headlining addition in this DLC is undoubtedly the new set of story-driven campaign levels centered around the Biosyn Valley itself. Spanning 5 missions, you take control of various operations in this sanctuary valley hidden in the Dolomite mountains, which is home to many rescued dinosaurs from the now-destroyed Lockwood Estate.
I‘m happy to report that these narrative-focused missions are creative and do a great job expanding the Dominion storyline from the film. You‘ll hatch new dinosaurs, enact conservation efforts, deal with sinister sabotage, and make some critical choices that put the valley‘s future at risk.
| Mission | Description |
|---|---|
| Welcome to Biosyn | Get the lay of the land and begin populating the valley with dinosaurs |
| Conservation First | Enact security and conservation projects to protect the new residents |
| Smooth Sailing | Manage the valley‘s needs and expand while dealing with outside threats |
| Storm Clouds Gather | A dangerous hurricane heads right for the valley, forcing critical preparation |
| The Coming Storm | Make pivotal choices to secure the future as outside forces seek to destroy what you‘ve built |
I had a great time slowly transforming this valley into a living sanctuary, while also facing plenty of crises and critical moments driving the engaging story forward. It lasts around 4-5 hours depending on playstyle, with solid replay value.
Most importantly, the campaign answers lingering questions from the film and expands the Dominion storyline in logical, meaningful ways. Getting to directly participate in securing the futures of many iconic species that now call Biosyn home was profoundly satisfying as a Jurassic fan.
Fan Favorite Film Dinosaurs Brought To Life
Of course, a major draw of any Jurassic World game is getting to directly create and manage dynamic prehistoric species. The Dominion DLC lets you get up close and personal with 4 exciting newcomers making their debut.
The cinematic star of the Biosyn content is undoubtedly the Giganotosaurus. Towering at 45 ft long and 8 tons, this massive Carcharodontosaur is even bigger than the mighty T-Rex. Despite its hulking size, I was impressed by the accuracy and fluid animations of the Giga as it hunts, fights rivals, and thrashes dangerously when agitated.
Next up is the bizarre Therizinosaurus, which sports huge claws capable of delivering devastating slashes. In line with its film appearance, the DLC variant is old, blind, and has distinct scarred skin textures. But it still wanders via echolocation and smells out plant feeders to pick fights with in spectacular fashion.
Fans of massive sauropods will love the new Dreadnoughtus, which tips the scales at a whopping 30 tons! It can stand its ground against mid-sized carnivores thanks to deadly tail swipes, but is totally docile around guests. Finally there‘s the feathered Pyroraptor, a medium sized hunter resembling the Velociraptor but with its own flair.
DLC Dinosaurs Overview
| Dinosaur | Facts | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Giganotosaurus | 45 ft, 8 tons, rival of T-Rex | ***** |
| Therizinosaurus | 28 ft, herbivore/omnivore, 3 ft claws, mostly blind | **** |
| Dreadnoughtus | 85 ft, 30 tons, one of the largest dinosaurs | **** |
| Pyroraptor | 20 ft, 1100 lbs, feathered raptor relative | *** |
With these new species combined with all the returning roster favorites, the creative potential in Sandbox mode is off the charts. I had a blast experimenting with mixes like Giga vs Spinosaurus battles or giant migrations with dozens of Dreadnoughtus lumbering around.
New Structures & Decor Items Aligned With Film
On the facilities side, the DLC comes with over 60 new building and decoration items themed around the Biosyn Sanctuary itself. Many are tied directly to moments in the movie, like a memorial statue for the fallen Brachiosaurus or the iconic wooden gate the Giga smashes through.
For management fans, key additions include new ranger posts, viewing galleries, ground-level gondolas passing right by dinosaur exhibits, emergency shelters, and hybrid comfort genes unlocked through missions.
None of the new items feel like essential game-changers, but they allow players to more authentically recreate iconic scenes from Dominion. I utilized them liberally when customizing my own Biosyn Valley layouts and enjoyed the extra creative flexibility.
Enjoyable New Chaos Theory Scenario
In addition to the marquee Biosyn campaign levels, the DLC also includes one new Chaos Theory stage putting players in control of San Diego during the events of The Lost World film. It came as a pleasant surprise!
This level provides a fun change of pace akin to a survival mode. You frantically try to rescue civilians, respond to emergencies across the map, and recapture loose dinosaurs wreaking havoc across the city. I‘m hoping for more surprise Chaos levels covering different films in future updates!
Final Verdict: Recommended For Franchise Fans
After exhaustively evaluating all the new content included in the Jurassic World Evolution 2: Dominion Biosyn Expansion, I have to say Frontier Developments once again delivered a meaty package that exceeded my expectations.
The star attractions here are clearly the 5 engaging Campaign missions continuing the Biosyn Valley story alongside the quartet of fantastic new dinosaurs popping right out of the silver screen. Getting several more hours of narrative-driven scenarios with meaningful ties to Dominion‘s story is a treat as a superfan.
The supporting cast of new building items, Chaos mode level, and slew of unlockable skins and genes round out a premium expansion pack bursting with exciting opportunities for park simulation enthusiasts. Considering the $19.99 asking price, I‘d say fans get plenty of bang for their buck here.
Casual players who have moved on from JWE2 likely don‘t need to rush back for this. But for established fans hungry for more dinosaurs and content expanding the Jurassic universe they know and love, the Dominion DLC is an easy recommendation. I‘ll be returning to it often thanks to the ridiculous sandbox possibilities alone combining assets new and old.
So if you crave more chaos, more biosyn, and more actual JW dominion dinosaurs rampaging through your parks, don‘t hesitate to let the Giganotosaurus in!
