We all go a little mad sometimes
In one of my reviews for a Bioware DLC, I mentioned that a lot of what they do feels like they love having a ton of content out there for the masses for the download, quality up for debate. Not that they're "bad" per se but they don't feel that worthwhile in that DLC is supposed to enrich and enhance your game experience but Bioware's so far has been lots of content but not much in the way of anything substantial. The Darkspawn Chronicles is sort of similar in that it's roughly an hour of content, gives you a couple of rewards for your vanilla and Awakenings characters and you get a sick thrill out of being so outright evil but it doesn't offer anything more. Hell it doesn't even explain itself, it just comes in and takes off.
The basic premise of this DLC is what would happen if your character died during the Joining ceremony and had to follow Alistair's command instead. But instead you control a Darkspawn Vanguard as you march across Denerim tearing everything up and killing everything in sight. You'll run into and eventually have to kill your former party members as you make your way to the conclusion. The problem ultimately with this DLC is that it's really all action all the time, there's barely any cutscenes and even those are to clue you in that you should be getting to murdering again real soon so unlike Leliana's Song and others, it's combat from the word "go" and it starts to feel slightly redundant.
One useful ability the Vanguard has is an "enthrall" ability where he can basically hire other darkspawn to fight him so he can have a maximum of 4 characters like usual and one pretty cruel (yet one you'll do with glee) is to basically kill one party member to make room for another. Having an ogre as part of your party might feel one-sided but being evil isn't about playing fair, is it? One surreal thing is running into characters from the main game and having to engage them in combat and it's a nice test to see if you've engaged with those characters.
You get a couple rewards like a Darkspawn sword for your character but this ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Since the DLC centers on the fate of Ferelden without your character to lead the charge, this DLC could've made a case that you're more important than ever since without your help, hell breaks loose. But instead you get a truncated ending and a "thanks for playing" feeling. If you're like me and you have the others and need to have the rest for the completionist in you, then the Darkspawn Chronicles is fine as a playthrough but it doesn't feel like anything more.
