On this page, I will review Map Packs, Characters Packs, and Add-Ons for video games. I am not type of guy who charges to Gamestop every time DLC is released, but when I purchase DLC, I will review it here so you can know if you should save your Microsoft Points or not.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: Collection 1
4 Multiplayer Maps, 2 Spec Ops Missions
Price: $15 (1200 Microsoft Points)
This is important for you to know before I get into this review. I don’t want to hate these maps. I don’t expect them to be tailored to my play-style. I understand that I need to tailor to it, adjusting myself and absorbing the map. When I play them, I want to enjoy them and give them time to make an impression. This review wasn’t released a day after the Collection was available because I gave myself time to honestly generate thorough opinions, and play through each aspect of each piece of content, so that this review will be accurate. I will start by reviewing the maps: Piazza, Liberation, Black Box, and Overwatch. I will go over how the maps look, as well as how they play in Multiplayer and Survival.
Piazza is a map that takes place on the coast of Italy. For those who don’t know, a ‘piazza’ is a public square in Italy. This map is gorgeous. It is bright, it has lots of white, vibrant tones, and it’s a great boost from gloomy maps like Downturn or Interchange. Everything about it looks great aside from one thing: The boats. The ocean is very distant, and is not a playable part of the map, but it’s visible. The boats look like like sticks. There could have been more effort put into them, but other than that extremely minor complaint, this map looks great.
But how does it play? It plays at a chaotic, breakneck pace. The map is unpredictable. There are so many routes and places to turn that playing strategically is nearly impossible. So, how do you play it if not strategically? You should play without thinking. If you don’t think when you play this map, you will do very well. What may discourage people about this map is the the frequent deaths. It’s a fact that your KD will suffer playing on Piazza. It is too hectic for you to stay alive. But that doesn’t mean you cannot pick up kills. In fact, this map hands you plenty of doubles and triples. The enemies seem to spawn in clusters, which allows you to take them all out with one clip. It is very fun, and I recommend using the Motion Sensor if you plan on being a step ahead of the enemy. Concerning Survival Mode, Piazza is fun to play. That’s the best word I could describe it as. Being up close and personal with these bots closing in on you left and right gets the adrenaline pumping and allows you to whip out the shotguns and SMG’s, which is rarely done in Survival. So, did I like this map? Yes. I consider it a successful map, and I enjoyed its fast action and look, as well as its pace in Survival.
Next up is Liberation. It takes place in Central Park. There’s the first issue. I’ve been to Central Park numerous times. This map doesn’t look like Central Park. It has the bridges and fountain and benches, but autumn leaves coat the whole map, eliminating the feel of the place. Or, maybe, it could be the lack of people which define the landmark. This may sound like a bunch of sentimental garbage, but it just didn’t add up to looking like Central Park. The gameplay is just as defective. It isn’t a slow map, but it feels very formulated. Because the map is so large, the creators decided to spawn the two teams right next to each other to keep action going. The problem with that is that the map gets extremely stale. Spawning in the same area for the majority of the game makes the map frustrating. I have had some fun games, and some streaks on the mini-guns, but it’s so rare that I actually have a good, smooth time playing this map. It’s such a shame that the mini-guns and edges of the map couldn’t utilized according to the creators’ plans because of their spawn points. It could have turned out much better. BUT! Don’t count it out yet. Playing this map on Ground War is fun and enjoyable. Routes are undefined so this map is extremely open and free. Still, the Survival Mode of it is difficult and feels like a chore. Some challenge doesn’t bother me, but it’s so vast that enemies clamp down on your position, and there is nowhere to set up camp, which is the way to play a big map. So Liberation is only good in Ground War. Not the best replication of Central Park, but still fun.
Black Box is the third map. It takes place in Southern California. Air Force One has crashed into some mansions. This map perfectly captured Southern California. In the distance, you can even see a famous Californian landmark: The Griffith Observatory. That was a nice touch, considering that I’ve been there. The mansions are exactly identical to the ones in Southern California. It looks great. But how does it play? It is very territorial. You need to pick a building and stick with it, using Marksman to lock onto enemies down long sight-lines. Patience is key, as well as a keen eye. Rushing is a long shot. My tips for this map? Use Marksman, consider Assassin, stay out of the plane, and use accurate assault rifles, as well as snipers. This map is a difficult one to do well on, but it’s fun when you get the hang of it and successfully lock down a position. Motion sensors help as well, for they higher leveled players. Lastly, how was Survival Mode? It was a real challenge. There are minimal options for places to set up base (camp) and get your position secured. But, it is fun and hectic, and the experience is enhanced with a partner. Over all, Black Box was a decent map. It really did nail the setting, but the idea of sticking to a location and picking people off may be foreign to some and difficult to get used to.
Lastly out of the multiplayer maps is Overwatch. This is a building that is under construction in New York, and it replicates the construction scene very well. I feared that it would feel too much like Hardhat, but it is in a world of its own. It is filled with breakable glass, has no edge, so falling is bound to happen, and even a crane to spice up one side of the map. The flaming skyscrapers are a cherry on top. Overwatch plays beautifully. I have seen every type of weapon being used on this map effectively, from shotguns to snipers, which is why it is universally loved. There is lots of gun on gun action. When I hear that phrase, it means nothing to me. The whole game is a FPS. How is this more “gun on gun” than any other map? Well, it truly has you rely on taking cover when necessary and using the terrain, walls, and corners to your advantage. It sounds strange, but it does test your skill and reflexes in battle. Staying away from the central point can help you live longer, by the way. The survival on this map is just as great as the multiplayer. It is challenging, but very fun. Juggernauts and helicopters are thrown at you very frequently, but doing laps around the map allows you to create time to formulate a plan and execute it (or the Juggernauts, hopefully.) I loved Overwatch, and is my favorite Content Drop out of the four maps.
But our DLC doesn’t end there. Next are the two Spec Ops missions: Black Ice and Negotiator. Black Ice starts your player out on a snowmobile, and after fighting through enemies, you have to self-destruct the mine you drive to. This mission is a fun one, and a blast with a partner. It offers plenty of challenge on Veteran difficulty as well.
After that is Negotiator. If you’re an amazingly fantastic player, one who plays on Veteran like it’s natural, you’ll do well in the mission. I, however, even on the lowest difficulty, cannot complete it. This is strange, because I’ve beaten every other Spec Ops mission on Veteran with a partner, but I guess that two guns are better than one. The breaching is challenging and fast pace just eliminates the strategic feel of it. I feel like I’m forced to rush into these rooms to meet my death. Negotiator isn’t a map I will be playing on my own time.
So, let’s do a quick recap. Piazza and Overwatch are great maps. Liberation was only god in Ground War, due to the larger amount of players. Black Box has to be adjusted to, but it is a unique, well designed map. Still, a lot of players may find it too different from what’s already out there. Black Ice was a great Spec Ops mission, while Negotiator was not. 3 pieces of great content, 1 piece of decent content, 2 pieces of terrible content. This first Collection is a T-Bone. This may seem strange, but Overwatch is one of my favorite maps now out of the whole game, and Piazza’s pace is like no other. Should you get this pack? Well, read the above mini-reviews to decide if the maps are right for you.
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Batman: Arkham City: Nightwing DLC
1 New Character, 2 maps
Price: $7 dollars (560 Microsoft Points)
After playing as Robin, I was afraid that Nightwing would fall flat as well. How did he check out? I’ll tell you just in a second. The three key points to this DLC are the combat map, predator map, and Nightwing himself. The combat map was extremely cinematic and well crafted. It offers many unarmed men, some knife-wielding men, and a few armored goons. Hear that? No tasers or shields! You feel like a beast ripping through the men, but you have to watch out for sneaky ones who will break your Freeflow with a missed counter. Lightning flashes over the fight, and it mixes perfectly with Nightwing’s electric-charged batons. The map is easy to grasp, but there’s a lot to juggle, so it’s challenging without being too tedious. The Predator map is unique. Instead of there just being gargoyles to camp up on, there are tight-ropes. They’re necessary because he doesn’t have wings to glide on, but he can pounce like a lion. If camping up above the men isn’t your style, you can stalk your prey while they’re on the bottom floor. It’s very different from what we’ve seen before, so it’s a fresh addition.
Nightwing is a unique character. He fights like a UFC fighter, except with electrified batons. He is quick, powerful, and he has some sick moves. Most importantly, he feels unlike Batman or Catwoman. He can qualify as an individual character, and is unlike either of them. He has a unique Detective Vision, complete with a radar, and though he can’t glide, he has gadgets that make up for his slight disadvantage. A wrist dart can put to sleep a pesky henchman, and Escrima Sticks can knock down a horde of them easily. His character performs well in both fields, and is a great addition to your character roster. Nightwing is a T-Bone, and is recommended for anybody who enjoys Challenge Mode.
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Batman: Arkham City: Robin DLC
1 New Character, 2 maps
Price: $7 dollars (560 Microsoft Points)
Robin, Boy Wonder. This guy has been left in alleyways to rot under Batman’s wing, and has truly been abused in the Batman series. His character turned to Teen Titans for redemption, and he scored Star Fire, but other than that, he has never really been a big deal. Now, Robin is in Arkham City, ready to prove himself with this DLC. This DLC includes a combat and predator map, as well as Robin, of course, with a couple of skins excluding his original one. The three key points to this DLC are the combat map, predator map, and Robin himself. The combat map is called Freight Train, and is different from any other Arkham City map. It is a 2-D map, so you have no control over the camera. The screen scrolls left and right with your movement, and enemies are thrown your way in a congested train car. This map didn’t work for me. I couldn’t see when the guys were coming, how many were on each side, or where the heck anything was. This map simply justified why this game isn’t a 2-D one. This isn’t Mario Brothers, it’s Arkham City. It honestly felt like an incomplete test for a map. At the last round, the giant one-armed clown occasionally says, “I will leave you smeared across this room.” Wait. Room? We’re on a train. I felt like this map was just put together to see what would happen. Black Mask also makes a “boss” appearance at the end, and yet he can be taken down just as easily as the other enemies. This map disappointed me. The Predator map is different from the others. There is an echo to everything said and done, and there are few safe-spots other than the objects you can perch onto. The map itself is alright, but it’s not too different from what we’ve seen before. The thing is, it contradicts what Robin specializes in. In this game, concerning Predator, Robin has to get close and personal to do damage, whereas this map requires you to strike with grapple-hooks and sonic batarangs…Robin can’t do that, sadly. The challenges offered are simply to use the gadgets given to you in a specific way, making it feel like an introduction to Robin. It helped me learn the gadgets, but it wasn’t overly impressive. The map is fun to play with as any other character, however.
Lastly, Robin, though it pains me to say it, is just a weaker Batman with a staff. He doesn’t feel different from Batman, his combos are lame, and his staff doesn’t deliver the satisfaction it could. Predator is easy for him to master, but once you get to the extreme levels, combat or predator, it’s a challenge. In Predator maps, you find yourself goofing off and messing with the bad guys rather than trying, because Robin requires you to get in close to the enemies to deal damage. If messing with the bad guys is your thing, don’t hesitate to buy this DLC. Robin’s combat style is a copy of Batman’s, there is no special quality to him, and I don’t feel like there was enough effort put into his play style. This DLC is a Porkchop. You aren’t missing out on anything but a couple of cool gadgets and fancy staff swinging. Robin should pack his bags and crawl back to Star Fire, whatever planet she lives on nowadays.
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Mortal Kombat DLC 1: (Season Pass)
4 New Characters
Price: $15 dollars (1200 Microsoft Points)
I am a huge Mortal Kombat fan, as you can tell if you read my review on the game. When it comes to fighting, I don’t have a best character. I know some moves and combos with each one, and so I can be named a jack of all trades opposed from a master of one. So, when I heard that there were four new characters being released, I used my 1200 Microsoft Points right away. Knowing how your characters play is crucial, because if you get a group of heavy, slow characters, like Sheeva or Shang Tsung, that’s fifteen dollars down the drain. Still, MK allows you to purchase each character individually for 400 Microsoft Points, so let’s get started. I’ll break down this review by the four characters, Skarlet, Kenshi, Rain, and Freddy Krueger. Skarlet is a character who uses blood opposed to fire and ice. She plays a lot like Mileena, except she has much speedier combos. She isn’t as fast as Sonya Blade or Mileena, but she can be speedy. If you are a player who beats up your opponent while they are airborne, Skarlet is the player for you. Her X-Ray move has about the same range, too. Skarlet’s fatalities are gruesome, considering she survives on blood. She is most like Mileena, and if you don’t like her, Skarlet probably isn’t for you.
Next is Kenshi. Kenshi is a blind swordsman who has made MK appearances before. He plays like Ermac and Noob, because of his ability to use telekinesis and his ability to use fake people on his enemies. Still, he is must quicker and has more accessible combos than both of them. He is fun to use, easy to use, and has great Special Moves. He is a must have character, because if you ever struggle in the fight, you could just throw a guy at the enemy and get back into the game, using your quick sword moves and telekinesis. Unlike Ermac, his telekinesis moves aren’t game stoppers. They mix well into the action. Kenshi’s moves sound great, and his X-Ray move is easy to land. His fatalities are unique and cinematic, and are sure to be a crowd pleaser. He is a character you would like to have in your arsenal.
Rain is a character I am still trying to figure out. His special moves are unique and can lead to combos, but I must say, he is the type of character who is button-mash proof. If you are a button-masher, you won’t get much out from Rain except for the basic punch and kick moves. Some button-mash proof characters and Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. Rain can do some major damage, but you have to study his moves in order to do well with them. His X-Ray is easy to land, and his fatalities are interesting. His first one is humorous, and his second will make you cringe. Rain is a character that will take a while to master, but will do you good in the long run.
Lastly is Freddy Krueger, the famous horror villain from A Nightmare on Elm Street. At first, I believed that he would be a cameo-type character with moves and fatalities loyal to the series for the fans, without any replayablity. In other words, I thought he would just be an attraction for his fans, but boy was I wrong. This guy can FIGHT. He is closest to Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage, who can pull of combos like nothing. His claws are very fast, his moves very effective, and his play style quick. He is fast and easy to use, as long as you are on your toes. His X-Ray move is a close-ranged one, and his fatalities stay true to the movies. Freddy is fast, fun, and satisfying. It doesn’t take much to use him, and so I urge every Mortal Kombat player who is a close-ranged/fast character fan to purchase Freddy.
Over all, this Character Pack is a T-Bone, and it is worth getting. If you just want to buy single characters, I would suggest Kenshi and Freddy first, and then Rain. Skarlet isn’t so amazing, so you could forget about her is you don’t care for Mileena. Let me know what you think of the Pack in the comments. So, GET OVER to Gamestop and get yourself some Microsoft Points. MK fans have gotten their treat.
Skarlet
Kenshi
Rain
Freddy
