Such is the case with the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack, released on Xbox Live last Saturday. Call of Duty 4 has been the top played game on Xbox Live for many weeks now, and it’s easy to see why. The game blended arcade shooting action with a brilliant RPG-lite upgrade system that guaranteed the almost addiction-like levels currently exhibited by fans. But there was another ingredient: the maps were perfectly balanced, and very few are regularly skipped in playlists.
So the release of the new maps is cause for both trepidation and excitement amongst players. What flavour does the Variety Map Pack add to the already good content?
If we were to overuse the food analogy (and, dear reader, we would be loathe not to), then we would suggest that the vital ingredient that the Variety Pack adds is spice. The four maps contained in the downloadable content provide a breath of fresh air: from a change in geography and play style to a complete change of look and feel to an old favourite.
The rear of the Broadcast map is based on the single player level Charlie Don't Surf.
The first map in the pack is Broadcast, which is possibly Call of Duty 4’s biggest (we have the surveyors working around the clock to bring you the results, however). It’s based on the TV station area from the single-player level Charlie Don’t Surf, and that in itself makes for an interesting change from some other multiplayer maps. Broadcast is both an interior and exterior map - to the west of the circular station is a car bay, and beyond that lie several buildings that are perfect to regroup at when another team dominates the station itself. This makes for excellent distance combat, for scoped weapons and snipers. It is difficult for players with close-quarters weaponry to make it to the station while under fire, but by the same token, defending the station is not an easy task if players provide covering fire from the dark, and difficult to see into buildings to the west. The interior of the station is quite large, and offers several entry points from the front and open entrance to the rear stairwell. Once inside, it is a series of labyrinthine corridors and large open rooms. Visually, our favourite area is the large computer cubicle room from the single player level, though in practice this is often avoided, as it provides little cover from the potential massacre-points above. However, it provides excellent hidey-hole gameplay for one-on-one play.
The problem we had with Broadcast is that unless the map is crawling with players, the style of play can vary too wildly. The strengths of the map are lost if there are ten players trying to find each other in the vast, and vastly different areas. Either play it with a large group, or go for one-on-one cat-and-mouse play.
Killhouse is a small interior map.
The second map in the Variety Pack is Killhouse, a very small interior map based on the training mission at the beginning of the single-player game. Amongst the wood training arena, there are cameras and pop-up enemy targets, which give a different tone to the other available maps. It’s a map for those with quick reflexes - perfect for small skirmishes, and incredibly hectic for larger groups. If you step into a match with ten or more players, we recommend you know what you’re doing. There’s a tower in the middle of the arena, though good players will never go near it as it exposes them from all sides. Smart players may also outdo others psychologically by hiding in wait where the pop-up enemies lie. We scored many kills via this method, as most would ignore us, assuming we actually were the pop-ups and not real players lying in wait. It’s worth noting that at this stage, Killhouse isn’t available in the Variety Map Pack Team Deathmatch playlist, but instead in the new Team Tactical and Cage Match playlists. This is likely to change once the Variety Maps are integrated into regular playlists, however.
Chinatown has a completely fresh feel from the other maps.
The third map available is Chinatown, perhaps the most visually striking of all Call of Duty 4 maps. The palette here is much brighter, reflecting the decor and lighting of the San Francisco Chinatown that the visuals were based on. It’s convincing - the area looks like real people live there, from the food stalls to the DVD store. The map design, on the other hand, is not so much based on the Carentan map from Call of Duty 1 and 2 as it is a simple re-skinning of it. For those unfamiliar with the map, it is a recreation of a small-scale town, with an emphasis on street fighting. There are also a few buildings to take refuge in, and a small underground area which can be both a relief and a battleground. It’s a tried and tested favourite, and our only complaint is that at present, there is a clear separation between those who’ve played the level to death in previous games, and newcomers, which will naturally correct in time.
Creek is reminiscent of the East Australian bush.
The final level is our personal favourite - Creek. It’s probably the most geographically unique of the new maps, featuring a hilly mix of Overgrown-style building combat and wilderness environments. However, the lumpy hills will instantly remind PAL gamers of the Eastern Australian bush (complete with wooden outhouse), and this is to its benefit. It recalled us to many trips to the Australian bush, whose unique environment makes a perfect setting for hide-and-seek, or, in this case, bloodthirsty combat. As with Broadcast, its vastly different areas make for differing play styles, but this works in Creek’s favour. The map’s interconnectedness means that players will never have to search long for other players (unless, as always, they don’t want to be found!), which means fast gameplay, and quick access.
Overall, the decision to download the Variety Map Pack is fairly simple. If you are itching for something to spice up your frequent Call of Duty 4 multiplayer sessions, then the maps are perfect. If, on the other hand, you are loathe to hand out more money to improve a game you've already paid for, then the maps are hardly a necessary addition. In our view, though, the maps are worth the 800 Microsoft Points, which is about AU$14. Hardly small change for some, but it's also unlikely to break the bank. For more images of the Variety Pack, check out the media panel.
Loading...
