Introduction
On March 10th 2010, Activision announced that the first of its DLC would be released for the Xbox 360 console on March 30th 2010. It later appeared on the Xbox 360 consoles under the Spotlight tab along with a trailer download and the price of 1200 Microsoft Points. This is a little more expensive than previous map packs for COD4 and COD:WAW which were 'cheap' at just 800 Microsoft Points.
So the long awaited 'expansion pack' for MW2 has been released today [30/03/2010] at 13.30 GMT in the UK to download although they didn't work and Xbox owners were required to wait until 16.30 GMT for the patch to be released which updated the game to use the maps
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This caused quite an upset with Xbox 360 owners although patience is all that was needed.
I'm here to tell you if its worth shelling out that 1200 Microsoft Points.
Where to find the map pack
The map pack can be downloaded through the Game Marketplace tab on the Xbox 360 console. It will set you back 1200 Microsoft Points and the file size is 329mb which is surprisingly small compared with other map packs so it should only take a few minutes to download.
What's included in the Stimulus Package
There were hopes for extra game types, weapons, perks, extra Special Ops missions and of course some extra maps. Sadly, the only thing included within this package download is the five maps which can be seen in the teaser trailer.
It's not all disappointing though, while three of the maps are brand new for MW2 [Bailout, Storm, Salvage] the other two are a couple of the best ever maps from COD4 [Overgrown, Crash] and any COD4 fan will know that those two maps alone will be enough to make you buy the map pack.
Ranger maps have been added to Hardcore Headquarters [These maps include Highrise, Invasion, Skidrow, and Terminal.] Along side the DLC, but something ALL of you will get, is a title update for Modern Warfare 2. Included in this update is support for the DLC [if you choose to purchase it], as well as some tweaks to the One Man Army perk, some matchmaking updates that will help international users find more locally hosted games thanks to how ping is now sorted, and various other code updates that will help improve the overall quality of multiplayer on Modern Warfare 2.
On the 'FIND MATCH' option on the multiplayer menu you can now select from two new play lists [Stimulus and Hardcore Stimulus] which is a great addition because if you desperately want to try out the new maps you can jump straight into them rather than waiting for them to come up, like on previous titles. These two game types [and sadly only these two] includes Double XP but I suspect this will only be for a limited time.
Map Descriptions and pictures
Firstly I would like to say that due to the maps being released on the Xbox 360 console first I've struggled to get detailed photos of the maps so I've had to take the photos of the maps on my TV. Sorry about the quality
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Bailout
This map seems to be very crowed and in doors. A proper sniper map with all those buildings and windows and it looks like its taken from a single player mission
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Here are some screenshots:
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I wasn't overly impressed with this map as I can see its going to be full of snipers camping in the various spots
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Storm
This map is very much middle sized and dark. Various amounts of buildings, I rather liked this map when I was exploring it earlier on. Nice balance of indoor and outdoor places for those gun fights.
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One problem I did have with it is it's very dull but that adds to the 'Storm' effect.
Salvage
I can see this map by far being my favourite, I love small maps on COD and this is the smallest map out of the five. It's very much based outdoors so no trouble with camping snipers
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It's not only visually appealing it will consist of some very close combat battles
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Overgrown
Now for the return of the COD4 map Overgrown, as you would expect nothing has really be changed other than it seems to be a lot more sunnier and generally brighter. Inside buildings seems darker as well but otherwise don't expect too much change. I suspect some bugs will have been ironed out as well now
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This will be a great map for thermal sniping! Strangely I noticed a lot more grass though
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Crash
Another favourite of mine from COD4 is crash. Just as with Overgrown nothing seems to have changed other than a brightness increase and everything seems to be a fair bit more colourful
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Again I noticed and increased amount of grass down the alley way which can be seen in the pictures.
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I did notice that a glitch had been sorted, there was a house near on of the spawn points you could jump onto the roof by firstly jumping on to the air conditioning units. This has now been fixed since COD4.
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Final Thoughts and Score
Nice set of maps to explore and should get you back into the game again if you got a little bored of the original maps. The COD4 maps are a great addition and are truly the best maps of all time which beats any of the COD: MW2 maps so far. Personally, I was hoping for a little more in the way of game types such as First person Team Tactical but sadly this wasn't added. If you get this pack though you will not be disappointed at the maps
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Update: Resized Images
On March 10th 2010, Activision announced that the first of its DLC would be released for the Xbox 360 console on March 30th 2010. It later appeared on the Xbox 360 consoles under the Spotlight tab along with a trailer download and the price of 1200 Microsoft Points. This is a little more expensive than previous map packs for COD4 and COD:WAW which were 'cheap' at just 800 Microsoft Points.
So the long awaited 'expansion pack' for MW2 has been released today [30/03/2010] at 13.30 GMT in the UK to download although they didn't work and Xbox owners were required to wait until 16.30 GMT for the patch to be released which updated the game to use the maps
I'm here to tell you if its worth shelling out that 1200 Microsoft Points.
Where to find the map pack
The map pack can be downloaded through the Game Marketplace tab on the Xbox 360 console. It will set you back 1200 Microsoft Points and the file size is 329mb which is surprisingly small compared with other map packs so it should only take a few minutes to download.
What's included in the Stimulus Package
There were hopes for extra game types, weapons, perks, extra Special Ops missions and of course some extra maps. Sadly, the only thing included within this package download is the five maps which can be seen in the teaser trailer.
It's not all disappointing though, while three of the maps are brand new for MW2 [Bailout, Storm, Salvage] the other two are a couple of the best ever maps from COD4 [Overgrown, Crash] and any COD4 fan will know that those two maps alone will be enough to make you buy the map pack.
Ranger maps have been added to Hardcore Headquarters [These maps include Highrise, Invasion, Skidrow, and Terminal.] Along side the DLC, but something ALL of you will get, is a title update for Modern Warfare 2. Included in this update is support for the DLC [if you choose to purchase it], as well as some tweaks to the One Man Army perk, some matchmaking updates that will help international users find more locally hosted games thanks to how ping is now sorted, and various other code updates that will help improve the overall quality of multiplayer on Modern Warfare 2.
On the 'FIND MATCH' option on the multiplayer menu you can now select from two new play lists [Stimulus and Hardcore Stimulus] which is a great addition because if you desperately want to try out the new maps you can jump straight into them rather than waiting for them to come up, like on previous titles. These two game types [and sadly only these two] includes Double XP but I suspect this will only be for a limited time.
Map Descriptions and pictures
Firstly I would like to say that due to the maps being released on the Xbox 360 console first I've struggled to get detailed photos of the maps so I've had to take the photos of the maps on my TV. Sorry about the quality
Bailout
This map seems to be very crowed and in doors. A proper sniper map with all those buildings and windows and it looks like its taken from a single player mission
Here are some screenshots:
I wasn't overly impressed with this map as I can see its going to be full of snipers camping in the various spots
Storm
This map is very much middle sized and dark. Various amounts of buildings, I rather liked this map when I was exploring it earlier on. Nice balance of indoor and outdoor places for those gun fights.
One problem I did have with it is it's very dull but that adds to the 'Storm' effect.
Salvage
I can see this map by far being my favourite, I love small maps on COD and this is the smallest map out of the five. It's very much based outdoors so no trouble with camping snipers
It's not only visually appealing it will consist of some very close combat battles
Overgrown
Now for the return of the COD4 map Overgrown, as you would expect nothing has really be changed other than it seems to be a lot more sunnier and generally brighter. Inside buildings seems darker as well but otherwise don't expect too much change. I suspect some bugs will have been ironed out as well now
Crash
Another favourite of mine from COD4 is crash. Just as with Overgrown nothing seems to have changed other than a brightness increase and everything seems to be a fair bit more colourful
I did notice that a glitch had been sorted, there was a house near on of the spawn points you could jump onto the roof by firstly jumping on to the air conditioning units. This has now been fixed since COD4.
Final Thoughts and Score
Nice set of maps to explore and should get you back into the game again if you got a little bored of the original maps. The COD4 maps are a great addition and are truly the best maps of all time which beats any of the COD: MW2 maps so far. Personally, I was hoping for a little more in the way of game types such as First person Team Tactical but sadly this wasn't added. If you get this pack though you will not be disappointed at the maps
Update: Resized Images
