An FPS game is nothing without its multiplayer, and if there's one game that can boast about its multiplayer success, it's Activision Blizzard's Modern Warfare 2. Since its release this past November, the game has been sitting pretty atop the most played Xbox titles list every week, and boasts as many as 20 million unique users. Just this week, MW2 received its first batch of DLC in the form of a multiplayer map pack which included five new boards, which has been collectively referred to as the "Stimulus Package."
Of the five maps that are included in the Stimulus Package, only three of them are new, with the other two making their first appearance in the original Modern Warfare. The three new maps feature fresh environments that even the most seasoned veteran won't be familiar with as they venture to the suburbs (Bailout), an industrial park (Storm) and a frozen junkyard (Salvage). These new maps are as expertly crafted by the Infinity Ward team, leaving no safe place to campers to hide and leveling the playing field a bit in terms of how well people know the maps.
The other two maps that are included from Modern Warfare are Crash, the map that has obvious similarities to Blackhawk Down and Overgrown, the expansive blown-out farmland with some of the longest sightlines in the game. While it may seem like a simple switch, you have to keep in mind that these maps weren't designed with Modern Warfare 2's weaponry in mind and can make the maps feel more hectic and cramped than they previously did. However, these are two of the best maps from the first title, and seeing them make the jump to this game should make most fans very happy.
However, one thing that might not make keep those smiles on the faces of fans is the Stimulus Package's price: 1200 MS Points, which translates to $15 in real money. It's usually a price point that is reserved for newly developed XBLA games and full-fledged expansion packs, but not multiplayer map packs. Overall, it works out to $3 per map, which is asking a lot, no matter what game this is. For something that is ripping off the name of a government initiative that was supposed to put more money in the hands of its citizens, it sure is doing a good job of finding a way for them to spend it.
Pros
- If MW2's MP was getting stale, these will add to the game substantially
- Modern Warfare fans will feel very comfortable on the two classic maps
- The new environments add some much needed variety to the map selection
Cons
- $15 is expensive for five maps
- Five new maps would have been better than three
- The two MW maps weren't designed with MW2 in mind
