Battlefield 3 Back To Karkand Add-On Review

It’s a hectic week for Xbox LIVE subscribers. Not only is there a trio of new Xbox LIVE Arcade games to check out (including four new Marvel Pinball tables), but you’ve also got the first dose of true Gears of War 3 DLC, as well as the long-awaited Back to Karkand pack for Battlefield 3. And if you’re a fan of that first-person shooting series, as you should be, then you’re in for a treat. That’s because Back to Karkand doesn’t contain any new maps, but rather four favorites that stem from the historic Battlefield 2 video game. These are sure to evoke some memories if you played them back on your high-powered PC. These include Strike At Karkand (considered to be one of the best Battlefield maps ever constructed), Wake Island, Sharqi Peninsula and Gulf of Oman. There are additional weapons and vehicles as well, and we’ll get to those in just a second. Now, let’s talk the maps themselves. Perhaps the best of the bunch here is Strike At Karkand, mainly because it gives you a majority of action in terms of blowing stuff out and plotting a plan of action against your foes.

The other maps are great as well (especially Wake Island), but they’re a bit smaller than we remember them being. Karkand seems right on the money. No matter, though, as they’re all equally enjoyable and give you plenty more killing to do online when you’re trying to hunt down your buddies and get a few head shots in for good measure. The new maps blend in with the old ones almost seamlessly, and even though they do take a bit of hard drive room (like the previous HD patch before it), it’s space well filled, especially once you hop into the competitive multiplayer. And old-school Battlefield 2 fans? You’ll feel right at home here, and perhaps a little more validated behind this sequel’s purchase. There’s some cool stuff happening with the new weapons included in Back To Karkand. Ten are available in all, and each one really makes a difference during combat, particularly the QBB-95 machine gun, the FAMAS-G2 assault rifle and the two sniper rifles, the QBB-88 and the L96A1. (If you prefer up close and personal combat, though, the MK3A1 shotgun will suffice.)

You’ll need to complete a certain assignment with each weapon to gain total access to them, but it doesn’t take too much effort, and you’ll be fragging in combat in no time. If vehicular combat is your thing, there are three new types to choose from. The F35 jet can do some great damage in the air, though you’re still likely to be shot out of the sky if you don’t speed up enough. The BTR-90 APC gets its job done where needed, and the DPV buggy is a lot of fun to drive around. Hell, you might even get lucky enough to mow some poor waiting chap over. Not that he didn’t deserve it. (For the record, the Skid Loader is pretty sweet, too.) All four of these maps have been rebuilt using the Frostbite 2 technology, and they look spectacular. True, there are some small noticeable differences if you’re dedicated fans of the original Battlefield 2 layouts, but overall they really shine. And the destruction you can lay down in the midst of combat is ridiculous, with tons of explosions that really light the screen up. The frame rate runs adequately too, about the same speed as the other maps.

Obviously we would’ve preferred 60 frames per second upgrade (ala the PC), but, hey, there’s only so much the Xbox 360 can take, right? We’ll take this game just as it runs, thanks. Now we come to price. And this is probably going to be the biggest turn-off factor when it comes to new buyers. See, if you purchased the Limited Edition of Battlefield 3 (as a bunch of people did on launch day), then it won’t cost you one single penny. However, if you’re a newcomer who’s late to the game, it’s going to set you back $15. Now, considering that there are no major new modes added here (just a Conquest Assault tweak and unique Rewards and Achievements), that might be a stiff price for some wallets. However, you can probably still hit the store and pick up the Limited Edition. We’ve seen it in stock in plenty of places. And it’s well worth the investment. Look, Battlefield 3 is simply a blast to play online we all know that. And while Back At Karkand doesn’t really offer any significant new gameplay elements, it is a lot more destructive and has the kind of nostalgic maps that show how much DICE really cares about its community. It’s well worth the download, if only to show someone who’s boss on Karkand ground.by robert workman
OVERALL: GET IT