Too Much of A Good Thing?
Okay, let's get straight to the point: I know that a lot of you are not here for the multiplayer maps. You're here for the zombies. Unfortunately, in this case it seems like Treyarch has just gone overboard when throwing in new content. Sure, the change of scenery is great and the addition of zombie dogs keeps players on their toes, but the huge map size, random perks, and numerous traps can all be a bit much. My fondest memories of Nazi Zombies are still primarily from the very first map. Remember when it was just you, a few friends, and a random weapon box against an endless horde of zombies? Now that was intense. Throwing in all of these gimmicks and vastly increasing the map size only serves to complicate a formula that was simple but perfect in the first place. That said, even though Treyarch's Nazi Zombie maps have seen a decline in quality with each map pack, Shi No Numa remains a good time with three friends.
The multiplayer maps included in this release, however, are certainly worth the price of admission. Each of the three included maps rank amongst WaW's best. Sub Pens is best for running and gunning, as there are few good places to snipe from. It feels like a pretty cramped map, although not so much that it feels broken or unbalanced.
Corrosion may be the smallest map I've played in WaW, although there is an element of verticality that makes the level feel a bit bigger than it really is. This map is really unpredictable, as there are equal oppurtunities for snipers and commandos to shine. Matches played on Corrosion are typically quick and brutal affairs.
Banzai, my personal favorite of the three maps, is more medium sized. There are several paths that players can take to reach the enemy base, making it well-suited for team based games. The Japanese scenery is beautiful and features plenty of natural points of conflict, making this one of the more well thought out maps in WaW.
Overall, your enjoyment of Map Pack 2 boils down to how much you still play WaW. For players such as myself, who have moved on to other games, this pack offers a brief but satisfying distraction. For hardcore WaW players, this is a no brainer. The Nazi Zombies map might be a letdown, but that just allows the competitive maps to shine.
