Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 continues to roll out DLC for fans eager to get their hands on new maps and zombie modes for the game's legendary multiplayer. The third of four DLC packs, Vengeance was released on July 2 for the Xbox 360 version of the game, and now PlayStation 3 and PC owners can look forward to being able to play the DLC later this week on August 2.
Vengeance will add four new DLC maps for the game, Cove, Rush, Detour and Uplink. Uplink is a remake of Summit from the original Black Ops, only with a warmer weather makeover. Cove is a tropical map setting with a bit of "Lost" influence to it, as luggage litters the beach that players can explore. Detour takes place on a ruined bridge in which players can hide behind cars with limited flanking opportunities.
Finally, Rush takes place on a paintball course, adding a bit of fun and variety to the game. The new zombie mode, Buried, brings players to a Old West town that has been buried underground, and players must fight zombies and rob bank vaults as they try to survive. Helping them is a new weapon, the Ray Gun Mark II, which comes with the DLC and will become available on all zombie mode maps.
The DLC has received fair reviews from critics, and currently has a 70 Metacritic score based on the collected reviews of several notably publications. Most of the criticism lays with one map in particular, as it seems Detour is too linear for most reviews and players offers little in terms of variety. In addition, many reviewers feel that Uplink, while a solid choice for being remade for Black Ops 2, does not offer enough to be worthy of being part of a $15 DLC pack for the game. However, Cove has proven to be a smash hit with reviewers and gamers, and the map offers a wide variety of terrain for all play types.
Rush has also proven to be a good addition to the game, though some feel as though the fun aesthetics of the map distract from an otherwise so-so map. Buried has also proven to be a solid addition to the game, offering a classic zombies experience after the Hollywood voice acted Mob of the Dead map gave players a more cinematic and varied zombie experience.
Overall, Vengeance is a decent DLC pack for players to pick up, but some may feel as though $15 may be a steep price point for two great maps, two average maps, and a decent zombies map. PlayStation 3 and PC owners can decide for themselves August 2.