The third of five Battlefield expansions, features the largest maps Battlefield 3 has ever seen. The map design and feel complete the experience and feel reminiscent to Battlefield 1942 in some ways. The greater focus on tanks and air superiority make for an easy way to unlock items for vehicles but also make infantry a very fragile role to play in a larger battle.
The Maps:
Alborz Mountains
A vast mountain range featuring a nearly frozen lake and blindingly white mountains. There’s unfortunately a lot of sniper positions but one area features an epcot-looking globe that can’t be destroyed and can suppress many enemies for Conquest or in Rush. In Conquest, this point is what controls who gets to use the AC130. It provides great moments from either side of the team.
Armored Shield
A open area similar to Harvest Day from BF Bad Company or even Caspian Border here in BF3, just rearranged. I don’t find it as beautiful as the other maps in the pack. Hills and secluded urban areas provide some cover if you’re on foot as infantry. Overall, you are very exposed and helicopters have the most advantage here. Tanks of course play a big role in dominating the flag positions, but a good helicopter pilot can also do massive damage.
Death Valley
The night returns, and this map is in splendid glory as fire and moon lighting effects look fantastic. Bridges and underdeveloped buildings lie next to a dry riverbed and are also up against a mountain providing stunning visuals and intense combat for any vehicle. Land vehicles here are preferred due to their firing distance and destruction that can have on the buildings. The helicopters and jets are available here but don’t have a big impact to the overall objectives as they do elsewhere.
Bandar Desert
Is set during sunset and has small hills up against a coast. It has many base setups to provide cover for each mode of play. There’s also some residential areas that provide some new looks to the game. Each area feels distinct from one another to feel distant. The vehicles are equally important on this map. A good combination of land and air vehicles can easily control all points on the map.
Assignments
Another set of assignments to complete, but not for weapons but vehicles. So these introduce fire extinguisher for the new vehicles that are available in the game now. These are also vehicle based and there are only 5 to complete.
New Vehicle: AC130
Quite the game changer. Each of the four tank superiority maps now have an AC130 encircling the battlefield. On Rush, whoever controls the point, controls the plane. On other modes it must be destroyed and then your team takes possession of it. You’ll have control of two sets of guns to rain down terror to enemies. Additionally, it is a spawn point where you and your team can deploy in from the air to attack a flag or MCOM. It’s an adrenaline rush and pure excitement dropping in. It almost reminds me of Titan Mode from Battlefield 2142 featuring the air base, but enemies can’t board the AC130 here.
New Mode: Tank Superiority
A mode to compliment the larger maps. Each team has a bunch of tanks that spawn and can tank control of to go to battle with. If you haven’t guessed by now, infantry units are not very important this time around. Engineers still prove their use of repair and anti-take weaponry but Recon, Assault, and Support rarely need to be out on the fields as they just won’t do the damage necessary.
Final Thoughts
Armored Kill is easily the best DLC yet. It is hard to fault it here, unless you’re simply not a fan of vehicles or can’t control them well. The new maps are huge and can be played in the other modes but are a lot more open and don’t have much cover to protect on-foot players. Using a vehicle to get from place to place is almost essential have a chance at surviving. This map pack also downplays the use of snipers if not for being able to take down helicopter pilots.
A download code was provided by EA for review purposes
