The ‘Close Quarters’ DLC for Battlefield 3 is the second piece of content to be released and certainly not the last as there will be three more packs released with the last one releasing in 2013. Close Quarters is not just you average DLC Map Pack as it is its own separate portion a game changing content in itself. You do of course get four new maps that are indeed smaller infantry based maps where vehicles are not the concern, so for those who get their kicks from getting a Jet or Apache Chopper killing spree in Battlefield 3, then these maps are not for you. However it is not just the maps, but the content itself that puts an entire new spin on the game all together.
Battlefield 3 and all its counter-parts have always been about objective based gameplay, instead of just run of the mill Deathmatches. Of course Team Deathmatch and Squad Deathmatch were added to the game previously to give the game more value as well as give many different types of gamers an opportunity to take advantage of a franchise they never felt interested in before. Aside from that the Close Quarters maps along with the two new modes have managed to bring both of those aspects in to play with out losing that sense of an objective based game type which in my opinion is extremely creative on DICE’s part.
You can play ‘Conquest Domination’ which gives you three points (flags/objectives) on the map which you team must capture. This must all be done while playing a fast paced match where you do not go more than a few seconds without seeing an enemy. Because of the smaller maps and the fast paced gameplay, the objects can be taken in a matter two or three seconds while they can be overrun from another teams control in just double that time. This makes grabbing objectives not only plausible with all the enemies running around on the smaller map but intense and extremely fun. It is in a way like playing an intense infantry based game of team deathmatch while trying to control the majority of the objectives for as long as you can, however with the way the gameplay is setup, you will move around so much while objects will go back and forth between each team owning them making for the most fast paced objective gameplay in a shooter I have ever played.
The other mode in the game is called ‘Gun Master’ and there is no denying the fact that DICE has taken a page from Call of Duty here. As you may or may not know the game type starts you off with a pistol while ever two kills you get you gain a new weapon, that in most cases is more effective, but more importantly raises your level as the first person to reach the top weapon (getting the last kills with it), wins the match. You are notified of whenever you or a quickly advancing player goes up in level for the match. As a Battlefield 3 fan, the ‘Gun Master’ mode is much more fun than the similar game mode in the new Call of Duty games as when you die you do not lose you place in climbing your way up the weapon ladder as you re-spawn with the same weapon you have when you died, HOWEVER if you are knifed in the back you are demoted one level. Since there are two levels for each gun, this does not necessarily mean you will lose the weapon you had unless you did not have any kills with it. All the weapons range from every type and many of which are weapons that are part of the ‘Back to Karkand‘ DLC as well as the ‘Close Quarters’ DLC. So playing this game type gives you an opportunity to get kills with weapons you may not necessarily even unlocked yet or have the ability to unlock.
As you may be familiar with when DICE releases content for Battlefield 3, the weapons are not just handed over to you by purchasing the content as they are locked and can only be unlocked by completing assignments for the specific weapons. This adds more playable value with the content while giving you a chance to use weapons or play game types you would not ordinarily. The ten new weapons you can obtain are two for each class with another two that can be used with any class. They consist of the AUG A3, SCAR-L (Assault); ACW-R, MTAR-21 (Engineer); L86A2, LSAT (Support); M417, JNG-90 (Recon); while you can unlock the SPAS-12 and the M5K Sub-machine Gun for all kits. Also available right from the start is a new gadget; the 40mm LVG ammo for your grenade launcher which allow you to shoot a timed grenade out that goes off three seconds after launch. It is ammo available for your M320/GP30.
The four new maps are ‘Ziba Tower’ which is a luxuries loft in a building where you are many stories above the ground not to mention jumping off the tower to you death will get you an Achievement/Trophy. Then there is ‘Scrapmetal’, ‘Donya Fortress’ and ‘Operations 925′ which is an office type map. Being that all maps are much smaller then you average Battlefield 3 map, they all have tremendous detail from the graphics to water spraying out of shot open sinks to oven/stoves setting of fire upon shooting them, right down to the interior design of the maps. Attention was paid to all aspects of the four maps. All in all if you are a Battlefield 3 fan these are a must have while if you are not a hardcore fan of the game these new maps and modes might turn you on more to the game. The content will run you 1200 Microsoft Points/$14.99 unless you are a Battlefield Premium member which will entitle you to all previous, current and future content, which we will review also. Premium members also receive all content earlier than non Premium members. Another feature will be written on Battlefield Premium, if it is worth it instead of purchasing the Battlefield 3 DLC one piece at a time shortly, with it costing $49.99/4000 MSP. As far as the ‘Close Quarters’ DLC; it seems to be a must have addition to the game at this point in time.
