Call of Duty Elite : DLC Impressions #1

Playstation users finally get their hands on the much anticipated drip-fed Elite DLC, with the introduction of 2 new maps and 10 new levels of prestige for those who have already reached the end game as far as online levelling is concerned.                                                                                          
We'll start with Liberation, a huge, open map set in an autumn-esque park with plenty of big, sparce areas and sniping opportunities galore.                                                                                                                                                
I'm a little torn on Liberation. The extra room for sniping is something alot of people will appreciate, especially given the more close quarter maps in the core game and the dense woodland setting allows for easy camouflage to surprise enemies.                                                

Liberation is a sniper's heaven, shame it's way too big
to walk around without getting bored.

However, I feel it's just way too big. The one thing I disliked about Creek in Modern Warfare 1 was that it was just TOO open and when you're playing objective based game modes such as Headquarters, where you'll find yourself traipsing around the map as you go from one capture point to the next, trudging around constantly just gets old fast.                                                                                                                                                      
I understand they wanted to cater to a sniper's game more with this map, but the favourable sway is far too great to not cause frustration for those who don't want to just lie there and blend into the environment. If you're a regular sniper, you'll be in your element, with plenty of places to post up and rack up some decent kill-streaks, but the run and gun style of gameplay just won't thrive on Liberation.                                        

Recommended Perks 

Extreme Conditioning is a must, since it will certainly ease the pain of having to constantly run around to get to from point A to B and adding a long range weapon to your loadout with Overkill will help combat the inevitable flux of snipers on the opposite team.                                                    
Marksman gives you the added edge of being able to pinpoint long range targets easily, but I'd also make a case for Stalker, which could be used if you're playing with a run and gun style.     
         
The second map is called Piazza and is definitely my favourite map of the 2. It's a small, close quarters map based on a small Italian village with plenty of tight, narrow paths and passages that restores that fast-paced action that is lost in Liberation.                                                                           

Piazza is a complete contrast to Liberation, with plenty of
narrow streets and potential death around every corner.

It's a map that is much better suited to the natural style of Call of Duty, and the winding roads and  many elevated levels ensure that the action comes thick and fast and you're never walking around without an enemy too far away. There always seems to be a handful of directions the enemy can come from too, which keeps you on your toes and always thinking a few steps ahead.       
                 
Objective based game modes are much more hectic due to the small surroundings, and it instantly makes things more interesting for those like me who prefer the manic atmosphere and run and guns style of gameplay.                                                                                                                            
Even when you're inside, the areas still feel extremely claustrophobic and the action is still as tense as it is in the outside regions. It makes for some intense games of Headquarters and Team Defender and makes you think quickly as you predict enemy movement and try to cover all angles of the map.                                                                                                                                               

Recommended Perks

Sleight of Hand will give you the advantage of being able to react quicker to opponents who might try and surprise you around corners, though you might to ponder over Blind Eye, since the lack of indoor areas gives you little escape from any deadly air support.                                                                       
Blast Shield is a must to increase your chances of surviving the multitude of stray grenades and explosives you'll encounter and Stalker always allows you to be prepared for anybody who might wander around the vast abundance of corners and alleyways.                                                                      
It's a decent start to the DLC season though, with both maps offering something for everyone. Regardless of your play-style, the open-ness of Liberation will become somewhat tiresome, simply for the amount of walking around you have to do, and the amount of times you'll find the surroundings desolate and empty as a consequence of it's size.                                                            
Piazza, on the other hand, doesn't do much wrong, it might be too chaotic for some people, but it compliments the fast-paced style of the game, and certain objective based modes are exhilarating to play on it.