Call of Duty Elite : DLC Impressions #4

The fourth injection of Call of Duty Elite introduces 2 new maps, named Sanctuary and Foundation.                                                                                                                                                
Sanctuary is set in the mountains of Greece, and includes a host of tight corners and enclosures which promote alot of close quarters action. The map itself is quite sizeable, but when you break it down into various zones, there is alot of enclosed spaces which make for alot of localised frenetic fights, which means it isn't as open as it might seem at first.

There's not really much that sets Sanctuary apart from any other map.
Average.

There aren't really any focal points to speak of either. There is a long wooden bridge, book-ended by a huge staircase which can produce more open firefights in objective based modes such as HQ and Domination, but this map is more about the smaller sub-areas, such as the main church and graveyard, than any sort of major areas of focus. There is a good mixture of indoor and outdoor areas though.                                                                                                                                                        
The map offers many covering spots as a result of its confined surroundings, so there are naturally many areas for players to pitch up and camp, so there is likely to be danger around every corner.                                                                                                                                                 
It's quite a forgettable map, in all honesty, the setting is quite gloomy and dull and there is a general lack of colour and vibrancy in the surroundings. No parts of the map really offer any sort of core gameplay dynamics in the same way that the crash site in Black Box does, for example, so it is somewhat underwhelming all round.

Recommended Perks

Sleight of Hand is essential because of the highly expected volumes of close quarters fights and general lack of room in most parts of the map, so the benefit of having the jump on enemies will prove crucial.

Blast Shield is a must for practically the same reasons, and the confined areas will mean alot of grenade and explosive damage is dealt out, and Stalker will allow you to prepare for anybody who may be closely around the many twists and turns in the map, but SitRep could also be just as vital for any dangerous explosives and enemy devices planted around the tighter areas.

The second map is Foundation, a desolate and disused factory in South Korea. It somewhat saves the package with multiple vantage points and it's capability to suit all types of fighting ranges. The central area produces an excellent focal point as a towering concrete building with spiralling staircases and overviews of the whole map from both sides.

Foundation suits all types of play and brings it's own map dynamics.

Most players will naturally be drawn to the towering central piece of the map, and the gloomy settings make it hard to spot enemies, both above and below. There are also a vast amount of concrete pillars, shacks and various bits of machinery on the lower floor in order to exploit as cover for those attracted to the higher areas in the middle.

The map is quite small, but made very open by it's numerous vantage points, and every type of game possible will thrive on this map. Close quarter combat is better suited to ground level, but pockets of baron areas keep things somewhat open, and the longer range game will benefit from the raised surroundings and numerous staircases and platforms.

It's an interesting map to play on because of the fact it suits every possible playstyle, meaning tactics play a larger role than they would on most other maps. It is easy to get drawn to the centre of the map, which could leave the outskirts of the map somewhat isolated at times, but the mixture of playstyles and approaches to the map make it dynamic and fun to play on.

Recommended Perks

Due to the diversity and approach play and dark/dull setting on the maps, recon could give you additional assistance of picking out enemy locations, both above and below.

Overkill will allow you to easily adjust to multiple styles of play and use the strengths of the map to your advantage and Marksman will give you the benefit of being able to pick out enemies, which naturally works well with Recon.

It's a mixed bag with this drop, Sanctuary is fairly bland and mundane but the package is redeemed by a solid offering with Foundation which provides a thrill and fun that Sanctuary seems to lack.