Review: Escalation DLC

Hey there folks!

Finally, after a long wait for all Black Ops fans, is the next installment to the growing map/zombie killing lust: Escalation DLC was released 3rd of May and many gamers are clamoring for Microsoft Points to buy this enthralling new type of zombie destruction.

Firstly, I would like to talk about the 5 new maps in the DLC. If I were to describe the 4 maps (Zoo, Hotel, Convoy and Stockpile) in one sentence, it would be this: These maps are a camper's delight.
Many gamers of the community asked for more "sniper friendly" maps and thus, the Escalation DLC delivered. After playing all 4 maps in repetition, there are many, many, many sniper points but this also allows people who like to hide behind corners with shotguns to kill others are also in plentiful supply.

While the maps are fun for sniping, at least Treyarch gave their best attempt to give everyone an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. (For example, in Zoo, there is an elevated position at the bottom left of the map, reachable only by a ladder. However, the ladder area has been blasted off, and behind that is a set of stairs to which, anyone is free to top off the person sitting there)
This is a good strategy by Treyarch, arming one hand but disabling the other.

Now to talk about Call of the Dead!

As per usual, there are four survivors against an unending assault by a zombie horde, continuously attacking in waves. However, the storyline and gameplay has been changed quite a bit. A large boss (in this case the revered zombie movie director George Romero) who is very hard to kill and the setting has changed very much so.


Instead of a normal Nazi zombie horde, it is a horde of pirate zombies and are attacking near a broken down ship and a lighthouse (which begs the question, how did it crash if the lighthouse works?)
And, as many people know, it stars many famous actors (see photo at top right) and what surprised me most is their witty remarks. For example:
If a zombie hits Sarah Michelle Gellar, she yells back "Hey! I'm a mom!"
Which made me chuckle.
But seriously, the gameplay is very challenging and can get quite confusing, as the whites blend together and it gets confusing as Romero stomps around carrying a sparking blue stagelight (That's right, be careful when he swings!)

Overall, this map pack is a must have, just like the First Strike. It is original, fun and is regaining Treyarch some face time and may, in the end, if their company continues to improve from their past failures, may allow them to regain their former glory.

Out of 10, I gave the Escalation DLC an 8/10