When Battlefield: Bad Company 2 launched this year, it was met with positive response from much of the community, including myself. Although it never toppled Call Of Duty in way of an online experience 'to never stop playing', it came a close second and I'm pleased to say that I still jump on every so often.

One of the best bits about Bad Company 2 is the extensive post release support it has received. Releases of new maps, free to those with a V.I.P code, have helped to hold back people's urge to start throwing stuff at EA, in annoyance to some of their other plans. However, up until now, most of the DLC hasn't been 'new', as such. They've really just been changes to the original maps, adding a new game mode. Now, bringing cooperative into the Bad Company 2 universe, the Onslaught pack has arrived.

More games today include co-op at release, and it's becoming more of a necessity in this generation, just like online play has become a real requirement if you wish your game to be likely to succeed. Onslaught does exactly as you'd expect and hope, mixing the frantic team-based online play with the single player mode's 'capture and hold' idea.

In terms of maps you won't find anything new. It seems that, although Dice are willing to support their titles, they're not planning to give up any new content until the next installment - or at least until the Vietnam pack, releasing later in the year. However, the new co-op mode does add some changes to the gameplay, and new objectives change the way which you might have previously used the map. Perhaps the best part about using 'Valparaiso'; 'Atacama Desert'; 'Isla Innocentes' and 'Nelson Bay' is that you already know your way around, so there's no navigational adjusting and memorising to do with the new mode.

The objective based gameplay gives you three main sectors to clear - points A, B and C - before you end the level. These are all placed roughly around the online M-Com bases. The best part of the objectives are that, on the way to capture, you'll find a somewhat surprising force holding them. Until you manage to take a point enemies will continue to pour out and into the area, hoping to push you back enough.

With difficulty ranging from easy to hardcore, you might be occupied with the pack for a week or so, trying to get all the important trophies or achievements. However, with only the older maps on offer, the question is if you can justify spending your cash on something that only adds to them. While definitely one for the hardcore fan, the more casual should perhaps wait a while if not so sure, to see if they support any more co-op in the upcoming Vietnam DLC.

7/10 [?]

Labels: Bad Company 2, Battlefield, DLC, EA, Jacques Hulme, Onslaught, Review

Discuss this article in our friendly forums

Sign up to our community today and discuss our articles, debate over upcoming games and organise matches and playsessions with like-minded people just like you.

Liked this? Spread the word - share with your friends!