Review: SOCOM Cold Front DLC

Note: This review will be featured in an upcoming Gameciety Podcast.  After it is posted, it will be referenced here at the top.  The verbal review will be better.

Price: $14.99

Score: A+ (if you own the game, obviously)
Content Included:
5 new maps (3 classic maps redone, 2 all new maps)
New Russian Special Forces
3 new weapons
New Weapon Specialization System

Maps:
The new maps look phenomenal! 4 are in a snowy setting, while one is in a train station. Here's my thoughts on each map, and what it adds or detracts from the game. Keep in mind, all maps are different for different play styles. I am a very heavy, fast "rusher". I am the one that generally swoops in from the side, and gets behind the other team.
Blizzard
This is one of the classic maps redone. I personally am not a fan of this map, as everyone seems to sit back and snipe. I kid you not, I have played against teams where 6-8 out of 8 people were sniping. I have played on teams where I was the only one moving. I find this boring. And at night, holy crap, this map is horrible. VERY wide open, and the Commandos starting on a good sniping vantage point that can see damn near the whole map. My least favorite map by far.
Vigilance and Uprising
One of these is another classic, while the other is a new map. Both are fairly similar. Both are set outdoors with plenty of buildings to snipe from, but it’s not to the degree of Blizzard. One has a creek up one side, while one has a sewer ditch down the middle. I love both of these maps, as it offers good balance to all types of players. You can make the map work for you if you find the right route to take.
Night Stalker
Another classic map, this one which resembles Desert Glory in a lot of ways to me. Wide open middle, with a path and a building or two on each side. Don’t get me wrong, there is cover in the middle, it’s just pretty open. I LOVE this map, its one of my favorites actually.
Entrapment
This map is all new, and set inside a train station. It has a small hook that I’ve had the pleasure watching kill people, in that there is an active third rail. If you touch the third rail, you get electrocuted and die. It’s pretty funny actually. This map is an “arena” style map, as well, with a wide open middle, an underground passage, a second “balcony” floor, which gives everyone an opportunity to excel at the map. People first compared it to Quarantine, a map EVERYONE dislikes due to water campers, however, there is no water, so this map is another new favorite of mine.

New Special Forces:
The Russians get the new AG94 assault rifle. It feels similar to the AK-series, which is due to the fact it is a modified AK. Most people don’t really like it, but I have had good fortune with it. It features a double-shot burst instead of a typical three round burst, which makes it great for medium range sniping. Those two bullets hit the same place, not a triangle like the M16. It’s fire rate is slower than the AK-107, but it has a few bars more accuracy. I personally love the gun. The outfits the Russians get are a rolled baklava, and riot head gear. The latter is bulky looking and draws attention to you. I like the emblem they get for Rank, it’s a deep red color, with yellow slashes to indicate rank; while normal members get black background and yellow slashes. Overall, I would say if you prefer the Dutch’s 417 assault rifle, don’t switch.


New Weapons:
One of the new weapons has been talked about, as it is a Russian-specific weapon. But the AK-107 and VAL are the two new assault rifles in the DLC. The AK-107 is a Commando only weapon, while the VAL is Mercenaries only. I haven’t used the AK-107 much, but it’s pretty popular from what I have seen. It fires much quicker than the AG-94 I use, but looses some accuracy. The VAL, however, is the mercenaries answer to the 417. The VAL features a small clip, at only 20 bullets, but is deadly accurate, with a built in silencer and the second highest damage out of all Merc weapons. The included silencer allows you to add a front grip and scope, which is a pleasant feature. However, the drawback of this little beast is it is HORRIBLE at a distance. I quickly jumped back to my trusty AK-47 after awhile, but on small maps, I tend to switch back. Overall, you are getting two great, devastating weapons to use.


Weapon Specializations:
This part will be long. The DLC added a new progression system that allows you to unlock an enhanced version of a gun in that class. You have a primary spec., and a secondary spec. I will use my set up as an example.


I have Assault Rifles as my Primary and Machine Guns as my Secondary. When you get kills with a specific class of weapon, you gain CE; 2 CE for a kill, 1 CE for an assist. If I get 9 kills in a game (5 with assault rifles, 3 with machine guns, and 1 with a grenade), I will get 16 CE at the end of the match. 10 CE will go to AR’s, while the remaining 6 will go to MG’s. It may sound complex, but it’s not at all.


The benefit of gaining CE is you unlock an upgraded universal attachment at 300 CE. At 600 CE, your Primary Specialization gets an enhanced gun, then at 900 CE a Gold Star. Your Secondary only gets the attachment and a Silver Star (reached at 600 CE). The stars are only there for getting a trophy. The enhanced weapon you unlock can be used on both Commando and Mercenary sides, and the attachment you unlock is good for all weapons in that class, case in point, the custom front grip for assault rifles can be placed on an M16, which normally doesn’t get a grip.


This whole system, while I feel was rushed and could be a WHOLE lot more fleshed out, is just a trial in my opinion. Some complain it breaks the game, however, the enhanced guns are only SLIGHLY better than there normal counterparts. If anything ruins this game, it’s the slew of new snipers now that the thermal scope is available (also in the DLC). Hopefully, this dies down, but that’s another topic.


Buy or Don’t Buy:


If you own SOCOM, even if you don’t play it often, or haven’t played in awhile, BUY this DLC. It
virtually doubles the map content, adds a few solid weapon choices, and adds a progressive system (which some argue “isn’t SOCOM!!!!!”, but it’s a healthy addition). And if you think $15 is to much, slap yourself. Activision gets off on making people pay $10 for 3 maps and a new zombie map. Did you not just read what $15 gets you? The 5 maps alone are worth $15, but add everything else and wow. Bargain much?