FEAR 2: Toy Soldiers DLC Review

<p>FEAR 2 came only with nine multiplayer maps when it shipped in February<span id="more-3533"></span>,
compared to most shooters that is not very much.&nbsp; Not only was there
less maps than you can count on two hands, but all in all they were not
what Monolith has been praised for in the past when it comes to the
variation of maps in the previous FEAR title.&nbsp; So let’s look at what
the first piece of DLC has brought to FEAR 2.</p>
<p>The game has been out for over two month now and Monolith has given
us 2 sets of DLC thus far.&nbsp; The first of the two map packs named Toy
Soldiers is a free download and features setting such as being inside
of a pinball machine, in which the players are tiny little soldiers
running around a pinball machine, a hospital lab room and a play ground
sandbox.&nbsp; In all three maps you are tiny little object in a world of
huge objects and environments.&nbsp; The original maps did not bring too
much variety, but Toy Soldiers bring all the different environments all
in three maps.</p>

The three maps have been respectively named Cockroach, Recess and
Fulltilt and each feature their own unique feel to them.&nbsp; Cockroach
reminds me of a map that was a mod done in Quake 2, where you’re in a
kitchen or a lab as tiny little soldiers, running around the map trying
your best to find each other for a frag.&nbsp; While Cockroach is a fun map
and has a great concept to it, it does feel like you’re constantly
playing hide and go seek.&nbsp; It just feels like there are too many hidden
spots, therefore also feels like it’s cluttered up making it hard to
find other to kill around the map.&nbsp; You’ll definitely want to player a
bigger game type like Team Deathmatch or capture the flag to make it a
bit easier to find other.&nbsp; I don’t suggest playing Deathmatch as you’ll
most likely quit in frustration from being unable to find a kill.&nbsp; I
suggest playing Team Deathmatch, Control Point, Blitz or Failsafe.

I found Recess to be the best out of the three maps, it’s perfectly
paced.&nbsp; You will not have a hard time finding a kill in mere seconds.&nbsp;
It is open and features a gorgeous environment.&nbsp; It’s in a sandbox full
of toys that suit the map perfectly, with such objects as legos,
shovels buckets and others, you’ll never run out of places to hide and
do your sniping from.&nbsp; There are many spots on Recess to take you’re
your advantage, like a high round cliff that is best suited for sniping
or using a long range rifle from, I found that it gives you advantage,
because you can see everything below you, while from below it’s really
hard to get shot by your opponents.&nbsp; If you can make it up there,
you’re sure to most likely win.&nbsp; Recess is good for any game type as
it’s a tiny map that may seem large, but the sizes of your characters
make it seem bigger than it is.

<p>FullTilt, ahhh.&nbsp; This is one of those maps you say, “why couldn’t a
map like this been released years ago”.&nbsp; You’re basically running
around fraggin others in a giant pinball machine.&nbsp; Fulltilt out of all
three maps feels the most alive, with sounds ringing all around the
map, bullets bouncing off objects; it feels like you’re playing in a
casino instead of a pinball.&nbsp; What’s the difference if it’s all fun
right?&nbsp; Fulltilt feels a lot like a rat race.&nbsp; At times it feels like
you’re chasing people around a maze only to have someone with a
particle gun or a rocket launcher surprises you out of nowhere.&nbsp; The
map is overall small in size and never fails to entertain.&nbsp; Power
weapons are nicely spread out so no matter where you’re coming from
there is something for you.&nbsp; As Cockroach, Fulltilt is good for any
game mode, but I suggest you play Deathmatch if you want a fun, intense
battle without the frustration of a match being over cluttered.</p>
<p>So is Toy Soldiers map pack a worth download?&nbsp; Well, yes, it’s free
so of course it is.&nbsp; You get three unique looking maps, which do not
represent the FEAR 2 feel in any way, which I’m sure the developer knew
and wanted to try something different to make the experience more fun
and add something to the dull maps the game shipped with.&nbsp; If you’re a
fan of the FEAR games and want something new and different than this
first of the two DLC packs is for you.&nbsp; It’s unique, fun, intense and
worth the free price tag.</p>

Final Score:  8.4 out of 10