2013-06-18T16:45:19-04:00 Curtis Moldrich http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=curtis-moldrich Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Curtis Moldrich Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2495423 2013-01-17T09:44:03-05:00 2013-01-18T08:50:49-05:00

Curtis Moldrich http://www.huffingtonpost.com/curtis-moldrich/ Battlefield 3 gets a shot in the arm with the new Aftermath DLC. Packing in three maps, as well as new game modes and vehicles, Aftermath is more of the same - but easily extends the shelf life of EA's Call of Duty rival.

Themed around an earthquake in Tehran, three maps form the bulk of Aftermath's 1.6Gb package, and borrow heavily from the ill-formed campaign. Combining the frantic, claustrophobic corridors of Close Quarters with open ruined streets, the new environments offer a welcome change of pace. Whether it's the eerie sprawling streets of Azadi Palace or the COD-esque Talah Market, gameplay is more varied than ever before - keeping you thinking at all times.

Thanks to three new vehicles, there are also more ways than ever to get around the Battlefield. Offering a change from the traditional identikit tanks and jeeps, Aftermath throws in the Phoenix, the Barsuk and the Rhino. Customized to the hilt, the new wheels are a clever addition adding an extra dimension to play - and allowing you to drop your teammates at those crucial flags.

A FPS expansion pack wouldn't be complete without a new game mode and new weapon, and Aftermath delivers one of each. Scavenger lets you loose with a knife to begin with, leaving you to scavenge more powerful weapons littered around the battlefield in order to survive. Much like COD's Kill confirmed, Scavenger provides adrenaline fuelled, frantic gameplay as opposed to Battlefield's tactical, methodical approach. The result? - It's not clever, but Scavenger's reaction based gameplay makes for edge of your seat sessions every time.

The addition of a crossbow to the already huge BF3 arsenal is hardly a game changer - but will keep weapon junkies happy. Easily unlocked via one of the various new assignments, the crossbow offers a new way to stalk prey, and can be customised with a range of sights and ammunition.

Packing in new maps and vehicles as well as fresh assignments and weapons, Aftermath and the forthcoming End Game DLC ensure gamers will be playing EA's flagship FPS for a while yet.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2068050 2012-11-05T09:45:13-05:00 2012-11-06T04:53:51-05:00

Curtis Moldrich http://www.huffingtonpost.com/curtis-moldrich/
Although Call of Duty has long since been the darling of adolescents and adults worldwide, Battlefield has recently seen an increase in popularity, and its third instalment has attracted new soldiers in their droves with its gritty, tactical feel. Now EA have unveiled Battlefield Close Quarters, a pack of downloadable content which adds a new element of play - close and frantic fighting.

Taking place in cramped corridors and stairways, Close Quarters moves away from the open, rolling maps and urban environments the Battlefield franchise is usually known for, and advances into more Call of Duty-esque territory. Featuring new maps such as Donya Fortress and Ziba Tower, Close Quarters importantly offers vastly different environments, but also throws in a range of other new modes and unlockables. New game modes such as Gun Master (where you advance through better weapons by killing opponents) switch things up, whilst new weapons and assignments also extend the life of what was already one of the most enjoyable online gaming experiences out there.

But the main draw with Close Quarters is of course the new maps - so how do they stack up? Varied in design and atompshere, the new maps all feature increased damage, and a claustrophobic element that will be familiar to seasoned Call of Duty players. To say gameplay is frantic is an understatement - a blur of crumbling walls, flag capturing and flying rounds, Close Quarters games are always a chaotic affair - with lots of memorable moments to be had in each session.

Already one of the best online games around, Close Quarters adds yet another dimension to Battlfield 3, and throws uncomfortable, fast paced gun fights in to the already award winning Battlefield 3 formula. A must for fans of Battlefield 3, and something Call of Duty fans should consider checking out, Close Quarters is available as Part of Battlefield 3 Premium edition for £45.00.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2068073 2012-11-05T09:44:48-05:00 2012-11-07T08:32:03-05:00

Curtis Moldrich http://www.huffingtonpost.com/curtis-moldrich/
Despite chaotic, adrenaline inducing online play, good handling and a full range of circuits, F12011 was plagued with problems. With complains such as poor collision detection, questionable penalties and an interminable career mode - 2011 quickly became a season to forget.

Thankfully, this year the people at Codemasters have brought in a raft of changes to freshen up and rejuvenate up the series. From a slick new menu system that puts racing - not a career - at the forefront of things, to a range of other new features, it's immediately obvious F12012 has been given an exciting new lick of paint.

A Time Trial and career mode is still available, but new modes such as Quick Race, Young Driver Test and Champions Mode help newcomers quickly learn the ropes, but also allow more seasoned drivers to shave tenths off their personal bests. The improvements don't stop at single player though - Multiplayer is as manic as ever and with the new cars of 2012, things are just as exciting as last year.

Most of last years bugs have been ironed out too. Absurd penalties are less frequent, so you'll often find yourself hurling controllers at the screen less, and pit stops also take seconds rather than hours.

Despite this, there are some niggling issues that remain unaddressed. Although a safety car has been added, the game fails to recreate the feel of an F1 season - partly because the cars look the same throughout the year, where as in real life they feature obvious modifications at every race. The third game using the once cutting-edge EGO engine, F12012 now looks more dated. With next to no improvement in graphics, F2012 still falls short when compared to the graphical prowess and handling of racing game yardsticks such as Gran Turismo 5 or even Forza Motorsport 4.

With a range of new updates and fixes, F12012 is easily the best game F1 game made by Codemasters. Updated cars, new modes, tweaked visuals and slightly improved handling all help F12012 become the game last year's should have been - but it could have been so much better.]]>