The first map pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, known as the ‘Stimulus Package’ includes three new maps as well as two old favourites from Modern Warfare I ('Crash' and 'Overgrown'). The three new maps are: 'Bailout' - a multi-level apartment complex; 'Storm' - an open industrial park littered with heavy machinery; and 'Salvage' - a snowy junkyard fortified by stacked debris and crushed cars...

Already there are voices being raised at the high price of this map pack. While there are five maps included here, you only get three new maps which may leave some feeling a little cheated. 'Crash' and 'Overgrown' are old Call of Duty IV maps and have been tarted up a little bit: different lighting has been added and some of the interiors have new items in them. But, at the end of the day these are pretty much the same as you'll remember them.

Personally I relished the opportunity to play these old maps again (as they were amongst my favourites on the old game) but I can see why some are not happy - especially when you compare it to the last Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack which had four maps, including a Zombie Nazis map, at a lower price.

The three new maps? Well, it usually takes me a while to get into new maps anyway, but right from the start I really enjoyed 'Bailout', but 'Storm' and 'Salvage' took a lot more getting used to.

'Bailout' is a bright and colourful map set in an apartment complex. You can run between the buildings (on two levels) and out into the driveways and swimming pool area. It's an easy map to get used to as there are so many features that are hard to forget.

'Storm' and 'Salvage' take a lot more getting used to. They both have low level lighting and look a little dark and grungy when compared to the bright 'Bailout'. 'Storm' is set in a run down industrial park. There are numerous warehouses to run through and plenty of places to get lost; and 'Salvage' - is a scrap yard littered with the bodies of useless vehicles, as well as a large pile of crushed cars. There are plenty of thin, alleyways in which to run around as well as an open area in the middle. Both of these maps have too many areas that look similar - making it more difficult to get to grips with.

We reviewed this on launch day, and I was a little concerned that the new maps would not be playable in the standard modes. There were two new game categories after we downloaded the Stimulus Package: 'Stimulus' and 'Hardcore Stimulus'. These are similar to the 'Mosh Pit' option, but only include the new maps.

I played a day's worth of normal games (Free-For-All, Team Deathmatch etc.) from the usual menus, but wasn't given a new map to play once. I was a little worried that you could only play the new maps if you selected one of the new 'Stimulus' options. Thankfully, however, it was just an issue that Microsoft had at their end and now all of the maps have been integrated into the main options. However, don't worry if you haven't bought the new maps, as you won't have to skip games - the new maps are only offered if everyone in the game has the map pack downloaded onto their Xbox 360.

The 'Stimulus' and 'Hardcore Stimulus' options are interesting additions as it ensures that you'll be able to get up to speed with the maps pretty quickly.

In all honesty this map pack is a little over priced, but then if you're a fan of the main game, like me, £10 for three more maps and two classic old ones isn't really that much to pay when you consider how many hours of enjoyment you'll get out of them.

9

Nick Smithson