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Check out Rob's impressions on February's new map.

Well it’s that time of the month again and the new Modern Warfare 3 Elite DLC is here for February. This month Activision has released one new map – Overwatch. If you haven't already had the chance, be sure to check out my impressions of January's releases.

 

Overwatch

"Call of Duty Elite Drop 3: Overwatch drops you into a construction site atop a New York City skyscraper. The battle takes place along two levels in a near symmetrical layout, with the central bridge and side routes open to attack from multiple angles. Watch your every step, as a lack of safety barriers surrounding the perimeter leaves nothing between you and a 70 story fall to the ground below." - Activision 

Upon first gazing at Overwatch, its complexity is immediately obvious. Taking place on an in-construction New York City skyscraper, there are not a lot of safety barriers around the sides and middle of the map, making it very easy to fall to your death. Thankfully this same danger creates a number of unique locations to shoot from. While similar to Modern Warfare 2's Highrise in setting and theme, Overwatch is definitely the better of the two maps, in part because you are able to actually see the New York City skyline in the background.

Figuring your way around is the first challenge when beginning a match in this map. Once you finally get to the point where you know your way around, you'll get the opportunity to be creative. Shooting from both unique and strategic areas is key to success in this map, rather than a rushed blitz attack. I recommend using a semi-powerful gun with long range, i.e. Type 95. This will allow long range attacks as well as an advantage in close-quarter battles.

Sniping isn't recommended in this map, despite the two-level structure. Beams along the side of the map seem like perfect locations to "overwatch" the map, but in practice, you can't see enough of the map to be effective. Rather than in open areas,  much of the battle takes place in under-construction rooms. Players are forced to move around the map quickly, so you must be prepared around every turn for an attack.

The more I play Overwatch, the more I like it. It's different from any map I have ever played in any Call of Duty game before. Given its complexity, it provides a unique experience each time I play the map.

Since its release, I've found it interesting how it's encouraged unique play styles, some of which have given me a different outlook on how I will approach the map on subsequent playthroughs. As with last month, I think this is another great addition to the game.

Activision has already announced next month's content – Black Box, a new multiplayer map, as well as two new Spec Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator. Be sure to check back for my latest impressions next month.