Bad Company 2: VIP Map Pack 5 Impressions

Another month, another Battlefield: Bad Company 2  VIP update; it's a little surprising actually how consistently DICE has released content updates through its new purchase incentive VIP program. Originally released in March, Bad Company 2 is now up to its fifth VIP release, and it features some new modes for existing maps that make them feel a bit new again.

VIP Map Pack 5 first adds Rush mode to the White Pass - defenders need to be aggressive, since most of the MCOM locations are vulnerable to building collapses. There also seemed to be a lot of Destruction 2.0 kills in general, though I wonder if this is just the direction that the game is going after four months on the market.

Regardless, it's a fun map to play on; things are constantly happening, and the required aggression on the part of defenders makes it interesting. It also just feels different than it does in conquest mode, and you can bet that farmhouse at the end of the map goes down early.

The VIP update also adds Conquest to Nelson Bay, and honestly, it's a little weird weird to see Nelson Bay in daylight. Again, the new mode on an existing map gives it a new identity, and I like the way it plays in conquest more than I do on rush. There is an issue with the map design that can bog down matches though, which is a surplus of space between pairs of control points on either side of the level. I did notice a strange glitch during my time on the map though, where looking through a 12x scope as a recon character made the game unbearably bright. I'll definitely be checking back to see if this was a fluke or a recurring issue. As usual, a recommendation to existing Bad Company 2 players is pointless - you're getting this content for free. However, for people still curious about jumping into Bad Company 2 multiplayer, VIP Map Pack 5 is another example of DICE's strong post-release support for this year's best-selling shooter.