CoD: WWII's The Resistance DLC is a strong start to the DLC packs for WW2. While the highlight is certainly The Darkest Shore zombie map, the other four map additions are certainly welcome, and offer some much needed variety to the multiplayer mode.
Call of Duty: WWII has definitely been a revitalization of the franchise. As I stated in my review this past November, CoD: WW2 is, “the most complete and enjoyable Call of Duty experiences in years” due to it’s fantastic grounded multiplayer and horrifying zombie mode. But the main concern for CoD: WW2 was if Sledgehammer Games would be able to add more variety with their first map pack, and more specifically, if they would be able to deliver more great Zombie content. Luckily, The Resistance DLC provides plenty of content that diehard CoD fans will enjoy.
The Resistance contains four new maps, some exclusive to various game modes, and one new zombie map. Anthropoid, Occupation and Valkyrie are the three new maps players will probably play the most of, since Operation Intercept is locked to War Mode exclusively. You of course get a wide variety of different play styles with each of the maps; Valkyrie being the more enclosed close-quarters map, while Anthropoid being a more wide, sniper-friendly map. One thing I did find very welcoming (or frustrating) was how camper-friendly these maps were! Gone are the days of developers trying to squash camping as a strategy. But all in all, for a run-and-gun player like myself, I found plenty of opportunity throughout the maps.
One thing is for certain, The Resistance maps are gorgeous. Specifically Anthropoid, the Nazi-occupied French city with the slight remnants of snow covering it is quite the sight to behold. One thing I definitely didn’t point out in my original review was how each multiplayer map intricately places war paraphernalia throughout, so all of the maps feel unique and lived-in. This is especially true with the new DLC maps. The map Valkyrie, a swath of interconnected bunkers, has so much scattered about, I almost wanted to just explore the map with no other players around.
But really, let’s jump in to the portion I was very excited about: the new Zombies map. The WW2 base zombie map was my favorite part of the game originally, so I highly anticipated the new DLC additions to the mode. I’m happy to report that The Darkest Shore (the title for the new zombie map) does not disappoint. Holding onto the horrifying and dark story and overtones of the original map, players embark on the second leg of “The Monument Men”-esque crew’s journey. While I won’t spoil everything in the new zombie map, much like I didn’t in my initial review of the game, there are several new gameplay elements that really emphasize the horror feel of the game. Specifically the fog mechanic. Now, I don’t know about you, but 1980’s The Fog is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. And when the fog starts rolling in on The Darkest Shore, I couldn’t help but feel my heart rate rise as my visibility dropped. Seriously nothing is more horrifying than thinking you’re clear of zombies, but running into one in just a few feet ahead of you. It creates a certain tension and unpredictability that is really welcome for the zombie mode, especially since so much of the game revolves around shepherding around hordes of zombies while the rest of the team completes tasks.
All in all, The Resistance is a strong first piece of DLC for CoD: WW2. While the multiplayer maps are varied enough, and are gorgeous to look at, the real strength of the DLC is The Darkest Shore. I feel like most of the multiplayer maps for future DLCs are quite predictable after The Resistance, but after playing The Darkest Shore, I cannot wait to see where the zombie mode’s story goes next.
