In the third expansion for Battlefield 3, DICE completely changes the focus of the multiplayer matches towards vehicular warfare. Armored Kill gives you control of new tanks and vehicles, adds a tank-centric game mode, and introduces gameplay elements that change the way some of the classic game modes are played. The expansion provides an experience unlike any of the DLC that’s come before it, and brings back the large-scale conflicts that the series is known for.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Armored Kill DLC is that there are a lot more vehicles available at the team spawns. Not everyone on a team will be able to drive their own tank, but there are plenty of ATVs, jets, and anti-air vehicles you can jump into to get into the action quickly. Along with the increased number of vehicles on the maps, you’ll also get access to new vehicle classes..
One vehicle class is the Tank Destroyer. These guys are lightly armored tanks, which are much faster than the likes of the M1 Abrams tank, and they pack quite a punch. They come in handy when taking on the more hulking opponents or when you’re moving to capture points in Conquest. Armored Kill does an excellent job of balancing the strengths of the vehicles with the abilities of other vehicle classes. Just because there’s a tank killer doesn’t mean getting one makes you invincible. For example, the new aerial Gunship can easily counter and decimate any ground force, if it’s not shot down quickly.
The Gunship is a unique vehicle your team can earn in the Conquest game mode (and is controlled by the attacking team in Rush). If your team gains control of the gunship capture point on the map, your team’s Gunship will spawn and automatically fly circles around the map. Players can then use it as a mobile spawn or man its turrets. Its mobile turrets can destroy armored vehicles with ease, and it also has a formidable air defense with its anti-air cannons and countermeasures. Earning a Gunship can be a complete game-changer and a great way to force players to adjust the priorities a team would typically have in Conquest. Rather than the match being a scramble to capture as many locations as possible, the matches become a race to capture and hold a single location, so that the team can spread out and claim the other territory.
Hopping into a vehicle really shifts the action into high gear, as opposed to the standard on-foot combat. There really is no place to hide when you are lumbering down a road in a tank, so you’ll have to constantly stay on your toes and be incredibly accurate. The large maps practically require players to use vehicles to actively participate in the battle, since it could be a long trek from spawn point to combat zone, and infantry caught in the open quickly get blown to bits. However, running in as a foot-soldier isn’t always a complete waste. Targeting enemies with the sniper’s recon equipment, supplying ammo to rocket-bearing engineers, or toting the engineer’s armor piercing weapons and repair equipment are viable options. Just don’t expect to rack up a huge kill count if you plan on sticking to the Sniper, Support, or Assault classes.
Armored Kill also adds a new game mode that is specifically catered to tank combat, called Tank Superiority. In this mode, both teams must control a single capture point in the center of the map, and the majority of vehicles available are tanks. If you’re looking for all-out tank warfare, Tank Superiority is it. All of the action clusters toward the center of the map, and tank duels dominate the area. It’s a blast.
Dice’s Armored Kill DLC for Battlefield 3 puts vehicles at the forefront and cuts out everything else. The add-on’s vehicles and Tank Superiority mode add new flavor to the Battlefield gameplay, and make a satisfying alternative to the relatively infantry-based combat of the standard game. If you want to hop into a jet without having to fight your own teammates for the pilot’s seat, or you’re looking for more of the large-scale combat that the Battlefield series has been known for, Armored Kill is a satisfying addition to Battlefield 3.
Our Verdict
Buy
