One of the reasons I keep coming back to Call of Duty is the fast action – and the action is fastest on maps that really encourage interaction. When you know all the players are packed tightly together – when every corner you turn can lead to a high-caliber engagement – that’s when the game is the most fun for me. And I think it’s why maps like Studio, Hijacked, and Nuketown 2025 are voted up so frequently in multiplayer lobbies.

The four multiplayer maps in the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC collection, Vengeance, were designed for players like me – folks who don’t want to run around forever before they get someone in their sights. That cuts both ways: I know when I get caught in someone else’s sights, it won’t be long before I’m back in the action. That’s certainly true on Cove, which strands players on a small tropical island – a beautiful place for a vacation, if the vacation didn’t look like it might last forever. With just natural rock formations for cover, the debris of a recent plane crash, and endless ocean surrounding you on all sides, there’s no avoiding the enemy in a situation like this. Detour takes place on top of – and just below – a shattered bridge, and while the stranded cars and debris offer cover, they don’t offer a way to truly disappear; you’ll find someone (or be found!) before long. Rush offers a lot of variety when a real firefight breaks out in a paintball facility – both indoors and outdoors – but the spawn points for both teams in Domination are not all that far away, so it’s merely a matter of seconds before you engage the enemy. And Uplink is a re-imagined version of Summit, a classic map from the original Black Ops, featuring face-to-face meetings inside small rooms, down twisting stairways, and plenty of other CQC settings. Basically, it all comes down to two words: No escape.

The new Zombies adventure, Buried, sticks to a similar ethos. You begin above ground, but quickly find yourself falling underground and into an old west town that’s been swallowed up by the earth. And that’s to say nothing of the mansion, or the maze…! If you think you’re getting out of here, well, that’s a nice thought – but at least you aren’t alone. Suffice it to say that you can make powerful allies in Buried if you learn the right motivations. I won’t spoil anything, but…use your friends wisely.

Whether you’re the kind of player who has your plan of attack all mapped out or you don’t know where you’re going, Vengeance will get you there fast. And as usual in Call of Duty, getting there is all the fun.

The Vengeance DLC pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops II is available today from the PlayStation Store for $14.99, but if you’re a Season Pass member, there’s no additional fee – just download the newest content from the in-game Store option in the multiplayer menu. You’ll also find a fresh selection of six Personalization Packs – each offering a weapon camo, a calling card, and three unique reticles – in the Store as well, for just $1.99 each.
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