From Roger Altizer,
Your Guide to PlayStation Games.
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The Resistance: Fall of Man Map Pack 1 has landed and global chaos has ensued. Not only are the two new maps extraordinarily well designed, but the moving of the game to global servers means that Japanese and Australian gamers will be going head to head with American and European gamers. Sheer madness, I say.

The two new maps are even better than expected. They not only differ greatly from each other, but from the current Resistance: Fall of Man multiplayer maps as well.

One thing both maps do share, however, is a heavy Chimeran influence. Whereas the earlier Resistance multiplayer maps looked like authentic war-torn British environments, the new maps are based on cities that have been dominated by the Chimera. Lots of alien architecture and creepier settings add an aesthetic difference that maintain the look of the game, but bring visual diversity to multiplayer matches.

The first map, Camborne, is a frag-fest. The multilevel map forces lots of close-quarters combat. The map heavily favors run-and-gun gameplay. The bottom level of the Camborne map is a series of tunnels that seem designed to make the flamethrower and air-fuel grenade more valuable. Of course the auger and the shotgun also make fine choices for tunnel rats. Whatever you are equipped with, expect to be fighting up close and personal.

Westmorland is an early favorite. Like Camborne it differs from the other Resistance maps in its Chimeran feel, but it stands on its own as a wide open map, something Resistance has been lacking. The map has lots of open, snowy fields to cross, which becomes very difficult in light of all of the towers and bridges designed for snipers to hang out on. With lots of hiding spots and high perches, this map was made for the sniper crowd.

Both Westmorland and Camborne support the full range of 8 to 40 player matches by utilizing barriers to grow and shrink the maps as needed (Halo 3, are you paying attention?). Both maps also support the full range of play modes.

The Resistance: Fall of Man Map Pack 1 is available for download via the PlayStation store or directly from within the game. Together, both maps will cost you $7.99.

Insomniac has done a bang-up job supporting Resistance, long after its release. From fixes to new game modes, and now a map pack, they have provided A+ support for their stellar game. This new map pack, hopefully the first of many, elevates their game even higher.