Returning to MAG with Interdiction DLC

When MAG launched this year, players were impressed with large 256 player battles and the epic scale of the factions at play. Sure, the game was criticized for some stiff animations and whether or not the game could live up to it’s ambitious nature. However, Zipper Interactive has been proactive with updates to the title, and while many PS3 owners complain that the console and games are too quick to force updates upon them the game has seen some solid improvements over time. With two free DLC packs, it’s hard to complain too much.

One thing that Zipper has not done is release is a full on paid DLC. Coming out on June 22, players will be able to drop $9.99 on the first full major expansion pack for the game. Hamza and I had the opportunity for some hands-on with the new content, so follow the jump to see if what is here is worth your cash.

For your ten bucks, players will receive the brand new Interdiction game type, with three new maps, new trophies, new medals and ribbons for the Interdiction mode, and New Heavy Improved Armors for each PMC. It is actually quite a fair amount of content, especially if you are a big fan of MAG’s major battles.

Interdiction itself, however, is a little smaller than the huge 256 person battles. As a contest between two different factions at any given time, only 128 players will be in each game. This mode is really a massive control point mode, with three control points around the map starting neutral, and players need to work together to keep those points under control. The longer you have those points, a meter on your opponents side will drop. First team to drain this bar loses. Pretty simple, and the nature of the mode is that it is constantly much more aggressive than other typical control point modes.

Mixing things up is the vehicle-centric nature of the levels, as everyone starts in tanks or other vehicles, and respawn points stay with those machines.  Interdiction is an aggressive mode, and there it a lot of back and forth between two evenly matched teams, with lots of chaos and destruction. I certainly enjoyed myself, and it looks like a game mode fans of MAG will probably enjoy.

The three new maps, Lake Bayano Spur, Sovot Motorway, and Iron Creek Quarray range from a jungle train depot with lots of area to run around and hide, to wide open mines with lots of places to hide up and down. They are huge, which is par for the course with MAG, and three new maps for this mode is a nice addition to the core levels already in place. These are probably the biggest additions brought with the DLC.

Ultimately, the decision on buying this DLC depends however much you liked MAG. The amount of content is reasonable, yet this is a title that lives and breaths on large groups of people playing the game. If there is a sizable audience, it is perfectly reasonable new addition to the options of MAG players looking for the expected large battles.