Ahh, the addiction that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Since its release in November, 2009, no other game has dominated my playtime like Infinity Ward's record-shattering title. Like so many millions of other gamers out there, I could hardly contain myself when the first map expansion was released in March, 2010. The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Stimulus Map Pack offered gamers 5 maps for $15. The debate quickly became whether or not the expansion was worth the money, especially considering that there were only three new maps. Worth it or not, the expansion was quickly downloaded by millions of die-hard fans and those maps are now a part of everyday gaming on Xbox Live. The second expansion, strangely entitled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack was recently released and this time around, very little was heard about the pricing scheme. My beef with the title is simple. The word Resurgence is defined as a) a continuing after interruption; a renewal or b) a restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor; a revival. Now maybe there are statistics that show otherwise, but my playtime and my friends list showed very little in the way of an interruption or decline in use since March. Titular questions aside, I again found myself anxiously waiting this new collection of maps; just that many more areas to learn and conquer.

As with the first map pack, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack contains five maps; three new and two from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. In an effort to increase maps that favor close-quarters combat (CQC), one of the old maps brought out of retirement is "Vacant." Originally one of the beta-test maps, "Vacant" is sure to be instantly familiar to any gamer who played the first iteration of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Visually the map has been improved, but the layout remains almost identical, so all of the good (and bad) elements remain in place. To be quite honest, I was not that enthused by the choice to include this map, but perhaps I am in the minority, as many of the players I have encountered since the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack seem to enjoy matches located herein.

My lack of enthusiasm for "Vacant" was not to be echoed in regards to the second revisited arena, "Strike." A longtime favorite of mine, this map remains basically the same, but there have been a few pathing improvements that help to balance certain of the areas. Like "Vacant," "Strike" received a nice visual makeover, one which proves important for those sneaky players who like to hide in the bushes. Though I would have preferred a slightly different offering of old maps, both areas still offered that feel-good sense of instant familiarity and I have thoroughly enjoyed my playtime on both.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack's three new maps are designed to accommodate several different types of gameplay. The first map, "Trailer Park," is a small, condensed map that is supposed to be designed to provide serious CQC opportunities. Unfortunately, due to some long sight-lines, many of the players are simply setting up camp and picking off opponents as they enter the scope. Thus, "Trailer Park" seems, at this point, to be the least favored of the three new maps.

The second new offering, "Fuel," is a large map on the scale of "Overgrown." The area is broken into two distinct sections; a processing area full of buildings and an open, rocky desert area perfect for some good sniping action. Though the map is well conceived, it does suffer from a glitch that allows players to fall into a rock, thus allowing them to snipe others while remaining unseen and basically untouchable. These type of glitches quickly remove the fun from a map and the players that abuse them, well, suffice it to say that I cannot publish the words I would use to describe them in this review. (Side note: It may have no effect in the long run, but I report every single player I encounter that uses such glitches and I encourage other honest gamers to do the same. < /soapbox > )

The final map, "Carnival," is the gem of this expansion pack. Taking place in an old, abandoned amusement park, players must navigate through dilapidated roller-coasters, old carousels, a creepy funhouse, rusted bumper cars and a myriad of other easily identifiable thematic areas common to all such places. The map offers good sniping positions while allowing a decent team of players the routes necessary to attack said spots. The visually imagery evokes memories of childhood with just a touch of the Stephen King.

At the end of the day, I must admit that I do not feel Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack was as rich in content as the Stimulus Map Pack. That being said, the offering certainly has merit and I have enjoyed my playtime on all of the maps. Anything that keeps Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 current and fresh makes me a happy gamer and Infinity Ward has done a nice job in that regard. Once again, for those gamers such as myself that find it hard to put any other game into the Xbox 360 tray (thereby supplanting MW2 from its rightful place), the $15 price tag is menial. As much as I anticipate the next chapter in the Call of Duty series, I am still hopeful that we'll see more map packs for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in the future.