Call of Duty 3 Map Pack on the Way

Activision continues to support the virtual troops with the Bravo Map Pack, set to hit Xbox Live Marketplace toward the end of May. Like the previous Valor pack released in January, Bravo will also feature a combination of new maps and old maps from previous COD titles, reworked for the Xbox 360. Bravo will also cost 800 Microsoft Points.

The new maps include Aller Haut, Seine River and Rimling. Aller Haut is a mostly outdoor map as you move across open terrain and trails. The Germans begin from an elevated position in a hilltop abbey, perfect for snipers and as a point of high ground. Of course, the Americans' rumbling tank (the only vehicle on the map) can eliminate that advantage with one placed shell, so watch your six!

The Seine River requires considerably more stealth as you move about a small, riverside village under the cover of night. A thick layer of fog blankets the river and village, making for a spooky feel as an enemy bullet can cut through the fog at any moment.

On Rimling, you'll fight in the historic German village of the same name, a site where a single Allied regiment fended off an entire German division in 1945, thwarting the Nazi efforts as the Americans and Russians continued their advances toward Berlin. You'll fight through a canal and also a water mill.

Gare Centrale is a remodeled version of Depot, a favorite map from the original Call of Duty. The warehouses, water towers and trains make for a variety of interesting combat, and we can't wait to see this old fav sparkling in high definition. You can jump from rooftop to rooftop to work for a strategic advantage.

The fifth and final map, Merseilles, is inspired by Karkov from COD: United Offensive. The town is in ruins and as such, there is a lot of open terrain. You can move between the two trains that split the area in two, or grab a jeep, tank or motorcycle to get around this fairly large map.

Producer Sam Nouriani from Activision remembers one heated battle as his team tested the maps:

"We were playing a 24-player CTF game on Merseilles and we were at a deadlock with 2 captures for both teams with the Axis up on points. With about a minute left, two guys on the Allied side were hauling ass through the level on the motorcycle with the side car (while everyone else was engage in other battles) and snagged the Axis flag. As soon as the flag was picked up, every Axis player was after them. The motorcycle was taking evasive maneuvers while other Allies tried to provide suppressing fire. An Axis tank was trying to shoot it, but the motorcycle was too quick. The motorcycle then launched off of a ramp leaning on one of the train cars, flew through the air over the trains and was about to land on the Allies' side when an Axis player took them out mid-air with a panzerschreck. It was a mad dash to recover the flag and then a bit of a stand-off. The Allies finally recovered the flag but time was up. Since it was a tie on captures, Axis won on points."

Yup, that's Call of Duty 3 all right. We'll have more details soon when we get our hands on the new Bravo pack. Click on the image link below for some hot new images.

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