The Brit rework is done, according to Team 17.

True, we still have no fix for their truck animations causing a whole squad being merged into two malformed Lovecraftian horror meat blobs in the truck (at least something unique to the Brits), and they still haven't found the time to correct the Cromwell's freaking textures because their dedication to historical research amounts to taking pictures at Bovington but not reading the plaque next to the tank (or they just Googled "Cromwell tank" and took the pic from Bovington without checking the description, who the hell knows). Not to mention all the inaccuracies to their kit, but that's nitpicking from a history buff.

But at least the Brits aren't running around with their mish-mash of WWI and Home Guard equipment, and the Bren finally got its bipod. And we got to pay to have at least some alternate uniforms for the British. So... huzzah?

We also got a new map. Yes, ONE NEW MAP. And instead of giving some love to the Brits or Soviets, who are woefully undersupported in maps (and the release coinciding with the end of the Brit rework), it's another US vs Germans map, and not a very good one at that. Flipping from any old Black Matter map to Mortain, it's jarring how bad it is - generic assets everywhere, plopped onto the map seemingly at random, screwed up hitboxes, and the fact that they were too lazy to make the church a building with interior instead of just random asset is just the icing on the cake.

Let that sink in: They had over a year for a single new map. And they gave us the first church in the game, on all the maps, that is just a box of terrain. Says a lot about either their dedication, their level of skill or their attention to detail- take your pick.

But we got another map announced, hooray! And on the 80th anniversary of D-Day no less! So what's it gonna be? Some D-Day or at least Normandy love for the Brits so we can use the paid DLC one more than just one single map?

Nope, we're getting a Battle of the Bulge map. And it's gonna be in the middle of nowhere, because they wanted to, and I quote from the official release note, "minimize the need to create another village". If that - and their track record - isn't corporate speak for "we just can't be bothered to do the research you're used to", I don't know what else is.

So it's gotta be another la-la-land fantasy map like we got for El Alamein - again, in stark contrast to the true-to-reality maps we are used to from the original developers. Hell, you can go visit landmarks from the game today if you are in the area.

The game itself is fine in its basics, but quality of the recent releases is a real letdown. Lots of community servers just run the old BM stuff and keep the new maps out of rotation(which does put people who want to play the Brits at a disadvantage though), and usually those are the servers with the most fun games.

Still worth checking out, so maybe not dismiss it out of hand based on a bad review from a bitter old veteran.

But since all purchases will go directly into Team 17's pocket and he best way consumers can leave feedback for a product is with their wallets, I absolutely would not recommend paying full price for it. Wait for a big sale or get the key from somewhere else for less money.

And yes, until Steam allows us to give neutral recommendations, this review will stay on Negative.