Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand

 PC
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 174 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 174
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 174
  3. Negative: 27 out of 174

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  1. promyy
    Dec 13, 2011
    7
    Haters gonna hate. I find Back to Karkand (first DLC i have ever paid for!) pretty good as it gives you almost the half of the actual game at a... normal (?) prise. Having 4 new maps is sure nice, when you think about how many maps the game now haves. Maps are quite good, weapons too, vehicles same... Still only a DLC but a good one. Only for hardcore BF3 fans. But still nice.
  2. Jack91
    Dec 13, 2011
    6
    Looking forward to this all year, the closest map resemblance is Strike at Karkand. However the 'destruction' isn't as good as originally made out. It's still plagued by silly spawn areas, CPU leaks which cause temporary moments of lag (even with an i5 2500k), and vehicle spam. It's not Battlefield i'm afraid, they have successfully ruined the franchise comparing it with COD too much.
  3. Exorio
    Mar 1, 2012
    5
    This is what the gamers said "splitting the community" at its finest. I use to be clueless on what that actually means. So people who don't have B2K can't play with those who have. And until today, I don't see much B2K servers anyway, at least in my region. Kind of redundant.

    I didn't buy the DLC tho, I had Limited Edition which already come with B2K. Nevertheless, I rarely play B2K maps,    This is what the gamers said "splitting the community" at its finest. I use to be clueless on what that actually means. So people who don't have B2K can't play with those who have. And until today, I don't see much B2K servers anyway, at least in my region. Kind of redundant.

    I didn't buy the DLC tho, I had Limited Edition which already come with B2K. Nevertheless, I rarely play B2K maps, Kharg, Metro, Seine Crossing and Firestorm are way much better than B2K maps.

    But expect these kind of practices from devs/publishers such as DICE, EA, Activision and Infinity Ward/Treyarch to all their future games. Encouraging the Devs doing these kind of practice isn't good idea in the first place.

    Tripwire interactive with their Killing Floor is the best of how DLCs should be handled. Sell non game changing DLCs and just give in the critical-game changing elements for free.

    But yet, I don't think EA and Activision really cared much about community since they've raked billions and people would buy their games anyway, whether it's original, fresh idea or just another iteration or expansion pack (MW3) sold as a full blown game.    … Expand
  4. dryerlint
    Dec 17, 2011
    7
    This is pretty good for a map pack. Maps are very PC player friendly, with vast detailed maps as opposed to the vast barren maps with a smack of detail in the middle you find in the stock maps. The new vehicles are a let down though, a jet that takes the worst parts of a jet and a helicopter and merges them, and a dune buggy that's less armored and only as fast as the growler with lessThis is pretty good for a map pack. Maps are very PC player friendly, with vast detailed maps as opposed to the vast barren maps with a smack of detail in the middle you find in the stock maps. The new vehicles are a let down though, a jet that takes the worst parts of a jet and a helicopter and merges them, and a dune buggy that's less armored and only as fast as the growler with less armament. The Russians now have a comedy super fast do-crazy-jumps-through-the-air APC like the Americans do which is actually pretty cool. The new weapons aren't very good, with an exception of one or two they're statistically worse in every way than the vanilla weapons they compete with so there's no reason to do the new "assignments" in order to unlock them apart from bragging rights. A pretty good expansion if you were looking for new maps like me, not so much if you were hoping for awesome new guns to pawn knubs with.… Expand
  5. Kosheus
    Feb 27, 2012
    7
    Definitely not bad for free addition (if you preordered BF3 as in my case). But its cost is OK only in favor of BF3 game itself (as benefit for devs) not for DLC alone.
  6. wood431
    Mar 29, 2012
    7
    An improvement on the vanilla game, of which I gave a six. The one point extra is for (edited) BF2 maps that provide a small escape from the inferior vanilla infantry maps. However, the strange filter is really annoying unless you get an FXAA injector (highly recommend), and the guns are not particularly interesting or different. Also, more BF2 maps would have notched this up to an 8. AnAn improvement on the vanilla game, of which I gave a six. The one point extra is for (edited) BF2 maps that provide a small escape from the inferior vanilla infantry maps. However, the strange filter is really annoying unless you get an FXAA injector (highly recommend), and the guns are not particularly interesting or different. Also, more BF2 maps would have notched this up to an 8. An improvement, but there is still far to go to 'a proper sequel'.… Expand
  7. jangers
    Jun 20, 2013
    6
    A nice touch from the EA, a reminder of a great BF2, but imo original old maps was better than remake in BF3. Advantage of this expansion pack is the introduction of conquest maps in assault mode. Too bad that there was no legendary AK-101 in B2K.
  8. Gnomercy4U
    Feb 14, 2012
    7
    A nice little DLC package. Adds 4 maps that range from infantry heavy to vehicle heavy, while also adding a little nostalgia from Bf2. It doesn't touch the core game of bf3 by adding new vehicles/weapons that are overpowered or anything. It's the same Bf3 that you either love or hate, just with some more well made remakes of some bf2 maps! What they advertise is what you get, nothing lessA nice little DLC package. Adds 4 maps that range from infantry heavy to vehicle heavy, while also adding a little nostalgia from Bf2. It doesn't touch the core game of bf3 by adding new vehicles/weapons that are overpowered or anything. It's the same Bf3 that you either love or hate, just with some more well made remakes of some bf2 maps! What they advertise is what you get, nothing less nothing more.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best PC Game of 2011
100
#100 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Mar 1, 2012
    90
    So good that it's become the only way to play Battlefield 3. Buy this now, and enjoy a bit of nostalgia in a new light. [March 2012, p.56]
  2. PC Gamer
    Jan 26, 2012
    84
    These four fantastic maps are pricey, but they're more than just a nostalgic throwback. They present Battlefield 3 at its best. [Mar 2012, p.74]
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  3. Gamereactor Denmark
    Jan 23, 2012
    90
    Back to Karkand is a wonderful map pack that highlights the best parts of Battlefield 3 and the series in general. If you like the game, you shouldn't miss out on this DLC pack under any circumstances.
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