Disclaimer: Due to the behavior of premier servers, buying BF3 DLCs individually doesn't allow you to play on them even if you own the DLC of the map that is currently in rotation. In other words, none of the DLCs are worth buying over premium. If you want a specific DLC, get premium or don't bother getting it at all.
Definitely the best DLC that introduced 3 new vehicles, the XBOW, and 4 new earthquake-struck urban maps. Despite all of them taking place in an earthquake struck city, the diverse amount of gameplay that these levels facilitated is amazing. Destruction was toned down in order to provide the maps with a level of detail never before seen (or after).
New vehicles: the Phoenix & Barsuk are two of the new vehicles that feature a driver and two gunners (an MG and a grenade launcher). They are part of the post earthquake theme and appear to have been created using their respective faction's MRAP. The 3rd vehicle is the most unique and powerful, the RHINO whose driver and gunner are the same. It's heavily exposed but has a lot of firepower.
XBOW and Scavenger: The XBOW is the new all-class gadget firing 4 different types of bolts unlocked via assignments. It's everything you want in a gadget: not as good as the other kit specific gadgets but not useless. Scavenger is the new game mode that combines Conquest Domination from the CQ DLC and Team Slayer from Halo.
Maps: Aftermath has the best urban map design of any Battlefield game ever. Despite all maps having the same theme, they facilitate diverse gameplay and are very different from each other on a technical level. Markaz Monolith and Talah Market make my top 10 best BF maps of all time and Azadi Palace makes my top 15. The only map that has any notable flaw would be Epicenter which is still excellent but is prone to spawn trapping.
I must say, before the DLC's came out, I absolutely hated Battlefield 3. Small maps or maps with too much buildings, almost no vehicles on most maps... I also hated the DLC's. Since I bought Premium, I played all of them. But Aftermath is something different. I really enjoyed it. Scavenger was great and fun, and the maps were large and beautiful. This DLC revived Battlefield 3. Unlike the "This is how Small Maps really should be, CoD" DLC, the "Gunship ruins everything" DLC, "Just ported some maps, nothing special" DLC and "Base **** on the enemy base so they can't get the flag" DLC.
A DLC surprise for Battlefield 3. The Iranian environment devastated by an earthquake has created an excellent map pack along with an entertaining new mode and a nicely inventive crossbow. This DLC proves that Battlefield 3 has still things to offer, it is not depleted yet.
Aftermath is so much more than a mediocre new gameplay mode. Every one of the four new locations is of high quality - there's something for the lovers of infantry battles, as well a map that should please fans of Teheran Highway. All in all - Aftermath is a very good add-on, that expands on the ideas from the basic game and is worth recommending to supporters of middle-sized maps.
At first I was a little disappointed by small number of new weapons introduced in Aftermath. However it turned out that one of them – the crossbow – is a very versatile piece of equipment and can replace a whole bunch of other toys. I might have pictured this DLC differently but after all I got hooked for long hours. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.60]
I my oppinion clearly the best Battlefield 3 dlc. All 4 new maps are great fun and offer the good old battlefield feeling. You really feel being in War. Open urban warfare you enjoy whistling bullets, heavy explosions and hurry to the next hideout. Team communication makes coordinated approaches delightful and effective. I am loving it....(TM). ^^
Reminds me of the movie black hawk dawn down. Urban warfare with firefights breaking out at street corners and torned buildings. Playing it reminds me of the first time I saw battlefield 3 trailer :)
Promising in theory, lame spam fest riddled with campers in practice. These maps are perhaps a bit better and more interesting than some of the vanilla BF3 city/infantry maps, but are a very distant 2nd to the Back to Karkand maps. For my money, these maps are not really representative of what Battlefield has traditionally been all about, but are perhaps indicative of what Battlefield is to become. Whilst I don't enjoy these maps, I know that lots of people do for some reason. Probably, if you enjoy playing 64 player Metro Conquest, spamming rounds, rockets, grenades etc into choke points, and racking up brownie points in the most mind numbing manner on the most mind numbing, yet most popular BF map ever (Metro), then this expansion pack could definitely be for you.
Any normal person clearly understands that a few new maps and crossbow can't cost so much as this DLC does. And what a normal player would be learning how to shoot from that crappbow while normal weapons are available. That is boring (like Duty Calls).
Aftermath is simply another set of new maps with a few new vehicles. This content could have easily been available during the release of the game. Camping, spawncamping, cheating, lag are rampant issues that still haven't been fixed.
Oh, btw, you have friggin crossbow now. While everyone is using modern weaponry, you can be an archer. Wow.
SummaryRise from the ashes, rebuild your forces and fight for supremacy amongst shattered streets and buildings across 4 earthquake ravaged maps. Players will have additional support in the form of heavily modified troop transport and civilian vehicles adapted to deliver deadly force to the enemy.
KEY FEATURES:
* Fight for supremacy among...