Ils ne passeront pas: They Shall Not Pass Review

DICE’s epic and poignant World War I first-person shooter, Battlefield 1, is the best online multiplayer game of the decade. Old news. The new news is that publisher Electronic Arts has released the first of four expansions for the popular game. They Shall Not Pass is now available for owners of Battlefield Premium, and will become available for individual purchase on March 27th.

Now, being an expansion, this will be a quick review. However, those who may not have payed much attention to the promotion of this DLC may be surprised to learn just how much comes with it. There is an ever-present stigma that surrounds EA and their tendencies to overcharge for their DLCs that have a questionable amount of content (lookin’ at you, Star Wars Battlefront). We’re pleased to report that Battlefield 1’s first attempt at rolling extra pay-to-play content is encouraging. Let’s begin.

The initial release of Battlefield 1 introduced players to the legendary and sometimes fleeting idea of imperial warfare. The devastating Great War pitted ancient empires and kingdoms against each other in what was the first and arguably worst instance of modern war. Millions dead on every side, with a petrifying amount being civilians. The English, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and more were the first armies that debuted. France, however, was left aside. They Shall Not Pass brings them to the fray with gusto and tact. Battlefield 1 is phenomenal at cultivating a sense of culture amidst war - language, dress, and national identity are all strong factors even during multiplayer. The French Army is another successful integration of an aged military force into the game’s flawless gameplay.

We ranted earlier about EA’s running gag of charging a lot of money for not a lot of content. The French Army don’t just come with great accents and pretty blue uniforms. They Shall Not Pass follows through on its price tag with a slew of new goodies. These goodies include four new maps, two new vehicles, two new operations, a new special class, and two new primary weapons for each existing four player classes. What a mouthful, and what a relief that is such a mouthful! We’re ecstatic at the amount of new sights we’re given and the history that they live in. The two operations in question focus on the infamous Battle of Verdun in 1916, and the Battle of The Marne in 1914.

Our new maps range from dank fortresses to quaint French countryside towns, and the new operations work wonders at taking us on a detailed tour through each. As is expected, the telltale environmental destruction mastered by DICE works beautifully in They Shall Not Pass. Fortress walls and supplies splinter and shatter as grenades and bullets explode, and artillery shells pummel craters into the fields. The new vehicles, such as a the St. Chamond assault tank bring more variety to the field which still includes the existing tanks and landships. The long craft and gun is a welcome addition to the variety of interesting tanks of yore. The new primary weapons, which must be earned (a la, Star Wars Battlefront) include shotguns, rifles, and machine guns. They provide a great insight into the French armory, and give players new points to shoot for (ha).

Battlefield 1’s They Shall Not Pass is a great first pass with their expansion work. Substantial, continuously entertaining, and wallet-friendly. More content, more fun, beautiful map work, and plenty of new stuff. What more could you ask for? Game Chop gives the French DLC one hell of a stamp of approval. We’re looking forward to the remaining three expansions to see if they make the $49.99 Battlefield Premium worth it.

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