I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not nearly as comfortable playing shooters on the PS3 as I am on the Xbox 360 (I miss the triggers), but that fact alone cannot explain away the game’s uneven, and at times needlessly complex, controls.

My personal favourite of the new maps, Bailout takes place in a bombed out apartment complex. There are several buildings throughout the map that offer multiple levels and vantage points. It holds up well regardless of the number of players or game type, though I found I had the most fun with Domination. The battles that take place for the B position are some of the game’s most intense, and I never felt like any spot I went on the map was airtight or indefensible. It also features more vibrancy and colour than the traditionally bleak MW2 multiplayer maps, further ensuring it stands out from the crowd.

There are currently 31 titles available for download with Microsoft boasting that it has 1,000 games lined up for future installments, which will be released every week starting in late April. Each game can be demoed once for free — you get 10 minutes to test it out — and then purchased for either 240 points (US$3), if you only want to play it on your Xbox 360 or PC, or 400 points (US$5) if you want it available for both.

It’s creepy enough when you’re alone investigating the house, but once the owner returns home it amplifies by a factor of 20. The split screen that shows his position and yours is used to perfection, and you’ll almost certainly find yourself willing Madison to move faster when you know danger is lurking around the corner.