Ghost Recon: Future Soldier DLC Arctic Strike rocks up

Ubisoft's first Ghost Recon: Future Soldier DLC pack Arctic Strike is available to download from Xbox Live Marketplace, offering three new competitive maps, a new Guerilla map and the intriguing time-limited Stockade mode, in which slain team mates are held in a spawn queue.

Every time a foe is eliminated, another friendly player is released from the Stockade. Objectives periodically appear which free all allied players when captured, allowing last men standing to dramatically turn the tides of battle. In the event of a tie, teamwork points determine the winner. For some reason all this puts me in mind of the ghost enclosures in Pac Man. Bizarre.

The multiplayer maps are Riot, Evicted and Skyline, and the Guerilla map is Arctic Base. They're larger affairs which should suit slower-paced combat. Here are the official write-ups:

- Riot puts players on the streets of downtown Moscow. The empty streets provide long engagements as the enemy darts between burned out vehicles. The tight corners of the alleys provide excellent locations to ambush your enemies with a shotgun or a well placed piece of equipment.

- Evicted continues the fight on the streets of Moscow as battle erupts in a sleepy residential neighborhood. With long alleys between the large apartment complexes, snipers are a valuable resource. Sensors and UAV's are less effective in this expansive location. Communication is key to track and control enemy movements.

- Skyline is a two level CQB nightmare. Connected by tunnels and stairwells, the limited access points provide excellent locations to set traps. Snipers exchange fire between towers and cover their teammates as they advance into enemy territory. A skilled UCAV or UAV pilot can push the enemy out of the open area and into the kill zone.

- If you're looking for intense action the new guerilla map "Arctic Base" is made for you. It's one of the most challenging Guerrilla maps we've ever made as we've added a third HQ much harder to defend. There are many strategic high spots on the map that allows you to cover your teammates but you will have to be careful if you decide to split your team

In closing, here are some Ubi-tips for Stockade. "Use the objective as bait. Ambush your enemy when they try and free their teammates. Don't use your objective if only one teammate is captured. And finally, one data hack almost guarantees a victory."

We'll let you know when Arctic Strike appears on the Marketplace.