Those silly people at Valve decided to try to revitalize Team Fortress 2 and bring back players growing tired of the same maps and objectives. The latest Gold Rush Update has been released to the population with the addition of the new map (Gold Rush) and gameplay type (Pay Load). The new Pay Load objective has one side pushing a cart through the map and capturing the points on the track while the other side defends. For simplicity sake, moving the cart requires you to stand near it, the more people close to it - the faster it moves. Should no one move the cart forward in 30 seconds, it will begin to travel backwards. The map’s appearance is reminiscent of its brethren, closely resembling Dustbowl.

This is not the only change, the bigger more dramatic change is the Item System that has now been added. Don’t get your hopes up too quickly though, the Item System is only beginning with the Medic right now, all other classes will have to wait. The medic has 36 new unique achievments to its own class. Acquiring a third of these will give you a new syringe gun that absorbs health from enemies. Accomplishing two thirds of these will give a medigun thats ubercharge gives 100% critical hits. Finally, collecting all of them will net you an Ubersaw, so hacking people to bits will increase your ubercharge (only four hits to fully charge).

Let’s look at the good and the bad of these changes

It’s an update to the game making things feel a little more fresh and giving people a new reason to play the game. -That’s Good

The addition of the Item System will most likely have a large effect on balancing, that could easily disrupt the flow of things. - That’s Bad

The new gametype Pay Load is exciting and a welcoming change from the never ending capture the flag (intelligence) or control point. - That’s Good

Adding an Item System to the Medic only, has too many people clammering to utilize this class and collect the achievements. - That’s Bad

I like the fact that they’re adding to this game with new and creative ideas, although I fail to comprehend why this update was released without completing the item system for the other classes. Even if the Medic class was underplayed, this is only killing recent games, because of the Medic healing trains running around with no offense or defense. There was no real reason for them to rush this update, it could’ve easily waited until other classes items were finalized.

Regardless, there is still a day left of Team Fortress 2’s Free Weekend, head over now to get a taste if you haven’t already.