Battlefield Vietnam

"BF:V is a disappointing sequel to a great game"

When I first heard about Battlefield Vietnam I was excited. A sequel to one of the best multiplayer games of all time will surely bring more enjoyment. Right? WRONG. This game is very disappointing. There are tons of issues with this game and I will explain each of them in my review.

Graphics- 5/10
The graphics haven improved very little since the release of BF1942. You would have thought EA could put more effort into the visuals but no. The weapons look very bland and dull. The AK-47 and many other rifles look like huge blocks instead of the accurate detail put into EOD, which was only a mod. The only reason this gets a 5 is because the landscape is filled with exotic trees and hills, which provide excellent cover. This alone however can't make up for the poor weapon and character design. This is one of the worst aspects of this bad game.

Sound- 10/10
The only thing I liked about this game was the sound. The sound in this game is outstanding. You can take off in a helicopter and blast ''Fortunate One'' or ''Ride of the Valkyres'' while you mow down countless Vietnamese troops. Very cool.

Gameplay- 4/10

As of now, the Vietnamese are at a serious disadvantage. I couldn't tell you how many times I got killed by the damn overpowered Huey Gunship or the cheap ass M60. I sympathize with the NVA because I always play as them and 99.9% of the time my team loses. EA MUST do something about these serious balancing issues in the upcoming patch. It really takes a lot outta the fun of the game when you constantly lose. Yes, I realize that the US was the dominant superpower, but the NVA did win the war, so they must have had some advantages during the war. Plus, this is just a game so it doesnt have to be completely based on reality. On the bright side, helicopter controls are much better here than in Desert Combat. This allows newbie pilots such as myself an opportunity to become better fighter pilots.

Final Comments

Battlefield Vietnam probably would have made a better mod than a full game. Considering EOD had better gameplay and weapons, and that was only a mod. I was expecting so much more. Most people who played BF1942 will be disappointed at the lack of effort by EA. No campaign mode, no map vote, very little map selection, and very demanding requirements really hurt this games chance at living up to the legend of BF1942. I suggest only buying this game if you enjoyed the music from the Vietnam era, because most of the time thats all you will be doing.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/21/04