Battlefield 2

"THE multiplayer FPS to get for the PC this year"

In spite of the title, Battlefield 2 is actually the 3rd game in the popular and successful Battlefield series. I was never a big fan of the original Battlefield games, so I was a bit skeptical when I decided to try out this game at my local LAN center. Luckily, it seems as if Dice and EA have read my mind and fixed just about everything I didn't like about the old games, while keeping the fun and gameplay intact.

Gameplay: 9/10

One of the things I didn't like about the original Battlefield games was the teamwork - or lack thereof. It seemed like everyone just went off and did their own thing, paying no mind to the teams objectives. There was never a sense of teamwork or camaraderie with your teammates, which was disappointing because the Battlefield games are supposed to be the most team-oriented multiplayer games out there.

Thankfully, Dice realized this and implemented the chain of command system. This allows people to join or create squads, or command all the squads. The Commander is the top of the chain - he gives orders to his different squads, can call in artillery strikes, UAV scans (unmanned aerial vehicle, any enemies that are within the vicinity will show up on your radar), and supply drops. Squad Leaders can call in requests for artillery, supplies or a UAV with just a keystroke and a click, and all the Commander has to do is approve (or deny) and it will be taken care of automatically.

Below the Commander is the Squad Leader. The Squad Leader is unique in the fact that not only can he tell his squad where he wants them to attack or defend (either by accepting the Commander's orders, or using his own discretion), he also acts as a mobile spawn point. This is a great idea for two reasons: 1) You don't have to spawn at a base that's 300 yards from where your squad leaders wants you to go, and 2) it keeps the squads together and promotes teamwork. The Squad Leader, as mentioned above, can also request any of the Commander's tools directly.

Finally, we have the Squad Member. Your ordinary grunt. He can spawn on the Squad Leader, and can also request supplies or artillery, but the request has to go through the chain before it reaches the commander (I.E. Squad Member sends a request to the Squad Leader for supplies. If the Squad Leader accepts, the request is passed on to the Commander, who either accepts or denies the request). This has all been implemented very intuitively so as not to interrupt battle or take much time.

Of course, this isn't to say that everyone plays the game the way they should. There are still people that take tanks off-road in order to kill some puny infantryman instead of pulling forward and helping their team. Many people only have their best interests in mind, as there really is no reward for winning the round except for the Commander.

The game has 7 different classes, each with different traits and abilities. Every class is unique and useful in it's own way, so there's a useful class for every possible situation. In addition to the normal weapons each class gets, you can also unlock weapons by earning enough point. The game has a point and ranking system that seems to be inspired by America's Army's honor system. If you do well, you get points, and if you get points, you make your way through the ranks, unlocking weapons and earning badges and medals along the way. It's a pretty good system, but I do have a few problems with it. For one, the requirements are pretty insane. It's 1000 global points to achieve the rank Lance Corporal (and your first unlock), and a whopping 10,500 for the next rank, and twice as much for the third. This is a problem, as the average player only nets 30-60 points per round. Also, one of the medals requires at least 7,000 hours of play time to achieve. As you can see, the average casual player probably won't unlock more than 2 weapons before he quits playing for good. EA apparently expects people to devote their lives to this game.

The vehicles are the staple of the BF series, and this game doesn't disappoint. The tanks, transport vehicles, and aircraft are all incredibly fun to drive. There's nothing quite as intense as a car chase with two loaded Humvees, or pulling off a successful bombing run in a jet. The maps are GIGANTIC though, and if you're in a vehicle-based map, trying to make it to the next base on foot, you're probably not going to get there. It's a pain having to waste your time walking somewhere because all the jeeps are gone. That's only for the open, vehicular maps though. My favorite maps are the ones that are purely about infantry combat, with vehicles mainly for transport. That's where the teamwork really shines, and where most people get their points. The urban combat in this game actually FEELS like urban combat, unlike any other game I've played. I love it.

Graphics - 8/10

This game is a system hog, no doubt about it. The graphics are good, for sure, but the game still runs worse that I would expect it to on high settings. Medium is probably what most people will have to put their settings to, although this setting still looks really good. Characters are nicely detailed, vehicles look exactly like their true-to-life counterparts, explosion are beautiful. It looks genuinely authentic, and without the awesome graphics the game wouldn't be nearly as immersive.

Sound - 9/10

The sound effects in this game are great. Trust me, you'll know when an artillery strike has been called on your position. The explosions are loud and disorienting, and you'll wonder how you made it out of something like that alive (if you do). The sounds of a far-off firefight are incredibly realistic - the *pop pop pop* of an assault rifle, and the distant *BOOM* of a grenade or tank shell make you wish you were there, and aware of where the rest of the fight is going on. Just like the awesome graphics, the game wouldn't be nearly as involving without the sound.

Value - 10/10

This game WILL keep you playing. It actually gives you REASONS to keep playing - you're actually earning something. Bragging rights, new weapons, medals, ribbons, whatever you feel like trying for. And it's worth it. This is definitely one of the most fun games I've ever played. If you're a fan of shooters in general, I have no doubt that you will love Battlefield 2.

Final score: 9.4/10

(9/10 for the sake of GameFAQs ranking system)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/22/05