Review: Battlefield 3

[Dusky 9]

The main question for gamers this holiday season is “What game should I buy?†The selection is varied; the choices are prime, but are they worth it? I will be buying most of the blockbuster hits within the next few months, but waiting in line for the midnight release of Battlefield 3 was intoxicatingly exciting. Many gamers will agree that the stripped-down BF3 Beta was an absolute disaster, but I knew that the mechanics were modeled from a 3-month old build that had gone under much further improvement than in what had been presented. The actual release, however, is sure to sell and please millions… is it worth the $60 to you?

I’d give the BF3 Campaign and Co-Op a ‘C plus’ overall score. The graphics and situations were all incredibly awesome, but the gameplay was lackluster, repetitive, and eventually boring. Does anybody really even enjoy slowed fight scenes where you have to press correct button combinations to win? Apparently DICE (the Swedish game developer making the game) does, because it happens quite frequently. Throughout the game, the AI enemy follows a procedure of endless attack, however they fight with the ferocity and intuition of a lame condiment. The constant pouring in of unintelligent drones creates a stolid and uninteresting 6-hour fight (it took me about 6 hours to beat the campaign). The game still holds some bugs too: enemies that spawn from thin air, immovable AI allies that crush you into a building when you get in their way, and persistent clipping throughout your gameplay. Bugs and pathetic gameplay matched with an overused plot, setting, and character archetype made for a very mediocre game. After all’s said and done, you didn’t get to fly a helicopter, you didn’t get to pilot a jet (but you do get to act as a Naval Flight Officer for an F-18 Hornet), and you don’t even know what happens to the main character or what the world’s conflict situation is. Onwards to Co-Op, we have similar situations and battles, but with a minor plot story behind each mission, such as evacuating from the post-earthquake base camp in the mission "Fire from Above". These missions are much more enjoyable than the actual campaign; however, the sour taste from campaign is still present. Well, at least you got to see the devastation of a massive earthquake, the invasion of a country’s capital, and an insane dogfight, all with exceptionally attractive visuals.

Multiplayer in BF3, at this point, deserves a solid ‘A,' with a reserve score of an 'A plus'. While I can’t speak for PC users as to the functionality of the game, and reliability of their servers, I have personally been kicked off of EA’s servers a multitude of times, and I paraheavily in a minor fraction of games. The clipping that I mentioned in campaign is also an incredibly annoying part of online gameplay as well; the inability to climb over downed palm trees, or to walk (rather than leap) over a curb, is becoming incessantly infuriating in combat situations where I am killed because of the inability to move efficiently. I imagine future patches and hardware upgrades on EA's end of things will fix most of the issues, and, luckily, this is where the negativity ceases… Battlefield 3 has one of the most thrilling multiplayer experiences I’ve ever been a part of. The constant bickering between fans of the Call of Duty series and Battlefield series has no backing, because they are both drastically different games; whereas CoD is always fast-paced and in close-quarters, BF3 actually stretches across digital-miles and requires consistent, efficient teamwork to be enjoyed at a prime level. Lone-wolves can still play and enjoy the game, although I suggest finding ways to help your teammates so that victory is achieved; perhaps by mastering a vehicle, sniping to defend, or just being incredibly skilled and getting dozens of kills. The game consists of 4 gametypes: Conquest, Rush, Team Deathmatch, and Squad Battles. You can also choose to play each gametype in ‘Core’ or ‘Hardcore’ mode. You can learn about those gametypes here. While I favor the larger maps and fluidity of Conquest, many gamers enjoy the more contained gametype, Rush. Regardless of where you’re playing it, the game will spark interest in any first-person-shooter fan immediately. Some wonder if this is just a Battlefield: Bad Company 3 and I answer with, “No.†The differences are so vast, that I cannot begin to validate my answer, but as a veteran since Battlefield 1942 trust me when I say that they’re back to Battlefield 2-status.

What's new to Battlefield 3 across the board? The unlock system has been completely revamped. In BF2, weapons were the only unlockable items; now, vehicle upgrades, equipment upgrades, and attachments for weapons are all attained through investment in the appropriate weapon or vehicle (in addition to still unlocking your weapons). For instance, when I first flew the F-18E in multiplayer, I could only utilize the machine gun. After taking out other aircraft, I gained access to flares, heat-seeking missiles, and stealth technology which adds a whole new layer of tactical options at my disposal. Pretty soon, I'll gain access to guided missiles which can target ground vehicles, and I can be of use to my team in a much more direct manner. This style of unlocking makes players earn their perks through success with handicaps, and creates a more intelligent user of each unlock. If you can do well without unlocks, you'll do better with them. Shoulder-mounted Surface-to-air missiles also create a way for every soldier to fight against air-power, and balances the vehicle warfare, although be warned of the new "Vehicle Disabled" aspect in BF3. Now, when you deal damage to vehicles, they become degraded in some manner and their efficiency is decreased, making them easier to kill. For example, tanks may lose engine power, causing them to drive in a slower manner and eliminating the possibility of retreat (until they repair the vehicle). All vehicles, will catch fire at 50% health and gradually lose health over time until destroyed or repaired. Of course, vehicles can still be taken out with a critical hit (a tank shell striking a scout helicopter, or a Javelin missile hitting the weaker rear section of a tank). There's a small list of new features here, as well.

In conclusion, get your wallet out and make the best investment since buying options in Apple circa 2007. There are many topics I haven’t even been able to cover, such as the innovative Battlelog (if you haven't registered, you should do so ASAP). But if you want to riddle helicopters with heat-seeking missiles in a Russian SU-35 Flanker-E, decimate troops in an AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, use mortars to overwhelm enemy barricades, or fight side-by-side with you squadron in the best tactical setting of video game history, Battlefield 3 is the right game for you.

Oh you already have the game? Then join other KSI gamers by registering on Battlelog and joining our Xbox 360 Platoon or our PC Platoon.