Battlefield 2142

Rating ESRB: Teen Genre first-person-shooter Publisher Electronic Arts External Links Official Battlefield 2142 Website

I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Battlefield series. It took the team-based ideas from games such as the Tribes series and put it in a neat, playable package. In its previous iteration it made great strides by implementing squads, allowing players to cooperate and communicate on levels previously unheard of in first person shooters. The weapons and vehicles are accurate and believable; I enjoy the "feel" of shooting the weapons which makes headshots or fragging some fool with a grenade very pleasurable. Yet, the intriguing gameplay does not hide the dark side of the series. Just like Battlefield 2, the sequel has been marred by relentless bugs and ludicrous system requirements.

The graphics have been slightly improved since Battlefield 2. Explosions are awe-inspiring and the fog and smoke effects are beautifully rendered. The lighting through many of the fog-laden levels is extremely convincing, and the effects of the EMP blasts are especially well-produced. Everything is textured nicely, and the models of the vehicles, players, and weapons are well crafted. Animations are similar to the previous series, in which the players look a bit clunky, especially when going prone.

Gameplay has not changed much since Battlefield 2. The walkers and hover tanks control much like the tanks and anti-air guns from the previous game. There are also futuristic helicopters which handle as you would expect. While it is a bit disappointing to have this predictable control scheme, speed boosts for the smaller vehicles and being able to strafe with the hover tank are welcome enhancements.

The class choices have been cut down considerably. DICE decided to combine a few of the support classes with the combat-focused classes. This results in soldiers being able to heal, while anti-vehicle units doubling as engineers. I enjoy this change, and with the improved unlock system (which works much like equipping a character in an RPG), the possibilities for different play styles are considerable.

Multiplayer is difficult at first. Unlocks are required to use the most useful weapons and gear like defibrillators and grenades. There were some issues with the game's ranking system, sometimes causing the ranks and points I had gained in a round to not show up in my profile. This is frustrating, especially considering that many of the seasoned players with loads of unlocks have a staggering advantage. Once I started gaining ranks and awards, the new equipment kept rolling in which made me much more efficient. Yet, because the series is based on teamwork, a good group of reliable people to play with is a must. Finding a good server that is armed with attentive administrators is required if you want to enjoy Battlefield 2142 to its fullest potential.

Game modes consist of the omnipresent Conquest mode and the new Titan mode. Conquest mode requires players to capture specific spawn points on the map in order to reduce the other team's "tickets". This mode has not changed since Battlefield 2, but is still fresh because of the new features. Titan mode is a twist on Conquest mode where each team has a giant ship floating over the battlefield. You fight for silos which will fire on the opposing titan ship, slowly draining its shields. Once the shields are drained, the titan can be boarded to attempt to blow up its reactor core. Although it is a nice twist on Battlefield's gameplay, it was not as much fun as it could have been. I would have enjoyed it more if DICE had taken the concept further; for example, allowing the players to use their titan to gain a strategic advantage on the battlefield.

Although there are many welcome new features in Battlefield 2142, it is still essentially a Battlefield 2 mod. It should have been a $30 expansion pack instead of being hawked as a new game. Players looking for significantly improved graphics compared to the previous game in the series will be disappointed. With games such as Quake Wars and the next Unreal Tournament on the horizon, I have to wonder if this game will retain a community. But, if you have yet to check out the Battlefield series and you enjoy a bit of sci-fi, then this game is for you. Jaded players from the previous iterations need not apply.