In some ways, I was dissappointed, but found some elements of the game to be pleasing and innovative. But, alas, there were no breakthroughs that were transforming. Overall, it is an above-average game that is tapping the wave of Modern Warfare dissidents. I believe it is a good game on its own. I tried not to compare it, but it is difficult not to. The games are so similar, it is laughable that Battlefield is so brazen in thier competition. It is a shame they haven't actually provided a better game.
The single-player game was a short playthrough on the highest difficulty setting. Only a couple of places required multiple tries to complete a level. The good: the ability to use weapons stockpiles at strategic points to customize loadouts. The bad: as with ANY first person shooter, the AI was subpar. I could sit back behind cover and plink away to my heart's content and the AI would not be aggressive. It was poorly done. Also, on the good side, I have to say that for the most part, I liked that areas didn't constantly generate new enemies just because I hadn't moved forward to a pre-determined trigger point.
I will write a longer article about that last point in an upcoming blog, but suffice to say, that in the single-player campaign, one other significant aspect that stands out is that BF Bad Company 2 has a lot of vehicles. You can drive a tank, a predator drone, ride in a helicopter, a quad bike, a Jeep and a Humvee. I don't know, call me silly, but I didn't get much more from those experiences than I did firing away with my LMG. The drone was, well , a drone. It wasn't packed with much danger, it seemed...remote, distant. The tank was uninspiring. On the highest difficulty, I didn't feel there was much of a challenge. And as soon as you got into a vehicle, you knew you were in for a completely linear experience. This is not a free-roam type game. It is just as linear of a story as Modern Warfare (or Warfail, as the BF: Bad Company fans call it). It is not as open as, say, Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.
Weapons in the game feel stale. There wasn't enough differentiation to make changing your loadout any fun. Even changing to adapt to situations wasn't always necessary. I found myself using the same weapons from one save point to the next. One thing that I did like was that if I wanted to have a sniper rifle and an assault rifle in my loadout I could do it without having to pick one up off of an enemy. That sort of customization would be convenient in other first person shooters. Another innovation that I found refreshing was the collectible system. It was fun to try find the collectibles (not so much the M-Com Sites). I found most, but it was difficult to differentiate between the same weapon with different attachments while you were fighting your way through the bad guys. I suppose another playthrough on a lower setting would help me gather them all.
Multi-player was totally different. I know that by nature the multiplayer game is supposed to feel different. I just couldn't rectify the weapons choices of the different classes. I hate limitations even for the sake of playing roles in a squad make-up. It then becomes formulaic. I understand that game balance is important. That is why you can't carry an ACR AND a UMP 45 in Modern Warfare 2. But, the different roles weren't the only problem I had with multiplayer. Let me count the ways:
- Too much lag
- Not enough game types
- Most of the squad-based game types seemed too slow and plodding
- Grainy textures and lifeless vegetation
- Destructible cover was just annoying, not really strategic
- The more experienced players had decided advantage
- Level up was too difficult in lower levels
- Lack of gamers at times, couldn't find large enough rooms
On the positive side, I must say I did like the possibility for more teamwork. The make-up of a squad could conceivably ramp up the fun value if done right. But, I am faced with the prominence of the Assault class over the other classes and the absolute worthlessness of most snipers and Medics in the game. It just didn't make any sense. Another plus was the vehicles and aircraft. I find it hard to believe that a critic of Modern Warfare killstreaks would find Conquest mode any fun at all, but flying drones, helis and tanks are a blast in that mode. If only most players would use them with any sense of logic or strategy, the game modes might even be more fun. But, alas, they do not. And stationary AT guns and other battlefield gadgets trump these perks very quickly.
At the end of the week, I logged over 60 hours of playing (12 hours in single-player and 48 playing every game mode) and only managed to make it to level 14 with a k/d ratio of .89. Not too great, really. But, I have to say that if it weren't for this review (and the Gamer Points!) I would have quit playing much earlier. I was frustrated with the game and put it aside at times to play other games that I liked more.
RATINGS
Game Play (Single Player) 7 (out of 10)
Game Play (Multiplayer) 6
Sound 7
Graphics 5
Replayability 6
TOTAL 6.5
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