| A Battlefield 2 players review of Battlefield 2142I | | | | subject with have never felt the weapons to be |
| was lucky enough to secure a invitational beta test | | | | inaccurate. I can say I have indeed emptied an entire |
| from EA very early on in the Battlefield 2142's | | | | clip into someone only for them to turn around and |
| development. Some might say "unlucky enough" but I | | | | kill me, although this experience is few and far |
| remained confident throughout the beta testing | | | | between and is also present in Battlefield 2. Bullet |
| phase that the games complications would be ironed | | | | spread overall seems more concentrated towards |
| out in due course. EA/Dice have indeed had a rough | | | | the center of your crosshair than Battlefield 2's and |
| ride from the Battlefield 2 community throughout due | | | | just s Battlefield 2, burst fire or single shot mode |
| to Battlefield 2's chequered history, so scepticism | | | | often alleviates all issues of accuracy. Because |
| regarding Battlefield 2142 was rife with a fair | | | | weapon accuracy is seemingly better in Battlefield |
| proportion of the community stating "Its simply a | | | | 2142 I usually experience much less enemy proning |
| mod of Battlefield 2". Indeed Battlefield 2142 does | | | | unless at distances.Gameplay feel:My first impression |
| share the same engine as Battlefield 2 although | | | | was the immediacy of mouse movement in |
| changes and optimisations have been made for | | | | comparison to Battlefield 2. Mouse movement seems |
| improved performance and in game effects which I | | | | much more responsive and accurate which is certainly |
| will elaborate on later in this review. Although | | | | an aspect that I personally thought Battlefield 2 |
| Battlefield 2142 is a stand alone game and not a mod | | | | lacked, possibly because I'm an old school Enemy |
| of Battlefield 2, comparisons will and are inevitably | | | | Territory player. It has previously been mentioned |
| made as both games share the same engine (albeit | | | | that Battlefield 2 didn't allow the option to disable |
| optimised for Battlefield 2142 in various aspects) | | | | mouse acceleration so maybe this has been disabled |
| although the reader of this article must bear in mind | | | | as default? Please do NOT presume that Battlefield |
| this is NOT Battlefield 2 and most certainly doesn't | | | | 2142 is similar to Battlefield 2 regarding gameplay |
| play like Battlefield 2.Gimme game modes! | | | | speed. After the initial familiarisation with weapons |
| Excluding the blatantly obvious differences between | | | | and its Titan game mode, you will immediately realise |
| Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142 such as the futuristic | | | | Battlefield 2142 is considerably faster and fierce in |
| setting, Battlefield 2142 offers the same Conquest | | | | gameplay than Battlefield 2, and you generally find |
| mode familiar with the Battlefield 2 community in | | | | yourself in combat situations much more frequently |
| which players must secure as many flags as possible, | | | | than Battlefield 2. Although gameplay itself is faster, |
| or control more than half the flags on the map to | | | | the soldier movement does seem pretty accurate to |
| slowly deplete the enemy's tickets to secure a win. | | | | that of Battlefield 2 although ever so slightly faster in |
| Along with Conquest is now a mode called Titan. | | | | your average run speed although run length is shorter |
| Titans are considered the motherships of each team | | | | but fixable via an unlock. As expected from a |
| and if your team is successful in destroying the | | | | seasoned Battlefield 2 player, vehicle handling initially |
| enemy's Titan, you are granted the win. Destroying | | | | felt unfamiliar, primarily with the hover tank, but as |
| the Titans themselves consists of capping ground | | | | with any game it is soon mastered and perfected to |
| based silos. Each time a silo is capped a missile is | | | | devastating effect. Flying is very much easier than |
| launched at the enemy's Titan. That same silo will | | | | Battlefield 2, although balance has been maintained |
| launch missiles intermittently to deplete the enemy | | | | with suitable ground support weapons to counteract |
| Titan's shield, unless the silo is re-captured by the | | | | the airborne menace and certainly doesn't present |
| enemy. Once the enemy Titan's shield is disabled | | | | the same problems experienced in Battlefield |
| from the continual barrage of missiles, the teams | | | | 2.Badges and Toys!Battlefield 2142 has a stat system |
| have a choice of to continue capping silo's until the | | | | of its own with a large and varied selection of |
| Titan is completely destroyed or go for an early kill | | | | unlocks per soldier. It has been argued a small number |
| by boarding the Titan. Players can board the enemy | | | | of unlocks should come as standard on certain |
| Titan by pod or other means such as flying transport. | | | | soldiers such as the defibrillator kit on Assault class |
| Once you are within the Titan, your task is to reach | | | | and universal sprint speed length throughout all |
| the reactor room. Before you can successfully reach | | | | classes as opposed to an unlock, which I tend to |
| the reactor room you must disable FOUR consoles | | | | agree with, but other than that the selections are |
| that lower internal force fields one by one, thus | | | | well chosen and provide for extensive variation in |
| allowing you access to the next console respectively. | | | | gameplay from the A12 Enforcer Sentry Gun to the |
| Once all consoles are destroyed the Reactor Room | | | | IT-33 Optical Camouflage for Recon class soldiers. |
| door blows and allows entry to destroy the Reactor. | | | | Unlocks feature heavily in Battlefield 2142 and must |
| Destroying the reactor can be achieved by weapon | | | | be chosen carefully to avoid all those "doh!" situations |
| fire or explosives to secure a win.Titan | | | | in which you say "I could have used that!". Upgrades |
| shenanigansDue to familiarisation with Battlefield | | | | also consist of smaller items such as sniper scope |
| 2142's environments and weapons, Titan mode was | | | | stability upgrades, ammo clip upgrades and of course |
| hectic during beta with people seemingly wondering | | | | the controversial stamina recovery charge as well as |
| around the map, although as time went by you now | | | | providing further battlefield team communication |
| see concerted efforts by both teams to destroy | | | | methods such as reconnaissance drones. Overall your |
| each others Titans. The mixture of open map | | | | not stuck for choice although players are advised to |
| combat to close quarter corridor fire fights makes | | | | choose their unlocks carefully to accommodate their |
| for a varied game play experience that also opens up | | | | play style and requirements. Badges are awarded as |
| the realm of tactics considerably such as, do you go | | | | Battlefield 2 although now there is extra incentive to |
| for an early kill by boarding the Titan or continue with | | | | use the knife in combat as you are awarded the |
| missile attacks via capturing silos let alone what | | | | enemy's dog tags for each kill as bragging rights, a |
| squads and classes that are best for the job at hand. | | | | very good addition to the game and is most amusing |
| When located within the enemy Titan you invariably | | | | when the enemy is your friend on coms.Game |
| find yourself facing a well dug in defence as a large | | | | optionsThere is everything you would expect within |
| percentage of the Titan is composed of corridors | | | | Battlefield 2142's options as you would see in |
| and chokepoints making for some fierce firefights | | | | Battlefield 2's, although there are a few changes for |
| with many casualties on both sides accordingly.Overall, | | | | the better. Most notably is the addition of a buddy |
| Titan mode is refreshingly new and implemented into | | | | system within the join server screen. This option |
| the Battlefield universe very well, while maintaining | | | | allows you to add your "buddys" and then you can |
| that crucial balance issue that is required of any FPS | | | | ascertain exactly which server your friends are |
| game.Graphics and the Battlefield 2142 | | | | playing on without obtaining that annoying IP address |
| engineBattlefield 2142 shares the same engine as | | | | or server name (ALL on-line games should have this |
| Battlefield 2 although it has been optimised for better | | | | simple option btw).Round experience:The initial |
| frame rates and eye candy with some other code | | | | onslaught is magnificent as both teams scramble to |
| changes to accommodate the vehicles such as the | | | | cap the silos. In one sense you dont want to be the |
| Battle Walker. As a seasoned veteran of Battlefield | | | | first person on scene as you usually find pods of |
| 2, I can see a marked increase in performance with | | | | personnel dropping left right and center to your |
| Battlefield 2142 in relation to Battlefield 2. Due to PC | | | | position itching to take you down although this is |
| specifications and the variables involved, this might | | | | why its beneficial to work in squads to prepare for |
| not be the case for everybody, although I can | | | | such situations. Indeed the pod drops could be right |
| confidentially predict if you run Battlefield 2 I would | | | | next to you or if carefully navigated (difficult) on top |
| say this would perform just as well, if not better on | | | | of you killing you instantly. Sometimes you find |
| your current rig. You certainly notice the eye candy | | | | yourself in a face off with a tank. I tend to throw |
| graphics in action when within the games | | | | EMP grenades (unlockable) while a Recon class soldier |
| environment, most notably the temporary vehicle | | | | moves in with an RDX Demopak (C4 equivalent) |
| force fields and massive explosions. Buildings and | | | | although again this is if your team is working AS a |
| landscape are complex in construction although | | | | team. Once you have capped the silo you find a few |
| sensible in design offering you good cover in many | | | | vehicles spawning which tend to be different |
| situations. The landscape itself does indeed look like a | | | | depending on which silo you've capped. Once you |
| battlefield with craters and half destroyed buildings on | | | | have secured the area you have a choice on how to |
| fire adding to the expected battlefield atmosphere. | | | | move to the next silo. You find a buggy will spawn |
| The overall "tone" of the game is implemented very | | | | on all captured silos, these offer a very fast means |
| well with weaponry and mechanics suitably detailed | | | | of transport around the map although weak in |
| and coloured for the games futuristic setting while | | | | armour. Alternatively you can launch yourself from an |
| providing a large selection of maps offering a varied | | | | APC pod and navigate directly to the next silo or |
| battlefield experience and environmental | | | | possibly land yourself at a clever vantage point to |
| setting.SoundAs the year is 2142, you certainly notice | | | | cause disruption and offer covering fire while the rest |
| the difference in tone with weapon use. The sound | | | | of your team move in. After a while you find the |
| effects are considerably more "meatier" than | | | | enemy Titan's shield is depleted, from this situation |
| Battlefield 2 in every aspect. Explosions are the most | | | | you can reach the Titan by air transport or pod. I |
| impressive with a pleasing bassy rumble coupled with | | | | usually navigate an APC which my team can spawn |
| the lighting effects added from the game engine | | | | and use a pod to land on the deck of the enemy |
| itself makes for pleasurable frags. Indeed, explosions | | | | Titan.When within the Titan, |
| of all types are one of the most impressive aspects | | | | you generally find a well dug in enemy who will stop |
| of the game purely because of the sound coupled | | | | at nothing to take you down. It's generally a good |
| with graphics. The clever use of background radio | | | | idea to move in slowly and use your iron sights |
| use adds to the futuristic theme of the game while | | | | regularly to spot movement or a prone solider waiting |
| not interfering with the job at hand. Each sound | | | | with a support class gun. Corridor fire fights are |
| seems to fit the situation perfectly from pod | | | | intense and many people die. One situation I |
| launches from APC's to reloading your weapons. | | | | experienced was a stand-off with the enemy located |
| They seem to have spent a lot of time in the sound | | | | within the Reactor Room and my team outside |
| effects department in the construction of this game | | | | throwing everything we could at them. I noticed a |
| and its certainly noticeable by the quality. The musical | | | | blurry outline of a solider exciting the Reactor room |
| score for the game itself lends well to Star Wars in | | | | briefly and thought nothing of it until I was stabbed in |
| its orchestral mix and is much more pleasing to listen | | | | the back by a Recon class soldier using active |
| to when connecting to servers or navigating the | | | | camouflage. I assign a droid (as squad leader) who |
| games options. Many FPS games have failed to | | | | begins shooting into the Reactor room and a few |
| deliver within the realms of creating that all important | | | | grenades later we move in for the kill successfully |
| atmosphere to suit the setting. A good example | | | | taking down the last few remaining enemy soldiers. |
| would be firing the primary weapon on a tank only to | | | | We begin shooting the reactor core and when critical |
| hear a wimpy "boom!". Battlefield 2142 delivers in | | | | we run for the exit to bail.Overall:I generally find |
| every respect regarding sound by providing that all | | | | intense battlefield experiences on Battlefield 2142 |
| important "BOOOOOM!".Weapon handling!This seems | | | | much more frequent than Battlefield 2 in the sense |
| to also be a controversial issue within the Battlefield | | | | there's numerous transport options and your never |
| community. I have always felt Battlefield 2 was | | | | far from the battle unless spawning, and even then |
| influenced by the wrong people within the patching | | | | you can spawn within the very Titan your defending. |
| process and a little to much was nerved to | | | | Overall I think the game although not massively |
| accommodate those people who are either just to | | | | dissimilar to Battlefield 2 regarding game modes and |
| lazy to learn specific skills or are simply to stupid to | | | | the principles of unlocks and stats, offers a fresh |
| play Solitaire let alone Battlefield 2. I know this is a | | | | gaming experience in speed and intensity that |
| controversial comment but I have been part of this | | | | certainly warrants the space on your hard disk. |
| community and have read many posts within this | | | | |