Battlefield 2142 (PC DVD)

I've been playing this game with two friends every Tuesday since the day it was released, so in one way this is a review from three people. And we all LOVE it. We've never played any of 2142s Battlefied sisters either.

I haven't (nor have my friends) had any problems with compatability, installs, patching or crashing like the fella in his review before this. In my view, if your machine doesn't run a game then that doesn't mean the game is rubbish; it's not. We've had very little lag, no loss of connection, and the in game advertising didn't start until last month, and we only noticed it a couple of days ago, so it isn't THAT intrusive.

The graphics are very customisable, and pleasing on the eye even at the lowest settings. The sound is extremely atmospheric. The weapons feel meaty and real. Loading times are ... pretty good considering the scale of each battle. The Battlefields themselves are both large and small, varied, designed for infantry and vehicle nuts (Tanks, walkers, jets, buggys, APCs) alike, and individual triumphs of design. There are no impregnable spots, everywhere is vulnerable, so no camping and snipers beware.

The fact is that this game is an unashamedly violent, relentless piece. There's nothing clever about it. Load up, join a squad ... dakka dakka dakka ... 20 minutes later, won or lost, start again. Not that this is a criticism, get on Teamspeak or (we use) Skype with some friends, get on the same server and you'll be crying with mirth. Record your chatter during a game, listen back to it and laugh at yourself laughing.

I mentioned the team play aspect to this game. Is is essentially an exercise in violent teamwork. Each teams commander gives orders to each squad leader who orders around the grunts. Anyone can elect to be commander and anyone can create their own squad. But teamwork wins the day: lone-wolfs invariably suffer when faced with six enemy squaddies charging them down.

It's quick and easy to get into online. As the chap below said, the single player game is RUBBISH! But this isn't and never was thought of as a single player game. What it does it does very well indeed. Online, organised carnage, structured mayhem, glorious gory gameplay. Fun fun fun fun fun.

And when you unlock a new gun you get, Oooh, dead excited.

I have asked loads of people why they think this game is bad, and they don't have a reason. They just say it's bad.

Compared to BF2, this game is much better for the following reasons:
- There are only 4 kits which are very customisable. This is much better than having loads of kits which can do only one thing each.
- The unlocks system is better, it's easier to get to what you want.
- Titan mode has been added.
- Teamwork is encouraged more by the fact that when a squad does what the squad leader/commander orders, they get temporary unlocks to test them out before getting them permanently.
- There is no aeroplane which is really over-powerful; added a gunship which is basically like a helicopter, but the rockets are good against air so dogfights are possible.

There are other good things as well, such as the new assault lines mode and there are lots of different vehicles which makes it more fun than BF2.

All in all, a very under-rated game which is VERY fun, but it does have bugs where it crashes every now and then (uncommon though).

Clearly the multiplayer game of choice if you have a good pc. Battlefield always needs a good pc to get the most out of it. If you are struggling spec wise it will mean you will struggle with performance in busy combat unlike slower paced games.

Battlefield 2142 is similar to Battlefield 2 in many ways. Everything has at the very least been tweaked and enchanced in this sequel. Battlefield 2 was already an excellent game however it wasnt perfect and this game improves on many things.

Changes include enhanced graphics. There is now heat haze and some bump mapping compared to Battlefield 2, modelling has also changed and stuff like trees and guns look alot nicer(scopes have glass now). The sound is now in 44khz for X-Fi users instead of just 22khz. The surround sound was already perfect in Battlefield 2 and is even better here. Notably the subwoofer usage is amazing in explosions, thuds etc.(if you have a 2.1,5.1 sound system).

Gameplay wise a new mode is included called Titan mode. Titan mode includes a huge floating carrier that can move across the map and is used for launching attacks. You can also launch yourself in a pod to far away distances which saves alot of time running from one place to another when there are no vehicles! This used to be a problem in other battlefield games. Th pod is one of the best things about the game something which took time to catch even after the game launched.

Titan mode also introduces indoor combat to battlefield. The indoor action scenes are very intense and often crowded. Every class will be busy defending or attacking inside. A very fun addition to the series. The city maps also include abit of indoor/semi indoor combat now.

The classes have now been merged. So instead of several weak classes there are now 4 strong classes. This means there is less reason to keep changing to other classes. Instead you can customise characters accordingly in each class with different gear. Recon for example is Sniper and Spec ops in one. So you can snipe and use c4 if you like! This was needed in Battlefield 2 after the tweaking of the various classes. Now there are more options when fighting rather trying to find another kit always.

The maps are of higher quality and Titan mode makes the large maps much more funt o play. The city maps are back and better than ever. There are several to play, afew which are better than Karkand, all are good levels. My favourite of those is Cerbere Landing which is extremely intense and is in many ways the karkand of this game already. There are no tanks in the map although one walker(mech) is availible to each side.

Planes dont exist in 2142 sadly but the game is more balanced due to it. Clearly a much more ground combat based game. Which is what many people wanted in part 2. The unlock system is much easier now and doesnt require the time investment the last game did.

Overall a great game and a worthy sequel to Battlefield 2. It may not be a huge jump in graphics but its much more well thought out and refined game than Battlefield 2. Not to mention more fun. Which is what a sequel should be really.