PC impressions: Battlefield 2142
by Adams Briscoe 
{ May 12th 2006 at 4:30AM }
Any FPS gamer on the PC knows that Battlefield has a reputation. In this latest title, Battlefield 2142 tries to build upon that reputation and set itself apart as a wide-scale futuristic title focusing on team play.
One of the most impressive things about the demo level was the snow-capped environment. Everything looked really good. All of the weapons have the sci-fi future feel to them as well. So instead of running around with real world weapons in the desert, you'll be in placed in more surreal locations with plasma guns and the like.
All of the vehicles are naturally from the same breed of sci-fi. The developers have done a great job of reinventing the same Battlefield mechanics and porting them over to the 2142 time frame. This is definitely a solid title for anyone interested in first person shooters on the PC.
All of the vehicles are naturally from the same breed of sci-fi. The developers have done a great job of reinventing the same Battlefield mechanics and porting them over to the 2142 time frame. This is definitely a solid title for anyone interested in first person shooters on the PC.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Danno @ May 12th 2006 4:38AM
Yeah, a reputation for horribly slow UIs, massive memory leaks, and terrible team play mechanics.
Looks like the same as usual, but with mechs.
Armin @ May 12th 2006 5:29AM
BF2 was by far the worst gagme I've bought, and the last EA game I bought.
It's fun to play and all that, but so many bugs and exploits... the game is still a BETA, after several patches.
No way I'l be getting bf2142.
scoot @ May 12th 2006 5:49AM
Its such a shame too as BF1942 was the best multiplayer game I have played. EA have gradually sucked any creative ability out of DICE, to the point that they dont seem to give a damn any more and are content with releasing games that any descent dev would be ashamed to release into the wild. Loading times and multiplayer browser a case in point.
Nick Spacek @ May 12th 2006 6:24AM
I loved BF2, but I think that was mainly because of the awesome community I played with. My friend and I played on the servers at www.tacticalgamer.com, where teamwork was enforced, as much as it can be I suppose. Most of the players on the servers would work together in their squads who would work with the commander (you know, the way you're supposed to play BF2).
But I agree, there were some balancing issues and stuff that made it tough to love at times. I can't believe they haven't made a good multiplayer BF for 360 (and by good I mean, all the good features of BF2 [squads/commander] and none of the bad).
Nick
Stu L Tissimus @ May 12th 2006 7:11AM
I'm really annoyed at the announcement of BF2142. I mean, they're releasing it only a year or so after BF2 was released. That means that there'll be little or no support left for BF2, when the game definitely requires fixing.
I wish they'd just make 2142 into an expansion pack. We all know that it's running on the same engine as BF2, so why not support the original and just release 2142 as an expansion?
Clay @ May 12th 2006 8:51AM
I love BF2.
And that is why I wish they'd hurry up and fix the problems with it first.
Joe @ May 12th 2006 9:33AM
Pretty slapdash impressions. Off to hit the floor again? We'll wait for expanded ones.
chris @ May 12th 2006 12:54PM
The team play dynamics are good, when you have a good team. The game doesn't shine unless you're either playing on a server with people who care about winning or are playing a singleplayer map and don't have to deal with people at all! People get frustrated with this game because some overriding force in the anonymity of games turns normal people into teamkilling asshats. There needs to be a more enforced rules structure and more accountability. Also, some way to keep track of friends in game would be super.
Shiro @ May 12th 2006 2:06PM
Yeah, most people who didn't like Battlefield 2 only got it and ran the one player mode on their under-powered computers. Man, you're missing the point.
The game was made for multiplayer. In the online mode, you get at least 3 times more maps, maybe more. And if you have a commander who knows what he's doing, and some teammates who know what they're doing, the game is infinitely fun. You can't only play single-player mode and say it was bad, unless you want to risk all credibility.
Plus, in online play, you can gain ranks, unlock better guns, and the like. Go and try it sometime.
SuiXide @ May 12th 2006 2:26PM
I'll say that I'm a huge fan of Battlefield 2 and it's by far the best online PC game I've played... with people. If you don't have a group of at least three that you'r ein constant communication with, the game is no fun.
I'm looking forward to BF2142. It really does seems like a new direction that the series should take, though I'm concerned about weapon balancing issues, though if there are any problems they'll be fixed with a patch, then another patch, then another patch...
The ZeroCorpse @ May 12th 2006 3:02PM
The future? Bleh.
Where's "Battlefield 1492" instead?
Wheee! Cannons!
devian @ May 12th 2006 3:17PM
I don't know why everyone is bitching about BF2.
I have a moderate gaming computer, and it runs fine, no slow UIs and team play is what you make it. Have a crappy team? Then switch server. Simple as that.
Regardless, BF2142 will either be a hit or miss.
Arramol @ May 12th 2006 3:37PM
I just wish they'd put together a more efficient graphics engine. My same system that can get a smooth-as-butter frame rate on Half-Life 2 at 1600x1200 with 2x anti-aliasing can barely handle Battlefield 2 at 1024 x 768 with all the extras turned off, and it just ends up looking nowhere near as good. It may be a newer game, but the graphics actually look worse because it takes so much more horsepower to get to the same level that Half-Life 2 achieves.
Andrew @ May 12th 2006 4:45PM
I hated BF2 once they started fractering the community by releasing not only new expansion packs, but made the new weapons availble in BF2 play. IE hey you have to buy the pack or else everyone who did has an advantage over you. Oh, and forcing ads down my throat to by them every time I run the game doesn't help either.
ill trooper @ May 12th 2006 7:05PM
Even in it's flawed states, the BF series is awesome, and on the PC (with the large numbers of online combatants) it is a peek into what's possible. It's total mahem at times. I love the series, it's why I even bought a PC - I'm a Mac guy til I die - and although the PC has been an expensive investment for essentially 4 games, it's been great. The patches come on strong and generally address major problems, so I'm not too mad at it, and the community is large enough that there's always a major war happening at any time of the day, even a year after release.
My favorite has been BF: Vietnam, however. I prefer the game without the 'commander all-seeing eye' mode, and the music added a rather psychedelic angle, like when a vespa approaches blaring 'Ride of the Valkries." I hope they re-release the levels of BF:VN on the BF2 engine.