Battlefield 1942

The Good
Battlefield 1942 stands today as one of the hottest games for massive multiplayer LAN gaming, a true gameplay fest based on the simple concept of taking the tried and true class-based fps gaming and enhancing it by making it a truly massive experience thanks to it's 64 players-limit, it's gigantic maps and it's vehicle gameplay.

Based on non-linear game types with conquest and domination-type objectives, the maps span literally miles and miles of terrain, with a spawning base for each team (axis or allied) and dozens of tactically-exploitable landmarks inbetweens, showcasing all of the major theaters in WW2, from the seashores of the pacific islands to the demolished French countrysides and the deserts of northern Afrika. These large areas serve as a way to acomodate the large number of players, yet they also need to be so large due to the other big addition Battlefield brought and which involves the gigantic arsenal of vehicles you can command. Be it a Zero fighter, a Panzer tank or a U-boat, they are all here and allow you to take part in your favorite warfare role, from tactical sniping to aerial dogfighting, blending all gameplay mechanics successfully.

As befitting a game of this type, teamwork is heavily rewarded and most vehicles perform better when separate players handle different functions, at the same time, the class limitations and abilities give another twist to the run-and-gun gameplay that diversifies the gameplay options and extends the shelf-life of the title. The resulting mix could have easily ended in a "jack of all trades, master of none" situation, however Battlefield manages to pull it all off with hardly any problem and thus ends up being a real wonder to play. I had the opportunity to play with 20+ crowds and it's an incredible experience whenever everything works fine (more on that below), I can only imagine what it must be like to play on a fully loaded 64 players Lan...

The Bad
I have one big gripe with the game and a bitching issue. First of all, the big gripe is that if you like single player gaming then don't even bother to look at Battlefield. Sure, the game has bots... but seriously, there's nothing here for single players (and the bots are the Unreal kind: y'know, stupid and predictable in the easier settings, and stupid and predictable in the harder difficulties, except they suddenly gain such a mind-staggering accuracy that causes you to drop dead the second you cross their line of sight).

Besides that, as stated above the game is made by teamplay, and it's also broken by it as another reviewer noted. If everything and everyone works correctly then you are rewarded with a spectacular warfare simulation (sans all the boring details, of course) if not, then you get a lot of idiots running around and crashing onto each other with the planes. This is why I think the game is mostly a LAN game, as it's not only where you'll find the largest amount of players without lag problems, but it's also the best way you can find of making actual teams and coordinating gameplay. Most of the online games I've played where at best counter-strike games with vehicles, exploiting none of the best features the game has to offer.

Also a lot of interface conventions and controls need some time to become used to (case in point: the control changes when entering a vehicle and the infamous default parachute key).

The Bottom Line
Basically one of the best multiplayer games in recent memory, finally the big developing houses start to learn their lessons from the mod community (in fact, Battlefield owes a LOT to mods like the exceptional Day of Defeat). Battlefield brings to the multiplayer arena the best massive team-based fps gaming in recent memory and manages to cover all the bases successfully. Problems include a completely multiplayer-only design and (as with most multiplayer games) a big dependency on the human component.

The Good
Where to start with this one? Besides the fact that it is one of the best multiplayer titles ever released, and it has completely taken over my life in a short time. And how extremely fun it is...Lets see...

Gameplay: One word describes it perfectly: FUN. The game takes place in a World War 2 setting, placing Allies (British, US, and Russian forces) against Axis (German and Japanese forces) in several different theaters of war, from Europe, to Africa, to the Pacific. Each level is based off of a certain battle of the war (Like Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima for example). From the huge endless deserts of El Alamien to the tense close combat battles among the destroyed buildings of Stalingrad, each map is well designed and enjoyable. There are five different kits available for soldiers: Scouts (Who can target for artillery, and carry sniper rifles), Assault (Your basic grunt with the machine gun), Ant-Tank (Who carry rocket launchers and can take out vehicles), Medics (Who provide health on the field), and Engineers (Who can repair vehicles and set up defenses). Each kit has it's own advantages and disadvantages. Weapons are different for each side, and like the kits, have pros and cons as well. For example, the Allies machine gun, the Bar 1918 has a smaller clip and a slower rate of fire then the Axis StG 44, but unlike the StG, the Bar is very accurate. The game takes a 'rock-paper-scissors' approach to the weapons and kits, and vehicles. And the vehicles! I doubt that this game would've been half as good without them. There are over 35 different vehicles in the game, ranging from jeeps, to tanks, to planes, APCs, to giant battleships and aircraft carriers, even submarines! Each vehicle provides a fun approach to doing things. For example you could get into a plane (A bomber or fighter, your choice) and attack enemy positions from the air, but watch out for anti-aircraft turrets, and other fighters, or else you'll have to parachute out. Get into a tank and wreak all kinds of havoc, but watch out for planes, anti-tank soldiers, or enemy tanks. You could get into a battleship, and shell the land, but watch out for other ships, submarines or planes. Some vehicles also have several slots, so team mates can also get in and join you. There are many different possibilities and many things you can do. It's also hard to describe this game without reminiscing about many different memorable moments encountered when playing this game. I'll always remember the first time I took out my first plane with a rocket launcher, or escaping a sinking ship after an enemy air attack. There are several different gameplay modes in the game, but Conquest (Where your team has to to take over and control several points across the map, right up to the enemy base) is the most common one.

Graphics/Sound: On the graphics side, the game wont challenge Unreal 2 , but they still hold thier own. The scale of the levels are huge! The vehicles also look good, and things like explosions are well done. The sound affects sound very good, from the footsteps of a soldier to the omnious sound of a tank rolling in, everything is solid, right down to soldiers speaking in thier native languages. The music isn't bad too, even though there is a bit of a lack of it: Only to be heard in the menu, or loading a map, or when a game is finished.

The Bad
There are only a few things I have found wrong in this game. First, it is a system hog. You'll need at least a 1 Ghz machine with 256MB Ram and a 32/64 MB video card minimum. Also, to get anything out of the game, Broadband is REQUIRED. Don't even THINK about trying to tackle this game with a 56k modem. Not only will your gameplay be laggy, you will also make it bad for every other user on the server. The manual itself states that anyone with a 56k should stick to games with 16 players or less, and in this game, the less players in a game, the less fun it is. And while this game does have a single player campaign, the bots in the game are pretty dumb, and unless you have a top of the line dream system, a large number of bots will bring your system to its knees. But who cares, online is where it's at. Also, I've encountered a few bugs here and there, with the game crashing to the desktop sometimes. Lastly, the game could benefit from some better communications hotkeys, instead of the clunky hotkey bar at the top of the screen, and some better ways of handling the game. For example, you have to go to the console and type in a hard-to-remember line of code in order to start a vote to change the mission or kick a player. I wish it was as smooth as Tribes 2's.

The Bottom Line
Battlefield 1942 is quite a game. Easily the best multiplayer title I've ever played. Incredibly fun to play, enjoyable, memorable, and entertaining. This game caters to both the casual and hardcore gamers with the perfect balance between fun and realism. It's easy to get into and play.

So if you have the system to handle it, Get this game. Now!

The Good
So many ways to play, will you snipe from afar or charge in with a machine gun. Graphics are ok, models are good,locations are large and varied.

The Bad
sound issues, it doesn't seem to like some creative sound cards. Sometimes crashes to the desktop. Call me boring (and you probably will) but I thought war was about team work, play virtually any online game ond everybody is running round like headless chucks. Tanks will survive a lot longer with infantry support, like wise infantry needs armoured support to attack heavily defended or fortified positions. Attacks work better if you soften the enemy with some air support. Artillery is woefully under used as no-one wants to be spotter, or when you are a spotter no-one is manning the arty!. The longer range of the engineers rifle needs to be backed up with the fire power of the submachine guns and machine guns of the other classes. Anti tank classes need to be protected from infantry whilst they get into position to take out the tanks. Realistically this is all too much to hope for, from a bunch of people who don't know each other. But it would be nice to see some squad action not just 64 individuals.

The Bottom Line
As a war sim it's not all that good, but as a war based multiplayer game it's the best you can buy!

The Good
Nearly everything about this game is perfect.

Vehicles- The amount of vehicles in this game is simply outrageous. You can use any vehicle that you can see, fighters, tanks, jeeps, and even U-boats. It is simply satisfying to drop a missile on some idiot who wasn't paying attention, or blow five infantry into the air with a tanks cannons blast.

Music- There is no music in the game other than on the pause/main screen, and trust me that is definitely a good thing. With no sound, in-game, you can hear the whiz of an airplane overhead, just before it razes you with machine guns, you can hear every bullet, right before it kills you. Somehow being slaughtered by an enemy that you didn't even now was there is satisfying.

A.I.- The bots on this game are quite smart and extremely good in any type of vehicle. While some people might consider an enemy that is good enough to kill you stupid and annoying, I like it simply because it gives me a challenge, and forces me to get better at the game. When put on the highest level they will be very good, but like any game, they will be semi predictable, and eventually simple to beat.

The Bad
The only bad thing about this game is that because of the so many vehicles, it kind of takes away the feeling of a good first-person shooter. That is my only complaint.

The Bottom Line
This game is great and try to buy the deluxe pack if you can as it includes the expansion pack The Road to Rome. Buy this game.

The Good
The graphics are good, but bugs may pop up here and there. Don't expect to get good performance on a crappy system. The sounds and music are well-done and the choice of guns, classes, and vehicles increases the replay-value through the roof. The major aspect of the game is multiplayer, where 64 players can wage total war in complex maps through vehicles and firearms. This is a fun game that EA and Digital Illusions should be proud of.

The Bad
First off, if you are a single-player freak, like me, you will notice that the AI sucks the big one. In fact, you might want to play online just for the challenge. The vehicle controls are okay, but the physics engine could use some help. Many bugs, but most of the new patches can cure a quick cold in the game.

The Bottom Line
A great WW2 simulation game. With many vehicles to choose from and a multiplayer bonanza, this game makes a great addition to any WW2 fanatic's shelf. In fact, if you enjoy strategy, first person, or simulation games than you definitely want to check this one out. Go grab a copy of Battlefield 1942 and start waging war online or offline today!

The Good
The absolute freedom of non-linear maps is a big reason why this game is the best of all time. You don't have to follow a specific path as in Medal of Honor or Castle Wolfenstein or any other FPS I can think of. You can see up to 1.5 miles into the distance and you can spend 10-15 minutes walking from here to there. Great graphics for the sheer size of it all. The vast range of weapons and vehicles that are at your disposal is impressive. You can fly planes and bombers, man AA guns and coastal guns, captain battleships, landing crafts, and submarines, drive tanks, jeeps, transport trucks. Then you can choose from 5 types of soldiers (infantry, armor, medic, engineer, sniper). You can pick up any dead soldier's pack. (Very helpful) Huge maps. Tactics for victory are limitless. Some of the things I've seen have been really funny. An Infantry dude got on top of my tank and I didn't know he was there. When I got out of my tank to check out a building, he jumped in my tank and nailed me . Another time, an engineer left a tank with expo packs around it out in the open. When I approached, he blew the packs and killed me...and then fixed the tank and drove off..

The Bad
Really nothing, but these are some petty annoyances. The controls are clunky. You've got keyboard, mouse, and joystick for planes and you have to switch back and forth depending on what you are doing. The game crashes from time to time, but it is a rare occurrence and only bothers me when I am leading in points.or about to take a critical flag. I had fun for the first week playing single player game but soon learned the bots AI went from lobotomy to gung-ho, snipe you from a mile away with very little in between. Don't even think of flying planes in single player near AA guns. I do most of my flying practice on empty servers. The communications interface could be easier. You must have a kick ass system of at least 1ghz with 512mb memory and broadband connection. This is strictly a multi-player (online) game with single player mode for practice.

The Bottom Line
Simply the best game I've ever played. The most open-ended game I've seen and the patches and updates only continue to improve this masterpiece.

The Good
1) This game defines the world "Multiplayer".

2) The plethora of vehicles adds a whole new dimension to the word “freedom”.

3) The boundary system is very clever: instead of having an invisible wall, you have a deserter’s line.

4) The SP isn’t shabby, contrary to popular opinion, and should be defined as a very rough diamond.

The Bad
1) The single player needs buffering.

2) You will need a meaty system and internet speed to fully enjoy this game.

The Bottom Line
This game has a great multiplayer and a functional single player. Highly recommended