Battlefield 4
Developer: Dice
Publisher: EA
Release Date: 01/11/2013
Format: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox360, XboxOne
Another year, another battle of the First Person shooters between two of the biggest names in computer gaming. Activision playing on the idea of an old favourite character returning, to win people over and EA after scrapping Medal of Honour, go with the same company that saw them become main stream two years ago. Dice has a massive following and not only just on PC anymore. Battlefield 3 proved that a game with a massive scope of online multiplayer, mixing vehicles and soldier gameplay on large open maps can work. Only 2 years have passed since there grand master piece, could they create lighting a second time?
The game is divided into two separate components as you would expect. The online multiplayer has always been Dice’s ace in the hole. They’ve been doing this for a long time now and have perfected it many times over the years, only really tweaking the same winning formula. But the single player campaign has always let them down, BF3 tried to rectify this with a compelling story of WMDs and quick time events. Something new for the FPS genre, it was solid gameplay but lacked heart and atmosphere.
This year they have accepted the single player weakness and tried to rectify the problem with using the same mechanics from the online to sort it all out. Without the characters talking and the cut-scenes you would easily mistake the offline for the online. Dice have pushed hard with their talk of Levolution in the build-up to release, “devastating events that massively alter the battlefield”. These are true and do as promised, but only really do you notice them when playing online. But I’ll get to that later. Single player puts you in Levoution events itself, falling buildings, sinking Aircraft Carriers and collapsing dams, it's all impressive to watch. But it just serves as an epic moment like from any other Uncharted or Call of Duty.
The gameplay mechanics as said before is straight from the online, most will go un-noticed but it’s the little things that give it away. The Spot button has been transferred from Select(PS3) to tapping R2 to make the function easier (mainly for online play) single player it works the same way. It highlights targets for your squad to attack, you can also bring out your IR goggles (by holding R2) and scan an area, this will put the recognised red triangles above every enemy head and marks them on your mini-map. It also marks ammo crates and explosive barrels to help rid your enemies quicker. This does feel like cheating as in real life people don’t walk around with triangles above their heads, but it’s a now recognised way of giving players the edge in recent games. They will remain marked until they are killed and you are allowed to move to the next area.
Publisher: EA
Release Date: 01/11/2013
Format: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox360, XboxOne
Another year, another battle of the First Person shooters between two of the biggest names in computer gaming. Activision playing on the idea of an old favourite character returning, to win people over and EA after scrapping Medal of Honour, go with the same company that saw them become main stream two years ago. Dice has a massive following and not only just on PC anymore. Battlefield 3 proved that a game with a massive scope of online multiplayer, mixing vehicles and soldier gameplay on large open maps can work. Only 2 years have passed since there grand master piece, could they create lighting a second time?
The game is divided into two separate components as you would expect. The online multiplayer has always been Dice’s ace in the hole. They’ve been doing this for a long time now and have perfected it many times over the years, only really tweaking the same winning formula. But the single player campaign has always let them down, BF3 tried to rectify this with a compelling story of WMDs and quick time events. Something new for the FPS genre, it was solid gameplay but lacked heart and atmosphere.
This year they have accepted the single player weakness and tried to rectify the problem with using the same mechanics from the online to sort it all out. Without the characters talking and the cut-scenes you would easily mistake the offline for the online. Dice have pushed hard with their talk of Levolution in the build-up to release, “devastating events that massively alter the battlefield”. These are true and do as promised, but only really do you notice them when playing online. But I’ll get to that later. Single player puts you in Levoution events itself, falling buildings, sinking Aircraft Carriers and collapsing dams, it's all impressive to watch. But it just serves as an epic moment like from any other Uncharted or Call of Duty.
The gameplay mechanics as said before is straight from the online, most will go un-noticed but it’s the little things that give it away. The Spot button has been transferred from Select(PS3) to tapping R2 to make the function easier (mainly for online play) single player it works the same way. It highlights targets for your squad to attack, you can also bring out your IR goggles (by holding R2) and scan an area, this will put the recognised red triangles above every enemy head and marks them on your mini-map. It also marks ammo crates and explosive barrels to help rid your enemies quicker. This does feel like cheating as in real life people don’t walk around with triangles above their heads, but it’s a now recognised way of giving players the edge in recent games. They will remain marked until they are killed and you are allowed to move to the next area.
Like any other FPS, point and shot
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Frostbite 3, is built for next gen consoles and looks stunning
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Vehicles, more so the tanks provide the biggest give away to Dice overplaying the online with the single player campaign. With online battles between two evenly matched Tanks, one will win but the other will be badly damaged and must wait to be repaired before continuing, it’s the same here. One section will see you laying waste to several enemy Infantry fighting Vehicles (IFVs) no problem for a M1 Abrams battle Tank, but when you face three T99 battle Tanks. The odds are quickly stacked against you, as you may survive two but not three within quick succession. And it’s not like you can hop out and use a repair torch either. Weapon damage is also another copied factor; sniper rifles require a headshot to be a one hit kill and assault rifles need 5 bullet hits to be lethal at range. Online its annoying, but trying to nail the 10 odd people shooting at you with the scope shaking (due to suppression) all over the place it almost becomes unplayable, It’s an idea that works to paper, but when you face uncountable enemy odds, you need that extra bit of help to proceed and keep the game moving forward. That being said, it is nice to have the points show up with every kill and being awarded extra for multi-kills and headshots. The whole idea being so you can compare scores with friends and unlock in game weapons and assignments. At the various ammo crates you can select to use any two weapons you have unlocked, this is great, developers listing to feed back. Giving us the option and not having to rely on the weapon you are given, suitable or not. Everyone has their own play style and favourite weapon, this game caters for most long and short range tactics to be used. Trouble is the first time you play; you have very little to choose from. As you collect weapons by either completing the score assignments or finding them on the ground the more you unlock. But they have set attachments, so while some will be tooled up to the nines, with torches and grips others will just be stock with nothing but iron sights. It’s great they added the choice, but why not allow you to pick your attachments too? Annoying at the beginning of the next mission and sometimes half way thou, you will default back to the original load out and you must choose your weapons again. Why not save the ones you finished the last mission with?
There are several areas where you can try and engage the enemy quietly; these are only really pointed out by your squad leading to the set area. But like earlier Assassins Creed games, there is no real landscape or path to successfully pull this off and if spotted the whole thing easily ends in your death. They have tried to copy the successful stealth detection from Far Cay3 and Hitman Absolution, a white indicator replaces the usual red hit indicator and gains in brightness the more chance you have of being spotted. However, this is where any similarities stop. Crouching, standing or even running makes no difference to being heard. And even standing in bright light they will walk straight past you. On the flip side, they can magically spot you a mile away in the shadows. Only once in two play troughs did I manage to successfully pull off killing everyone quietly and this just involved me running to each guy with his back conveniently in my direction and placing my knife into the guys neck as I took his Dog tags.
The Story itself is pointless and only serves to supply more people to shoot. You play as a Marine only known as Recker, the only mute in the Navy, (seriously you say nothing the entire campaign) Part of the Tombstone squad you travel to several places across the short 7 mission campaign including Baku, Singapore and the Kunlun Mountains. A good portion of the game is also spent aboard your home ship the Amphibious assault carrier USS Valkyrie. (including a boing 5mintue walk thou the decks trying to find your squad). Dice have tried taking a leaf from Danger Close’s books and make us care about our characters and giving them personalities we can relate too. Unfortunately, they end up just bickering and complaining the entire campaign, thankfully most of this is limited to cut-scenes or the annoying down-time so the story can play out. When the fighting is actually happening they will shut up and say “nice shot” and “area clear” instead.
There are several areas where you can try and engage the enemy quietly; these are only really pointed out by your squad leading to the set area. But like earlier Assassins Creed games, there is no real landscape or path to successfully pull this off and if spotted the whole thing easily ends in your death. They have tried to copy the successful stealth detection from Far Cay3 and Hitman Absolution, a white indicator replaces the usual red hit indicator and gains in brightness the more chance you have of being spotted. However, this is where any similarities stop. Crouching, standing or even running makes no difference to being heard. And even standing in bright light they will walk straight past you. On the flip side, they can magically spot you a mile away in the shadows. Only once in two play troughs did I manage to successfully pull off killing everyone quietly and this just involved me running to each guy with his back conveniently in my direction and placing my knife into the guys neck as I took his Dog tags.
The Story itself is pointless and only serves to supply more people to shoot. You play as a Marine only known as Recker, the only mute in the Navy, (seriously you say nothing the entire campaign) Part of the Tombstone squad you travel to several places across the short 7 mission campaign including Baku, Singapore and the Kunlun Mountains. A good portion of the game is also spent aboard your home ship the Amphibious assault carrier USS Valkyrie. (including a boing 5mintue walk thou the decks trying to find your squad). Dice have tried taking a leaf from Danger Close’s books and make us care about our characters and giving them personalities we can relate too. Unfortunately, they end up just bickering and complaining the entire campaign, thankfully most of this is limited to cut-scenes or the annoying down-time so the story can play out. When the fighting is actually happening they will shut up and say “nice shot” and “area clear” instead.
BF4 has much improved CQB from its predecessor
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Levoution, its the future of gaming
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All tone and feel of the single player is lost, any heart we try to feel is quickly shone the door and slammed shut. Any sombre music is left to deaf ears; the only good sound coming from this game are the weapons. Dice have always prided themselves with giving us weapons that feel and sound good. This is no exception, but it’s a small thing compared to the mess that is the campaign. To add more insult to injury is the decision you must make to finish the game, I won’t spoil what happens, but when the time comes, when you must make a difficult choice. You won’t care less. Avoid making a decision and a third “ending” is shone. But trust me, whatever you decide it adds no real drama to the game. And just sums up the entire 6hour story. What was the point?
Thankfully, the online is something Dice have got right. It is a copy and paste from battlefield 3, no one can’t with argue that. But with the addition of the Levoution events it does mix things up. That being said, they aren’t all as impressive as the Skyscraper collapsing as seen at E3. Some will affect the entire map, with a levee busting and the entire water level rising, while most only affect one conquest flag point. They can be set off at almost any time, with players blowing up the right spot, they happen things get crushed and that’s about it. It looks good and has the desired effect, but it lacks atmosphere, the “oh my god that Dam has burst” and people running for their lives. People will stand a watch the events happen the first time and after that it becomes the norm, almost forgotten about on some maps. There are also some nice smaller addictions added to each map, interactions that also alter the playing field. Closing shutters on shops around a conquest point, or raising bollards on a road to stop vehicles. These are great ideas and implemented well, just unfortunately often overlooked by players.
The wheel hasn’t been re-invented here, the battlefield series knows who its target audience is and will always please them. They are still adamant however on trying to please the other half of the FPS community aswell, by providing tight and Close Quarter maps and modes. I will say, I am constantly impressed how Dice have upped their game when talking Call of Duty and I think many of those people will give this a second thought. But, battlefield is all about the open maps and the balancing of Infantry and vehicle combat. Anything less than that and it doesn't feel like Battlefield. A new game mode is included, and Obliteration is an interesting one. 3 bases on each team and only one bomb. The result is everyone heading for the permanently marked bomb and destroying the enemy bases while defending your own. It works to a point, but needs tweaking if it’s going to compete with the standard Conquest and Rush modes.
Thankfully, the online is something Dice have got right. It is a copy and paste from battlefield 3, no one can’t with argue that. But with the addition of the Levoution events it does mix things up. That being said, they aren’t all as impressive as the Skyscraper collapsing as seen at E3. Some will affect the entire map, with a levee busting and the entire water level rising, while most only affect one conquest flag point. They can be set off at almost any time, with players blowing up the right spot, they happen things get crushed and that’s about it. It looks good and has the desired effect, but it lacks atmosphere, the “oh my god that Dam has burst” and people running for their lives. People will stand a watch the events happen the first time and after that it becomes the norm, almost forgotten about on some maps. There are also some nice smaller addictions added to each map, interactions that also alter the playing field. Closing shutters on shops around a conquest point, or raising bollards on a road to stop vehicles. These are great ideas and implemented well, just unfortunately often overlooked by players.
The wheel hasn’t been re-invented here, the battlefield series knows who its target audience is and will always please them. They are still adamant however on trying to please the other half of the FPS community aswell, by providing tight and Close Quarter maps and modes. I will say, I am constantly impressed how Dice have upped their game when talking Call of Duty and I think many of those people will give this a second thought. But, battlefield is all about the open maps and the balancing of Infantry and vehicle combat. Anything less than that and it doesn't feel like Battlefield. A new game mode is included, and Obliteration is an interesting one. 3 bases on each team and only one bomb. The result is everyone heading for the permanently marked bomb and destroying the enemy bases while defending your own. It works to a point, but needs tweaking if it’s going to compete with the standard Conquest and Rush modes.
Online is what you would expect form DICE
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New Commander Mode, offers a birds eye view of the battlefield in real time
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While the various classes have seen tweaks here and there another addiction are Battlepacks, similar to the Septure packs from Mass Effect 3, once unlocked by ranking up or (purchased in-game for a certain fee) these offer a selection of random weapon attachments, cammos and XP boosts. Dice promise that no one can benefit to give them the advantage and most they unlock are other variations of normally unlocked sights, grips and lasers. It looks like another way for EA to grab more money from its players. They are however, completely optional and there only should you feel the need to splash the cash. Another new helpful addiction is the training ground. BF3 players complained there was nowhere to try out new weapons and practice flying without annoying gamers in an actual match. Here you can test fly any aircraft and try out all the new vehicles land and sea, while practising your aim before heading online.
Battlefield 4 is a bench mark for the next generation of consoles and while PC gamers will not see the difference, going from current to next gen does improve this title. Both PS4 and XboxOne will see their Battlefield game match the size and scope of the PC version. Offering full 64 players and all vehicles unlocked, while running at 60 frames per second. That is not to say the PS3 and Xbox360 versions are a let-down, they still run surprisingly smooth but at only 30 frames p/s and smaller 32 player battles. Another addiction is the Commander Mode, this allows each team to have one man to prove communication between the whole team, issuing orders and relaying information. While proving radar, supply drops and cruise missiles. It looks more of a fad that an actual useful tool as it relies on everyone working together and as much as Dice what, it simply doesn’t happen.
Battlefield 4 looks and plays well on all its various formats, The new Frostbite 3 engine looks truly gorgeous and the dynamic weather effects gives it some punch. Next gen machines and PC will see BF4 it’s all its intended glory while current consoles will get a scaled back copy. Do not buy for the campaign alone, it is one of the worst in recent times, bad story, bugs and glitches are in abundance. With characters you just wish they would die from enemy fire, the copying of the online multiplayer onto the campaign doesn’t work as intended. It makes the game feel just like the online multi-player, losing any sense of realism and care they want us to have for it. With no grand stand out, must play mission, they all blur into one mush. Do buy for the online thou. It may not match the impact of BF3 two years, but all the new addictions makes BF3 look like a trial run. Some questions over game modes and the new battlepacks otherwise this is a solid FPS that will entertain dedicated fans of the series and may entice others as well, as they will feel at home here too.
NOTE: My score below only reflects how bad the single player is, an average score of both off and online. This is another example that Dice really should only concentrate on their Online games and leave Single player campaign alone it does dampen their overall score.
Battlefield 4 is a bench mark for the next generation of consoles and while PC gamers will not see the difference, going from current to next gen does improve this title. Both PS4 and XboxOne will see their Battlefield game match the size and scope of the PC version. Offering full 64 players and all vehicles unlocked, while running at 60 frames per second. That is not to say the PS3 and Xbox360 versions are a let-down, they still run surprisingly smooth but at only 30 frames p/s and smaller 32 player battles. Another addiction is the Commander Mode, this allows each team to have one man to prove communication between the whole team, issuing orders and relaying information. While proving radar, supply drops and cruise missiles. It looks more of a fad that an actual useful tool as it relies on everyone working together and as much as Dice what, it simply doesn’t happen.
Battlefield 4 looks and plays well on all its various formats, The new Frostbite 3 engine looks truly gorgeous and the dynamic weather effects gives it some punch. Next gen machines and PC will see BF4 it’s all its intended glory while current consoles will get a scaled back copy. Do not buy for the campaign alone, it is one of the worst in recent times, bad story, bugs and glitches are in abundance. With characters you just wish they would die from enemy fire, the copying of the online multiplayer onto the campaign doesn’t work as intended. It makes the game feel just like the online multi-player, losing any sense of realism and care they want us to have for it. With no grand stand out, must play mission, they all blur into one mush. Do buy for the online thou. It may not match the impact of BF3 two years, but all the new addictions makes BF3 look like a trial run. Some questions over game modes and the new battlepacks otherwise this is a solid FPS that will entertain dedicated fans of the series and may entice others as well, as they will feel at home here too.
NOTE: My score below only reflects how bad the single player is, an average score of both off and online. This is another example that Dice really should only concentrate on their Online games and leave Single player campaign alone it does dampen their overall score.
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+ Same grand online,
+ Levoution, + Better CQB aspect. - Unimaginative single player, - Battlepacks, - Needs to be played on PC or next gen to enjoy as intended. |
7/10
Chris Sowry |
Irish and Hannah reflect on a mission.....not so well done!
road to 100%
Dice follow up their 2011 smash hit Battlefield 3 with the
surprisingly titled Battlefield 4. But could the platinum elude me like its
predecessor? A quick glance at the
trophy list and to my pleasure no co-op was including in this title, that’s what
halted my progress last time. But working though the list you notice a lot of
point based achievements for the single player with a few online multiplayer
ones thrown in for good measure.
First up, was a play thought on normal difficulty to enjoy what I could of the single player campaign, without worrying about collectables or getting those high scores. This netted me the usual story related trophy’s like Fishing in Baku and Guns at dawn. I collected a few dog tags and collectibles weapons unlocking the nicely titled It was along the way. With the story done it was time for my second playthough on the hardest difficulty and with youtube by my side, collect all the various dog tags and extra weapons. With already knowing the game, finishing it on hard and earning Tombstone wasn’t that difficult. But even with finding all the collectibles, Recon didn’t unlock
First up, was a play thought on normal difficulty to enjoy what I could of the single player campaign, without worrying about collectables or getting those high scores. This netted me the usual story related trophy’s like Fishing in Baku and Guns at dawn. I collected a few dog tags and collectibles weapons unlocking the nicely titled It was along the way. With the story done it was time for my second playthough on the hardest difficulty and with youtube by my side, collect all the various dog tags and extra weapons. With already knowing the game, finishing it on hard and earning Tombstone wasn’t that difficult. But even with finding all the collectibles, Recon didn’t unlock
The trophy is bugged, but will unlock once you restart another
level. I still needed a most the mission specific trophy’s and these are much
easier when done on easiest difficulty. Well
placed, Wrecker and War turtle are all easy just
requiring a certain play style to achieve.
The high score trophies can be pain to get, some I didn’t get though on
either play though. Storm bringer was the toughest out the lot. YOU have to kill
virtually every enemy in the level and use several XP boost tactics. I only
just cleared the 20,000 points in the last section. Once all these where done I still needed patience
is a virtue, experience all 3 endings in the campaign. Luckily this
level isn’t long and with making sure I didn’t pick either option as before
with my normal or hard play though. It was bagged.
Online is where battlefield games thrive. Turn around was my first to unlock,
by performing 5 dog tag kills in Multiplayer.
Then it was a case on playing every game mode on offer to get Won
them all. Bomb Squad was tricky,
you need to plant and destroy 5 bombs in the new game mode Obliteration. You
need a decent team or squad and just to concentrate on the bomb itself. It’s
too easy to get distracted, grab yourself a fast vehicle and race to the
objective. Performing 45 kills with the M1911 handgun, did take some grinding.
I played on the Domination game mode, for close quarter action and plenty of kills.
Not forgetting to use the XP boosts from battlepacks. These greatly level up
your primary weapons and handguns faster. Once the M1911 is unlocked, It was just
simply getting 45 kills with it for the trophy .45 old school. Reaching
rank 25 took time, but Battlefiled 4 online is very enjoyable especially with
friends. Call me “sir” was the last trophy I unlocked before my Platinum.
Chris Sowry
Chris Sowry
most fun
Well placed - Get 10 kills with C4 in the Baku mission in the Campaign
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MOST difficult
Stormbringer - Obtain 20,000 points in the Singapore mission in the Campaign.
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MOST TIME consuming
Call me "Sir" - Reach Rank 25 Online
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best titled
Stumbled over it - Find 3 collectibles in the Campaign
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