
All the E3 and Gamecon demos where on top grade PCs running with more power than the PS4 and XBOXone combined. So I wasnt expecting miracles from the beta running on PS3 and XBOX360.
Sadly after the first few seconds of playing I was able to witness the Skyscraper come stumbling down into the bay. And yes, it looks good and changes the map as promised. But it lacked, scope, atmosphere. "The OMG the worlds going to end" shriek as players run for their lives from it.
There is just enough to warrant the extra numerical number after the title, but barely. BF4 plays as BF3, there's no other way of putting it. Its BF3 with a fresh lick of paint with a massive dynamic effect thrown in. Added to this the change with controller buttons and the norm now becomes alien. Spot has been moved to R2, and by holding said button brings up a menu to shout for Ammo, health packs, shout for a ride, hello, sorry and how's your day soldier? only thing missing is high five and group hug. Melee has been changed to acomidate any would be COD players looking for a change of pace and driving has been altered to match Master Cheifs Warhog.
All this sound bad, why change the controls that veterans are happy with, why risk alienating them. Well speaking from a Sony point of view, there's a damn good reason why! The new PS4 controller has NO SELECT BUTTON. So DICE have had no option but to move stuff around. And lets be honest, after a few days we'll be cursing the old BF3 controls "if" and "when" we go back to it. It will take time to learn the new controls and maps as with any game, just expect the random grenade thrown if your in a lift with me and no way to escape.!
The few improvements are not bad, swimming now allows us to dive underwater, swim faster and use our pistol and the small dynamic options in-game are very useful. the lifts, closing shutters on shops and bollards to stop enemy vehicles. And yes they do work. I managed to wedge my tank with a bollard inserted into my chassis, I quietly walked away, hiding my face and name-tag from my squad mates as the thing was going NO WHERE....!
The menus and soldier customisation is a mess, not as bad as MOH Warfighter, but its certainly looks confusing. Hopefully as attachments become unlocked it will open up and make more sense. The other game mode with Conquest is Domination. This is Close Quarters DLC and COD coming together to make Battlefield franchise what it isn't. 3 flags in close proximity and all hell breaking loose with everyone running around like headless chickens, im sorry DICE. I know you want to have a place COD people can play, but it just doesn't work with this game. TDM didn't work in BF3, If we want to play COD, we'll go and play COD.
The beta is a massive disappointment. From watching videos on YouTube, trailers and demos. It sells us this fantastic game with changing weather, and BOATS...! Where's the f*****g boats on the Beta...? oh, yes with the PS4 version...! This game was designed and made for the PS4 and XBOXone. its been scaled back and ported to the PS3 and 360. If you want the experience we've been promised and sold, get it for PC or either next gen console.