Video Game Review: Battlefield 1 - PEW PEW On A Massive Scale

Developer EA DICE
Publisher Electronic Arts
Distributor Prima Interactive
Where we got our copy Prima Interactive
Genre FPS
Game modes Single Player, Multiplayer
Reviewed on Playstation 4

Available on PC, Xbox One

Stunt

Published October 25, 2016

The Battlefield series has come a long way, breaking new ground in innovation and gameplay mechanics while producing some of the best warfare gameplay available to gamers today.

The series, like most, has suffered some unfortunate launches of late, mostly driven by poor decisions like trying to mimic the competition and appeal to their fanbases while still trying to keep their hardcore fans happy. This was especially evident in the release of their previous game, Battlefield 4, where some players were plagued with game breaking bugs for as long as 8 months after release. The release itself was appalling, to say the least.

Fortunately for EA and DICE, they managed to take a step back and warrant their community with the technical attention they deserved. Releasing a series of free maps and DLC to lighten the blow, while simultaneously fixing all their issues and introducing an opt-in community environment where future patches could be tested on large scale, in an effort to avoid game-breaking problems. It says a lot about a developer when they own up to their errors and manage to take a step back to re-evaluate their direction.

This is most apparent in their latest release, Battlefield 1, where EA and Dice have taken a step back, not only into the World War 1-era, but into greatness by bringing us a Warfare shooter like nothing we’ve experienced before.

For the first time since Bad Company 2, a Battlefield single player campaign is a lot more alluring than we’ve been accustomed to. Being a pivotal part of the Battlefield 1 build this time round, it not only introduces the player to the dynamic of the game in preparation for the Multiplayer – Where we, admittedly, spend the majority of our play time – it does so with a series of vignettes covering the experiences of 5 protagonists and their individual stories in this Great War. Without spoiling anything, what must be praised is how well they’ve managed to capture the experience in the campaigns. Telling magnificent tails of hardship and loss that not only makes you care to carry on, but it makes you care about your characters. That is almost unchartered territory for the Battlefield series and capturing the losses of war simply emphasises this fantastic achievement as it had me, personally, feel the tragedy of the War.

As glorious as the Single Player campaign might be, we all know the true substance that makes a Battlefield game what it is, lays in the Multiplayer.

From the sun-drenched deserts of Sinai desert to the Venetian Alps in Monte Grappa, the variety and scale of the maps have been perfectly crafted for the massive battles we’ve come to love in the series. There is a sense of flow and balance which makes each map feel not only fresh but fair.

The new destruction engine which surpasses the likes of BF3 and BF4 coupled with dynamic and visually pleasing weather effects, from rain and fog to maddening dust storms, each and every battle experienced on the 9 available maps feels unique.

Gone are the days of levolution, a poor concept with limited creativity that was rarely exercised and in the event that it was, was either frowned upon on so unaffecting is would go unnoticed. To replace this empty space Battlefield 1 introduces 2 metas that can change the tide of battles in an instant:

The first are a range of Elite classes which can be picked up and equipped at various points on each map.

The Flame Trooper is a fire and gas resistant soldier wielding a flame thrower that completely fries squadrons of troops in an instant.

The Sentry a human tank, covered in plate armour and a headshot resistant helmet capable of cutting through large groups with his water-cooler machine gun.

And lastly, the Tank Hunter, a Tankgewehr donning beast capable of obliterating vehicles at great distances.

http://www.geeknode.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Battlefield_1_Gif1.mp4

The second meta brings us 3 behemoths, the largest vehicles yet in a Battlefield game. Primarily dispatched to support a wavering army, these colossal Behemoths are player controlled Airships, Battleships and Armored Trains equipped with weapons of terrifying destruction. Each deployed on maps that complement their power and versatility, they serve as a last resort for pushing back and possibly winning a losing battle.

Sporting the usual 5 classes, with a twist this time round, players can dive right in and enjoy their favourite rolls accompanied by accurately modeled weapons of the era praised with the audio quality we’ve come to expect from a Battlefield game. From the troubling cries of soldiers being burned alive to token impact of hitting a target with your bayonet. Battlefield 1 eerily captures an atmosphere of both panic and precision with splendour.

Lacking a dedicated Engineer kit this time round, players have access to the Assault kit, which has become the anti-vehicle class this time around armed with SMG’s and explosives; The beloved Medic kit, a more persistent but fundamentally unchanged class rocking DMR’s and reviving/healing utilities; The familiar support kit, now repairing vehicles alongside covering fire and overhead support; And the Scout class, the ranged camper, ever hated but just as necessary.

In place of the engineer class, we have the Tanker or Pilot class respective of the vehicle you decide to spawn in. When deploying into a plane or tank, the vehicle is your primary weapon, and you fully embrace the role of the crewman, donning less or at times more powerful weapons and a more realistic purpose. This only happens when you spawn in a vehicle, as jumping into a vehicle after having spawned as an Assault class for example, will have you remain one once you jump out again.

http://www.geeknode.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Battlefield_1_Gif2.mp4

Talking about vehicles and weapons. Battlefield 1 features a smaller range of weapons and vehicles than the previous games, in part of historical accuracy and for better balance. Most classes only have 4 primary weapons, each with up to 3 variants. All uniquely modified for specific circumstances, be it longer range, better stability or hip fire, the smaller selection seemed odd at first given past games, but it made more sense as you unlock them and realise how vastly different they are.

Battlefield 1 is by far the best looking, playing and sounding game the series have ever produced. Running magnificently on all consoles and “gloriously” on PC, Your platform of choice matters not, as you’re in for a treat! As previously mentioned a more granular destruction engine and gorgeous world elements including beautiful weather and mechanical effects make Battlefield 1, one of the greatest FPS games to ever grace our screens. Supported by a stable launch and solid servers, it’s a definite must-have for veterans of the series and new comers alike.

The Battlefield series has come a long way, breaking new ground in innovation and gameplay mechanics while producing some of the best warfare gameplay available to gamers today. The series, like most, has suffered some unfortunate launches of late, mostly driven by poor decisions like trying to mimic the competition and appeal to their fanbases while still trying to keep their hardcore fans happy. This was especially evident in the release of their previous game, Battlefield 4, where some players were plagued with game breaking bugs for as long as 8 months after release. The release itself was appalling, to say the least. Fortunately for EA and DICE, they managed to take a step back and warrant their community with the technical attention they deserved. Releasing a series of free maps and DLC to lighten the blow, while simultaneously fixing all their issues and introducing an opt-in community environment where future patches could be tested on large scale, in an effort to avoid game-breaking problems. It says a lot about a developer when they own up to their errors and manage to take a step back to re-evaluate their direction. This is most apparent in their latest release, Battlefield 1, where EA and Dice have taken a step back, not only into the World War 1-era, but into greatness by bringing us a Warfare shooter like nothing we’ve experienced before. For the first time since Bad Company 2, a Battlefield single player campaign is a lot more alluring than we’ve been accustomed to. Being a pivotal part of the Battlefield 1 build this time round, it not only introduces the player to the dynamic of the game in preparation for the Multiplayer – Where we, admittedly, spend the majority of our play time – it does so with a series of vignettes covering the experiences of 5 protagonists and their individual stories in this Great War. Without spoiling anything, what must be praised is how well they’ve managed to capture the experience in the campaigns. Telling magnificent tails of hardship and loss that not only makes you care to carry on, but it makes you care about your characters. That is almost unchartered territory for the Battlefield series and capturing the losses of war simply emphasises this fantastic achievement as it had me, personally, feel the tragedy of the War. As glorious as the Single Player campaign might be, we all know the true substance that makes a Battlefield game what it is, lays in the Multiplayer. From the sun-drenched deserts of Sinai desert to the Venetian Alps in Monte Grappa, the variety and scale of the maps have been perfectly crafted for the massive battles we’ve come to love in the series. There is a sense of flow and balance which makes each map feel not only fresh but fair. The new destruction engine which surpasses the likes of BF3 and BF4 coupled with dynamic and visually pleasing weather effects, from rain and fog to maddening dust storms, each and every…

Video Game Review: Battlefield 1 – PEW PEW On A Massive Scale

2016-10-25

Stunt

Total

90 90

EA and Dice have re-established the glory of their Battlefield series, by bringing us beautiful environments, balanced play and a variety of well-crafted mechanics, we can once again create our own adventures and stories as we charge in head first with 63 of our peers in search of the greatest Battlefield Moments.

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Stunt

Gaming Editor / Tech Author at Geek Node

Some say that he sees the world at 144 frames per second and his thumbs are actual analog sticks. All we know is he's called Stunt.