Battlefield 3 Review

4 out of 5 stars

Developed by Digital Illusions CE (DICE), the latest installment in the Battlefield series will go head to head with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 this holiday season. The question is, does Battlefield 3 stand as a good game on its own merits?

Using the latest graphical engine in their arsenal, DICE has updated and polished the graphics in Battlefield 3 to a whole new level. The game is a visual treat from grassy parks to the war torn cities, and the lighting effects are simply stunning.

However, some odd glitches seen in the beta release of Battlefield 3 still remain in the final build. These include some minor clipping issues and environmental misplacements. Fortunately, the game-breaking bugs found in the beta have been removed.

The graphics on the console ports are noticeably of lower resolution, but the detailed environments are still worth looking at. Character animations are generally solid, and the AI characters in the single player campaign are dynamic and fluid.

The Battlefield series’ claim to fame has always been its online multiplayer, and Battlefield 3 seeks to be the pinnacle of online shooters. Continuing the tradition of class-based multiplayer, players will find themselves in both attack and support roles whether they are on foot or in a vehicle.

The experience varies depending on a player’s preferred style; gamers can choose to snipe enemies from across the map, reign terror from the sky, or go up close and personal with a combat knife.

Individual player scores are decided on how well a player performs their role rather than simply getting kills on the enemy teams. Players are rewarded for supporting their allies whether it be healing a teammate or repairing a friendly tank.

The maps in Battlefield 3 are massive and expansive, which in turn offers players the freedom to choose how they wish to play. Jet fighters are seen soaring overhead, and explosions will tear through apartment complexes where opposing players have holed up.

The sound design is also excellent, matching the quality of the visuals. From the muffled gunfire of a distant fight to the deafening explosions that rock the subway tunnels, Battlefield 3 offers great incentive to turn the volume up.

The console versions are slightly slower paced with fewer players allowed in one match, but this doesn’t hurt the online gameplay. DICE helped balance the consoles’ lower player cap by tightening up the experience. Each map has fewer objectives, drawing everyone closer to the action.

Although a strong multiplayer focus has always defined the Battlefield series, DICE introduced single player campaigns with the spin-off Battlefield: Bad Company series.

However, while the two Bad Company titles presented their campaigns with a mix of satirical humor and grim realism, Battlefield 3 is serious business through and through. The story is uses familiar war themes involving terrorists and weapons of mass destruction, but the presentation remains tense and draws the player in.

The biggest drawback to Battlefield 3‘s campaign is its limited scope. Aside from some memorable and impressive set pieces, the player is ushered from firefight to firefight without fully utilizing the range of experiences offered in the multiplayer mode.

Destructible environments are fewer and far between, making the campaign a linear experience. Vehicle usage is limited, and a huge opportunity is missed when players are stuck in the backseat of a jet fighter, instead of actually piloting the aircraft.

The campaign in Battlefield 3 had the potential to deliver one of the best first person shooter experiences seen thus far, but opts instead to ape the formula used by its competition.

As a result of these shortcomings, the Battlefield 3 single player campaign is a disappointment compared to the milestones the online multiplayer has achieved. The solo experience is short and limited in scale.

Overall, Battlefield 3 is still a spectacular package, and DICE has put a lot of work into making the title stand far above previous installments in the franchise. It’s unfortunate that the single player doesn’t live up to the rest of the game, seeing as all the pieces were there to make a truly unique and riveting experience for players to enjoy.

As it stands, few other first person shooters have met this level of balance between impressive visuals, map and sound design, and online gameplay. The Battlefield 3 multiplayer has been upgraded and pushed beyond expectations, and fans of the series will no doubt be pleased.