Forget everything you thought the beta showed you about Battlefield 3, the game is going to give Call of Duty a run for its money.
For many console gamers, the constraints of a beta level with no vehicles and only one game mode caused lingering thoughts of whether or not Battlefield 3 would carry out what it intended to do, which was compete with Call of Duty. Having played the final product, we can assure you, it does. The combination of class-based, squad-based, FPS action and vehicular combat bring together a package that is as refreshing to fans of the Call of Duty franchise as it is to gamers who won't let go of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
Right off the bat, players will stand in awe at the new, immersive war zones that each multiplayer map constructs. The beauty of Battlefield 3 was in question for sometime, as the PC vs. console comparisons started to surface and the HD texture pack was revealed, but the game delivers. It is beautiful, there is little to no texture pop-up (although we haven't experimented with the texture pack not installed) and the environments bring battle to life.
When you first enter a game you'll be prompted with a screen familiar to any fan of the Battlefield franchise. A map of the level showing spawn points and squad member locations allows you to strategically map out which command post you want to defend or attack, or provide backup for other squad mates in need of some help. Below the map is your current class and loadout, which can be changed on the fly, in the middle of battle. This is convenient as there are dozens of weapon attachments and specializations to choose from.
The classes are the core of Battlefield 3 multiplayer, just as the other iterations before it. Players can pick between Combat Medic, Engineer, Support and Recon. Fans of Battlefield 2 will enjoy seeing the Support class back in action, but the class that is catching everyone's eye is the Combat Medic. DICE figured the players at the front lines are the guys with enough guts to run into the crossfire just to save a dying buddy, and they were right. Between the Support and Recon classes providing covering fire from afar, the Engineers defending command posts from enemy vehicles and aircraft and the Combat Medics holding the front lines while reviving and healing each other, players get a real sense of being in a unit in the middle of war.
What makes Battlefield 3 so different from the twitchy, FPS genre is its characters' weight; the intense weight of gear slows character motion, unlike the ultra-high turning sensitivity of Call of Duty characters. Even the Battlefield 3 weapons feel heavier than anything in the Call of Duty series and that's a compliment.You'll run past gunfire, artillery shells and feel the bullets and explosions nearly miss you; your character will stumble and hurdles over obstacles as he makes his way to objectives and through enemies. It's a rush that has yet to be achieved by any other game.
Vehicles are terrifying. Terrifying to the point that a whole squad will back off of a command post if an engineer isn't around or they don't have the means to take the enemy vehicle down. The game's multiplayer provides a real sense of character class roles and keeps you thinking about your next move constantly.
The highlight of the game is working, moving and carrying out orders with your squad. Playing as a lone wolf only works if you inadvertently or accidentally get help from nearby players. You wouldn't have run out of ammo had you jumped into a squad with someone playing a support class, you may have been revived had you jumped into the squad with a combat medic and so on and so forth. There are no Rambos here. In fact, you get the most points when working with and helping others. Meaning, the player who went 20-0 may not be the MVP if someone else was capturing command posts or throwing out health or ammo packs the entire game. Battlefield 3 encourages teamwork and strategic planning, and it is exactly what the FPS genre needs.
Due to time restraints, the single-player portion of our review will be up shortly, but Battlefield 3's multiplayer portion needed to be reviewed immediately. The new Frostbite 2 engine brings scenery, environments, destruction and immersion to a whole new level, and the gunplay and teamwork push Battlefield 3 over the top.
Version Tested: Xbox 360
