Battlefield 2

E3 Preview 2005

Battlefield 2 is the true sequel to Battlefield 1942, moving the game’s setting to a more modern timeline. Battlefield Vietnam came out between the two, but wasn’t a huge improvement over its predecessor – some may even argue it wasn’t quite as good. This time the series has seen a major overhaul, and should not disappoint fans of the series nor the newcomers just now realizing the joy of Battlefield.

One of the most exciting additions to Battlefield 2 is the inclusion of a new physics engine that now includes rag-doll and interactive environments. Now barrels and crates will react to explosions, and bodies will fly and crumple realistically. The rag-doll engine DICE being used is very believable; none of the deaths I saw were overdone like some games that use rag-doll physics. It’s now very satisfying to see that camper you killed go tumbling off his perch as his weapon and helmet fly off in different directions.

Other cosmetic changes are apparent in the weapons, vehicles, and levels that all take part in the fight. Being in a modern time period you will recognize (or see for the first time) many modern weaponry and gadgets in use. Many weapons serve the same purpose as their ancestors from BF 1942, but some new, very modern means of destruction include laser-guided missiles and camera-guided bombs. You can fully expect jets and choppers to make an appearance on many maps, bringing more combat to the sky as well as adding additional anti-tank support.

The two levels I was able to play both took place in small villages within a desert landscape. Heated battles took place around the flags in the villages, while many smaller skirmishes were engaged in the desert in between. A really nice feature I noticed was that I wasn’t asked which spawn point I wanted to respawn at after every death. Instead I was automatically respawned at my last choice, and if I wanted to change points all I had to do was press enter for the full map and click the next point. This helped in streamlining the respawn process.

The menus were built pretty much to Battlefield tradition; a full size map on the left with all spawn points and friendly units marked, with job choices on the right. This time, though, some jobs actually have different weapon sets. So if you like being an engineer you’re not always stuck with the shotgun. This was a very nice way to add diversity to your favorite class.

Battlefield 2 will also now feature a much deeper community. There will be a built-in friends list, a more user-friendly server browser, and even player ranking. Depending on how you do in-game you will gain “experience.” When you’ve acquired enough experience on the field your rank will go up. Battlefield will now track how many allies you heal or tanks you repair, so classes other than fighters will be recognized in battle. These actions will also help your rank.

Battlefield 2 will also feature a new Commander Mode, where one player assumes the role of commander and gives orders to other players. The commander will see the battlefield as if he were playing a strategy game. From here he gives orders to his higher officers on where to attack, send artillery strikes, or even send supply drops. His commands will only be heard by the next rank down, who then commands his squad based on the commander’s orders. The original way to play is still intact, but this new Commander Mode sounds like it will provide an exciting and realistic war simulation.

Other great features Battlefield 2 will include are voice-over IP support and the new Battlefield TV. Battlefield TV will allow players to save replay data of their last battle and then review it from any camera angle afterward. They are also planned to be less than a megabyte in size, so sharing your most amazing moments with a friend will be easy and trouble-free.

Battlefield 2 is improving not only upon itself but the entire first-person shooter genre. The game looks incredible, from the detailed soldier models to the extremely high-quality textures. The sound helps even more, and the controls are spot-on. With this game only one month away, you’d be crazy to not get excited.