Battlefield: Bad Company

by Thomas Kerr - 2008/05/15 1:26pm

When you think "Battlefield", you think online multiplayer, but "Battlefield: Bad Company" looks to give a lot more bang for your buck this time around. Of course, DICE are experienced in making successful online games like the Battlefield series for the PC. However, they are trying to appeal to a much larger audience on this occasion.

With it's predecessor "Battlefield 2: Modern Combat", Bad Company does not have big shoes to fill in this respect, although with all the hype and press it has been receiving, people will have greater expectations.

EA's recent spring break press event was a success with atendees being treated to the second chapter in the single player campaign named: "Acta Non Verba" which is the United States Marines' motto meaning "Act, Don't talk".

It takes place in what looks to be Eastern Europe, similar to the map they had on display in the multiplayer beta. For the most part, the singleplayer campaign doesn't differentiate much from the multiplayer, like Unreal Tournament 3. The enemy AI is extremely intelligent and difficult to play against, but to compensate for this, the developers at DICE have implemented respawns in the single player campaign. The player respawns at a nearby location with all the area damage you have inflicted still in the same state.

As health does not regenerate in this game, the classes come in handy here, having medic in mind. There are no health packs to pick up so you will have to heal yourself.

The freedom in the game is something rarely talked about as there are preset objectives you need to complete. However, you choose the method of transport and the way you go about reaching your goal. You may want to lug it on foot or you may want to take a vehicle with your squad members manning the mounted guns. This is where DICE have opted to help the player by making the squad appear in the vehicle automatically, regardless of their distance from you. As we all know it can be a major irritation when NPC's try to get in a vehicle with you. The game is shaping up to be one of the big hitters of 2008.



Battlefield: Bad Company will be released on June 23rd, with additional free downloadable content to follow in the near future, featuring the conquest mode from the classic Battlefield games.