By Nicholas Velillari | Observer Contributor
Battlefield 1 is the new first person shooter released by EA and Dice and is the sequel/prequel to Battlefield 4. With most shooters sticking with a futuristic/modern setting, BF1 is going back in time, focusing on World War 1.
The draw to Battlefield games is their multiplayer and in BF1 the multiplayer is the best it’s been since Battlefield 3. At launch, there are six modes to play: Conquest, Rush, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and two new modes called War Pigeons and Operations.
Conquest is still the classic 64 player mode, but with a new points system implemented along with killing the enemy team. Domination is good for 32 player combat for those looking to steer clear of 64 players. Rush is still a decent attack/defend struggle, but it’s been limited to 24 players. Not only that, but it’s overshadowed by the new game mode, Operations.
Operations is a 40-64 player mode that pits an attacking team against a defending team. The attackers have to capture zones and push the defenders across the map. If they succeed, the game then switches to another map where they have to attack again. If the defenders can’t hold out on the 2-3 map sets, then they lose. However, the attackers have 3 battalions (150 reinforcements each) to attack. The game mode is extremely addictive and it actually feels like you’re in a warzone.
The map design is also unique and diverse. They range from Sinai Desert, a massive middle-eastern location featuring sand dunes and central village, to Argonne Forest, a small infantry focused map littered with trenches. Each map has a well designed shape of pathing and it’s very refreshing. Much better than the symmetrical shape that BF4 maps relied on.
BF1 features a single player campaign; however, it’s presented as an anthology of war stories that you can play in whichever order you chose. The stories are centered around the struggle of soldiers’ emotions and how they experience the war. The two strongest are “Through Mud and Blood”, a story of a dysfunctional tank crew learning to overcome their differences, and “Friends in High Places”, a tale of two pilots fighting over the frontlines in France.
The other stories don’t pack the emotional heft, particularly “Avanti Savoia!” It’s only two missions long and feels like a dull shooting gallery. But there is replayability with the first two stories for those looking for a fun single player experience.
Overall, Battlefield 1 is a multiplayer shooter first, and a campaign second. The WW1 theme is spot on and the graphics and sound quality are the best they’ve ever been. A must play for fans of the series.
Score: 9.5 out of 10
Pros: Fantastic multiplayer, amazing visuals and sound quality.
Cons: Single player falls flat at certain missions.
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