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DICE goes into the future for the next Battlefield title. Battlefield 2142 takes place in the year you would expect after the new ice age brought on a bitter war between the Pan Asian Coalition and the European Union. The game manages to introduce some new concepts and a great new mode to the series, although it isn’t quite as fresh of an experience as Battlefield 2 was.
The Battlefield series’ critically acclaimed Conquest mode makes an appearance in 2142. As usual, the goal is to reduce the opposing team's ticket counter to zero by gaining control of the majority of control points scattered across the maps. Titan mode, on the other hand, is completely new to the franchise. The objective is to destroy the enemy titan (a large hovering warship) by gaining control of the majority of missile silos located throughout the map. These silos will eventually destroy the force field protecting the ship allowing players to board the titans, fight their way to its very core and ultimately destroy it. The game still includes supports for two teams of up to 32 players each for a total of 64 players per game.
Battlefield 2142 allows players to create up to four players per account, making the game more accessible for players who want to start the game over. Each of these players features the full stat tracking and ranking system found in Battlefield 2. The system has been updated with 43 ranks, many new medals and ribbons, and 40 unlockables to improve your soldiers. Some of these unlockables, like the grenades and demolition items, were regularly available in past Battlefield games but are now curiously locked away until accessed.
As to be expected Battlefield 2142 lets the player take control of a host of high-tech weaponry including state-of-the-art assault rifles, machine guns, and sniper rifles, as well as hover aircraft and mammoth walkers. Despite this, it's questionable why DICE wasn't more creative with some of the guns, especially since unlike their previous games, they weren't bound by the creative license. Why do many of the rifles still rely on primitive ballistics, and why are half the tanks in the game still dependent on conventional tread technology? This game takes place 136 years in the future not present times. Regardless of this flaw, the game does manage to strike an incredible balance, which has always been the main concern with the Battlefield franchise. Recon vehicles are quick yet fragile, walkers can terrorize infantry and light armored vehicles alike but succumb to a few well placed tank shells, and lastly aircraft, though responsive and nimble, are nowhere near as menacing as they were in the previous games.
Battlefield 2142 looks great on high-end systems despite using a relatively old game engine. Its style is very similar to that of Battlefield 2 since both games use the same engine. Everything looks much like it did in Battlefield 2 including characters models, textures and lighting. The art style is noticeably less vibrant since the game takes place in an apocalyptic world of snow and desert. There are a few subtle effects such as EMP and laser blasts lighting up the surrounding dim areas in bright hues. The new HUD effects are great, as well, particularly when you’re getting hit when an EMP wave or entering a certain vehicle. Despite the engine’s age, it still requires a powerful computer to run on. The game itself is runs slower than Battlefield 2, with a few frame rate drops here and there.
Battlefield 2142 relies heavily on audio to help create the illusion of war and mostly succeeds. The game sounds very much like any war game should and successfully manages to convincingly render all the noises of a hectic battlefield. It sounds brutal and crisp as no gunshot or fired cannon go unheard. A minor complaint is that the gunshot effects could use a little more distinction between them. As for the vehicles, they come with their own unique sounds (especially the walker), though admittedly a lot of them are rather soft. The music is still as forgettable as ever, but since it's not nearly as upbeat as past efforts, players may barely notice its mundane production values altogether.
Battlefield 2142, on its own merits, is a great game. However, it isn’t as big of an improvement as Battlefield 2 was over Battlefield 1942. The new ranking system and unlocks will definitely keep fans of the series coming back for more. Even casual gamers may be inclined to try out the new Titan mode and vehicles, but those looking for a completely new experience will have to wait to see what DICE cooks up for Battlefield 3.
--Edited By Jose Liz: -- Joseph Medfisch, PGNx Media
---- Oct 19, 2006
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