Battlefield V review – in pictures
Battlefield returns to its World War Two roots, but is it better than ever?
WAR NEVER CHANGES
From the polygonal paratroopers of Medal of Honor, to Call of Duty’s all-out assault on the senses, there seemed to be a definite running theme of giving you big guns to single-handedly wipe out the Nazis. That was except for one game in 2002 – which gave you a unique multiplayer experience, mimicking the territorial nature of war in giant maps with bases to capture. This was Battlefield 1942, and thanks to its insanely addictive gameplay, the series has grown to become one of the biggest shooters around. Fast forward to now, and DICE studios has returned to this historical conflict after a reinvigorating romp through World War One in 2016. Will its success continue? And how does this stack up against Black Ops 4 when it comes to the end-of-year FPS shootout?
A DIFFERENT KIND OF HISTORY LESSON
Of course, one obvious benefit over Call of Duty is the single player. Contrary to popular belief, turns out gamers like solo experiences, and following their popularity in the last game, DICE delivers another round of War Stories. Much of what we know about WWII has already been told, right? We’ve seen it portrayed in movies, TV shows and books for decades, and one of Battlefield’s earlier entries was also set in WW2 in Battlefield 1942. But, as Battlefield V sets out to show, there are plenty of stories we haven’t been told about the people who fought and made personal sacrifices in one of the biggest wars in human history.
A MIXED BAG
You’ve got four separate chapters (one of which will be available in December’s DLC) – each of which teaches you the ropes on key gameplay elements. My favourite was Under No Flag, tasking you with the job of heading behind enemy lines, as part of a cockney squad with language so salty it would make the entire cast of Lock Stock blush. Less successful is Nordlys, which tasks you with being sneaky as part of the Norwegian resistance in one of the more emotive stories ever told in a Battlefield game. Simply put, the story is great, but the stealth isn’t for everyone. It can slow down the pace of the game, and I guarantee you will never be sneaky again during your entire time playing this game.
LONELY SOUL
You might notice something key missing in all of those stories though; where’s the team? I know this is single player, but where are my friendlies that I fight alongside – teaching players the overwhelming importance of teamwork in the game (I’ll go into that later) and pursuing some historical accuracy? Well, besides only a few scenes out of all the stories combined, there are none. The team quickly disappear, turning this into a rather lonely experience that feels a lot like the WW2 games of old. Still, if you can forgive those transgressions, you’re in for a polished and enjoyable game tutorial; a nice side order to the main course of this spread.
SQUAD UP
If you’ve ever played a Battlefield game before, then you’ll know multiplayer is the real reason to pick up this game, and there’s a lot to talk about. This isn’t a massive revolution in online FPS gameplay. The real story here, much like what you expect from the annual FIFA games, is small changes to make a big difference. DICE has taken the list of issues with Battlefield 1 and worked methodically to resolve almost all of them. Bored of people running off on their own, trying to be the next Duke Nukem? Well teamwork is not just a nice to have anymore. It’s essential to gain any kind of tactical advantage. Look forward to plenty of selfish player temper tantrums, as they learn this the hard way.
FIELDS OF WAR
You will be teaming up to fight across a variety of expertly created maps that guarantee many hours of playability. Gone are the vast, flat plains of the previous Battlefield, where you spawned for about 12 seconds before being sniped from across the map. Instead, each location has been intricately designed to really bring out the best in every class while giving you a bloody good challenge. Take my favourite map, Arras, for example. Small villages made for incredible moments of close-quarters militia combat, wide open crop fields provide cover for you to crouch and try to take the flank, snipers can take cover in bell towers – only to be utterly demolished by a tank shell fired once the shine of the scope lens is spotted by the driver.
SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Every location brings its own unique set of landmark-based complexities, such as the giant suspension bridge in Twisted Steel, the claustrophobic corridors in-between mountains on Narvik, and the sheer size of upcoming DLC map Panzerstorm, purpose-built for vehicular chaos. This care and attention means every place is more than just an entertaining locale to kill each other. It tells a story of completely organic moments that you and your team will remember for a long time to come.
MODES, MODES AND A FEW MORE MODES
Of course, that’s only half the story, as you need something to do on these maps! The classic Team Deathmatch, Conquest and Domination return, forming the bread and butter of the game. Breakthrough adds a rush element to Conquest, splitting the map into sections that one team tries to take over while the opposition defends. On top of this, Grand Operations brings all the beauty of Battlefield 1’s Operations mode and adds some real theatre to it all. From going full Paratrooper and starting your Operation with a plane jump, to taking out enemy defences with explosives, end even a battle royale-ish Final Stand.
THE TIDES OF WAR
To tie everything together, Tides of War is the game’s ongoing live service that gives your experience a sense of progression, while grounding it in historical context. As your game starts in the earlier stages of WWII, DICE hopes to tell the story of the entire conflict through Battlefield V, through opening new maps, modes, weapons, soldiers, and all manner of modifications to you over time. However, a lot of this extra progression is hidden under layers of confusing menu designs – one of the more annoying gripes from Battlefield 1 that doesn’t seem to have been fixed this time around. Visual customisations can be bought with in-game currency, which brings me to the obvious question following the nightmare that was Star Wars Battlefront 2: what of the micro-transactions? Well, the season pass has been scrapped and you will get each piece of content that’s been announced so far for free (phew).
A HUGE SPECTACLE
Powering all of this is the Frostbite engine, which leads to an obvious observation if you’ve seen any of the trailers. Battlefield V is a damn good-looking game – capturing both the intense spectacle of war at a massive scale and the smaller details of this world you fight in. Crunchy Autumn leaves blow wistfully in the wind, as a V1 rocket impacts with a ferocious fireball seen from across the map. Gusts of snow impact your vision in the alps, while you go prone and watch many hundreds of bullet tracers illuminate the sky. There is no doubt that you’re in for a beautiful visual treat that is more than up to the task of running at a silky smooth 60 FPS.
BATTLEFIELD V: INITIAL VERDICT
There is no doubt that the Battlefield series keeps going from strength to strength, and V is shaping up to be strongest entry to date. DICE may have played it safe with small tweaks to the formula since the previous outing, but those improvements make for one of the best multiplayer shooters you can play right now. Picking a winner between this and Black Ops 4 is difficult, kind of like comparing heavily armed apples and oranges. They both have different playstyles that each pulls off incredibly well. If you like your FPS action fast and focussed on individual talent, then CoD is the way to go. But, if you’re looking for a slightly slower, vastly more tactical experience, look no further than Battlefield V.
