Awesome next generation first-person shooter

Battlefield 3 is one of 2011’s biggest releases. DICE and Electronic Arts have teased and shown off the tech of the Frostbite 2 engine illustrating the ability and scale of Battlefield 3.

DICE are well known for their ability to create great multiplayer experiences and no player should worry about the multiplayer portion of the game. But the single player experience is a lot different.

Is Battlefield 3 going to change FPS for PC? Not by itself, but other developers should look at DICE’s multiplayer work.

Like most first person shooters, Battlefield 3 uses WASD along with surrounding keys and the mouse for z-axis movement. Depending on how sensitive the mouse needs to be, it would be good for players to test it before they jump into multiplayer because even at default with a general wireless mouse, there is a lot of room for error.

Battlefield 3 functions like other FPS titles in the controls so there is no real surprise. The secondary buttons perform different tasks, but in context they are simple to use.

Gameplay in the single player is brutal and unforgiving, even on normal mode. Battlefield 3 enjoys corralling players in linear areas that are somewhat open, but require a specific path to complete. The problem is the enemy AI has a homing beacon and knows exactly where players are. Add in semi-destructible environments and expect to be moving in the prone position a lot.

Battlefield 3 attempts to keep the intensity high through the on-foot missions, but it interjects vehicle missions. While those missions add some variety to the game, they aren’t as deep or personal as the on-foot missions.

The plot of Battlefield 3 is kind of standard FPS fare, playing a soldier in a war and is a bit secondary to the overall experience. It is interesting, but the cut scenes do feel a bit worn and over-the-top.

Battlefield 3 is meant for multiplayer. The four soldier classes cover different play styles from assault to recon and players will find the suitable class quickly. Leveling is earned through the various gameplay modes, all of which involve player vs player action.

A plus for the multiplayer is that even though players will be killed in multiplayer, there are other ways outside of combat to earn points. The various gadgets can give experience and even contributing to the defeat of the other team can garner some support points. At the end of matches, players are given experience based on their performance and any ribbons they have received.

The variety of maps, modes, and unlocks is staggering in Battlefield 3 and the shelf life of the game is long with eventual downloadable content. Expect to put in some hours to get past the first few levels and the customization allowed gears more towards individual’s tastes.

One of the first announcements for Battlefield 3 was the Frostbite 2 engine. Be assured with a system containing the recommended requirements, players will be able to experience the bulk of the power of the engine.

But run Battlefield 3 on a system with great hardware and Battlefield 3 is amazing. There are many effects and filters that are only visible with higher settings. If there was a game that warranted upgrading hardware, then Battlefield 3 is it.

The library of sound sets in Battlefield 3 is big. From all the weapons, voice actors, vehicles, and environment sounds, there is never a dull moment. Battlefield 3 surrounds players in the single and multiplayer portions of the game presenting audio cues for the direction of gunfire and the approaching sounds of land vehicles.

Playing Battlefield 3 with headphones is the best way to experience the game because the amount of work with the audio is impressive.

Absolutely.

Battlefield 3 is one of the best FPS experiences available for PC. With EA’s Origin, it is possible to install the game on multiple computers with the same Origin account and Origin supports cloud saving (disabled by default), players can jump into the single player campaign from multiple systems.

Battlefield 3 is all about the multiplayer. It is very easy to get addicted to the different modes, weapon unlocks, and vehicles that are available. Find the right server and the right squad to join and the enjoyment of the game increases exponentially.

Battlefield 3 is showing its supremacy with the Frostbite 2 engine and the amazing multiplayer mode.