Downloadable content has evolved into something expendable this current generation. Most of these DLC games you can download via the Playstation Network, XboxLive or Games for Windows are cheap, short lived and mostly not on retail level. But now another game has hit the download services: Battlefield 1943, EA and DICE's try on good DLC. With a full online mode, gorgeous graphics and an in-depth community system, Battlefield 1943 sets new standards for all downloadable games to come.
Story
Battlefield 1943 doesn't give you a real story, but only a setting: 1943, World War 2, the pacific theater. And that's about the only information you get. You're a random soldier on an island, fighting against other random soldiers for victory, until the time is up and you start all over again.
Value
15€, that's all I have to say. The game costs exactly 15€/ 1200 Microsoft Points. Although this is the normal price for a downloadable game, it incredibly cheap for BF1943, because the game is so jam packed with content that this could have been a full retail game for 60€.
There is only one way to play the game: The 12 on 12 multiplayer mode. The game has everything you'd expect from a Battlefield release. It features 4 large maps, populated with lots of vehicles and aircraft, one of which a fan favorite Wake Island, a deep and engaging class system complete with rewards and achievements and a class system, where you are able to choose between 3 types of soldiers: The Rifleman, equipped with a semi automatic rifle, the infantry, with a machine gun and a bazooka and last but not least the scout, who carries a sniper rifle and demolition kits. If you then take the vehicles into an account you have one balanced game, where everyone and everything has strengths and weaknesses to exploit.
Just as there is only one main game mode, there is only one multipayer mode as well: The classic conquest mode. Battlefield veterans will find themselves right at home. There are 5 flags scattered all over the map and your job is it to claim them for either the United States Marine Corps or the Imperial Japanese Army. The more flags you capture, the more of the enemy's time will run out. Fortunately conquest is a keeper, and with the in depth leveling system the game will keep you for a long time.
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Gameplay
The game pulls no punches in this regard. It's a straight up shooter with no confusion about the controls or the gameplay mechanics. You shoot, you reload, you shoot more and you die. If you get tired of this however, you are able to experiment with a wide variety of other things to do. Flying an airplane is definitely one of the most likely things you'll do, because it's just straight up fun. You may have some trouble with the controls at first, but after you mastered them you will be bombing tanks and shooting infantry in no time. Riding one of the Tanks or troop carrier trucks is just as fun, and will result in a shier awesome experience.
One new addition to the Battlefield universe is the ability to call in bomber support. On each map there is one radio bunker, from which you'll be able to call in 3 bombers to lay down a precise bomb carpet. And if you totally want to stand out from the crowd you can just take a boat and go straight behind the enemy lines and capture all their flags single highhandedly. The possibilities are endless.
One thing that really impressed me about the gameplay is the feeling of the weapons. They really feel like tools to do bad and nasty things to other human beings, all of them having really heavy sounds and animations. Even the pistol, which feels really weak in other games comes off as a devastating weapon here.
Graphics
Running on the Frostbite engine, Battlefield 1943 looks quite similar to Battlefield Bad Company. In other words: It looks amazing.
What stands out immediately is, of course, the detailed real time damage you can inflict to the game world. Throw a grenade into a house, and the wall will blast away. Shoot a tree and it will fall down, and after 10 minutes of playtime you have barely anything to take cover behind.
The other aspect that impressed me are the extremely detailed reloading animations. Unlike the fast and hectic reloading sequences you will find in similar games, Battlefield 1943 shows you every exact move at the speed a real soldier would do it.
The steady clip of 60 FPS, convincing lights and shadow effects, detailed environments and smoke that almost looks photo real all make obvious that this game looks too damn good to be a download game only. The only thing that can be criticized about the game's visual presentation is that the character animations come off a little stiff at times, and that there is still a lot of pop in when it comes to the game's vegetation. Other than that, this is one amazing looking game.
Art Design
Neither comical nor real is the best way to describe Battlefield 1943. While the world and the vehicles are modeled as real as it gets, the character models feature this sketchbook style, which is displayed in the game's main menu. The 1940s nostalgia is also part of the featured stye. Most dialog is spoken out in that 40s radio vibe, while the fonts and schematics of the menus are displayed like a World War 2 propaganda placate. It works and blends in nicely with the outstanding visual presentation
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Sound
Probably the best part of the game: The sound design. Overall you can describe the audio as very bass heavy, loud and fast. Explosions sound especially sweet shaking our bones and hurting your ears (but in a good way). The weapon sounds are also strong, so that no weapon feels weak at any time. If you hear one of those shots, you just do not want to be hit by one of them. The soundtrack, which basically is made up of the Battlefield Theme and it's remixes, is catchy, and the sound of the vehicle's engines sound appropriate. Nothing to report on the audio front! (sir!).
A full Battlefield game, disguised as a download game, retailed at 15€. Whoever has the chance of downloading this solid multiplayer online first person shooter should definitely do it, the low price will be worth it. This is the way downloadable content should be done. One big salute to EA and DICE, your tactics work well!
Story: /
Value: 9,4
Gameplay: 8,6
Graphics: 9,3
Art Design: 8
Sound: 10
9,0
