When the demo for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 came out late last month, I was pretty darn excited to play it. So that’s exactly what I did, and now I’m here to tell you why it’s awesome.
First of all, let me preface this by telling you that I am a pretty big Battlefield fan. I, like many people at the time, was absolutely blown away by Battlefield 1942. The scale, variety, and gameplay were second-to-none at the time. Since then, only the first installment to the Bad Company series has really brought that experience to consoles. I am truly excited to see what DICE has in store for us when the full game comes out on March 2, but until then, we have this fantastic demo to keep us occupied. But why is it fantastic?
Scale
The map truly is a battlefield. There’s a reason why you are given tanks, APC’s and ATV’s; it’s because you’ve got a lot of ground to cover and it’s always more fun to do it in style.
The demo map is a coastal region covered in snow called “Port Valdez.” Everything around you is white and gray, and it really gives a nice atmospheric feeling while you play. Though sections of the map are a little more narrow than normal, you are still given ample room to sneak around and flank key enemy locations. Also, there are usually more than one main road leading into the next base, making sure that vehicles don’t get bottle-necked at certain locations.
There is a good mix of altitude change, and I regularly find myself attacking points from different sides to see which is most effective. My only qualm with the map is in the first section, when playing as an attacker. There is a hill that splits an upper and lower road, and is a great vantage point for snipers. The problem is that almost every round I play, at least one third of the team is clustered up there sniping. This really holds the team back because on offense the team really needs to move forward as a unit, and the snipers are just sitting around getting meaningless kills. Overall though, I thought that the map was a great choice for the demo, and really helps in showing the game’s strengths.
Gameplay
This is where I think the Battlefield series really shines. The gametype on the demo is called “Rush,” and is familiar to those who played the first entry in the Bad Company series. The map is broken up into sections, and to advance to the next one, the attackers need to destroy two key points on the map. To do this, the attackers need to reach the objective, control the area, arm the charge, and then successfully defend it from being defused. Sounds simple, but it requires a lot more teamwork than you would think, which is why I find the mode so fun. Yes, there are times when one person can run into a building and successfully destroy it solo, but that surely doesn’t work consistently.
In order to win as a defender, you must fend off the attackers until they are out of respawn tickets. Tickets are given in set amounts for each section of the map. When an attacker dies, one ticket is taken away, and when the number reaches zero, the defenders are victorious. It is a really fun gametype, and while it seems that the attackers win more often than not, it’s mostly due to my next point.
Teamwork
This is the most important part of the game, and is key to either sides’ success or failure. The reason defense usually loses is because people aren’t working together. You cannot, I repeat, cannot, play this game like you would Modern Warfare 2. It just wont work. Attacking is much more than just shooting people. Don’t expect a high kill/death ratio like you would in MW2. The best players on your team shine because they are fulfilling their roles. Offense is a balance of killing defenders at key times, securing the perimeter of the objective, and defending it as a team before it is destroyed. It’s not something you’re going to do by yourself, so embrace working together. Defense is where communication is the most vital, and calling out attackers and incoming vehicles is necessary if you want to keep your precious base around for another day. Getting a whole team to work as one unit may seem daunting, but that is precisely why my next point exists.
Continue to Part 2: Squads, Classes, Vehicles & Destruction!
Squads
Squads are composed of four players, and you should pretend like they are your best friends. You need to be able to rely on them, and they should be able to expects the same from you. Since you can spawn off of your squad-mates, there are times where making sure at least one of your buddies is alive is pretty important. The difference between spawning near the objective that you are attacking or defending, or back at the main spawn can be huge. Also, squads are nice because of the handy marking feature. Pressing the select or back button on your controller while aimed at an enemy player or vehicle marks them with a big red triangle. This lets your squad-mates know exactly where that enemy is, and helps you focus attacks as a team.
Vehicles & Destruction
Simply put, vehicles are awesome. Whether it’s a tank or a helicopter, you have got some serious firepower on your hands, and it can make a big impact if used intelligently. Having a tank spearhead an attack into a base can make it really easy for foot soldiers to get their job done. This is further enhanced because of the game Frostbite destruction engine. The ability to blow through walls with tank fire, grenade launchers, and the like can really help you out on either team. Blasting through a wall to get into a base that has an objective can help you avoid enemies, but they can use that same tactic to destroy all the walls around you and leave you vulnerable to fire at many angles. It’s one of the best features of the game, and is a whole lot of fun.
Classes
