"Respond, Blackburn" - Battlefield 3 Game Review
No spoilers!
Many fans of first-person shooters eagerly awaited the new shooter from DICE. The developers kept feeding players loud promises and regularly praised their creation. The time for release has come, and players rushed to the virtual battlefield.[cut]
Developer
DICE
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Series
Battlefield
Release Date
10/25/2011
Genre
FPS
Platforms
PC, PS3, X360, iOS
Technologies
Frostbite 2.0
System Requirements
(Minimum)
OS
Windows Vista (x86)
Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz or equivalent from AMD
RAM
2GB
Graphics Card
Compatible with DirectX 10 and having 512MB of memory
Hard Drive
20GB
System Requirements
(Recommended)
OS
Windows 7 (x64)
Processor
Intel Core i5 or equivalent from AMD
RAM
4GB
Graphics Card
Compatible with DirectX 11 and having 1024MB of memory
Hard Drive
20GB
Campaign
The action of the game unfolds in Iran. The American Marine Corps is fighting against partisans. A powerful earthquake occurs in the country, and Russia intervenes in the conflict. The beginning painfully reminds one of the second parts of The Witcher and Dragon Age. The captured Sergeant Blackburn is being interrogated, and he must tell everything. The plot intrigues and quickly draws the player in. In each mission, we are given the opportunity to show ourselves in a different light. You won't get bored! The gameplay is not particularly diverse, but at the same time, it is very well organized. Unexpected plot twists significantly stimulate interest. The incredible density of what is happening cannot be a disappointment. There are constant shootouts and spectacular explosions. Want to drive a tank, or fly a plane? No problem! Play as much as you want! New QTE scenes are well integrated into the game. We are shown a short video clip and asked to press certain keys. The campaign incorporates many elements performed in the style of Call of Duty. Not knowing the name of the game, one might assume that this is another creation in the CoD series.
What is indispensable in war? Correct, weapons! The player can easily choose suitable armament. The selection is vast, but the arsenal increases gradually. Snipers have always been formidable opponents. Now, with the return of the crawling movement ability to the game, they are doubly dangerous. Remember that finding an enemy sniper is very difficult. Here, you have to rely on sunlight glints on the scope. However, getting used to such a system, one can easily learn to avoid hidden enemies. Despite the excitement of the single-player game, the main fun begins during battles with real people.
Multiplayer Mode
We have several different game modes at our disposal - Rush, Team Deathmatch, Conquest, and their various versions. Each mode will appeal to a certain circle of players. Nine different maps will keep you from getting bored. The location designs are stunning! Beautiful forests and concrete houses look great against the backdrop of what is happening. The levels are not just made for show. Each one is tactically sound. To overcome the opponent, one must interact correctly with teammates. One is not a warrior in the field. A server can accommodate up to 64 players simultaneously. What happens really resembles a real war, and not just minor skirmishes. It is especially enjoyable to play shoulder to shoulder with friends while communicating via microphone. By the way, the in-game chat is a bit inconvenient. To type your message, you need to temporarily distract yourself from combat. During this time, any enemy can easily destroy the immobile target.
Battlelog- one of the main innovations in the multiplayer mode of Battlefield 3. The new system was received by players ambiguously. Some loudly complained about the inconvenience, while others argued the opposite. In my opinion, this system should not be counted as a plus of the game. For example, during a heated battle, to invite a friend, one must return to Battlelog and send an invitation. All statistics can now be viewed directly from the browser!
We will be offered to choose one of four classes (assault, engineer, recon, or support). Instead of the usual medics and assault troopers, a new class has appeared that combines all the features of the two previous ones. Squads, as before, consist of four players. After a heavy battle, you can unlock new equipment or weapons. After receiving another rifle, we head back into battle! The developers have worked hard on creating the multiplayer part of the game, for which they deserve our utmost respect.
Technologies
The change in the engine can be noticed even by the naked eye. DICE understood that they could not implement everything they envisioned. A small team was assigned to create a new version of the Frostbite Engine. The engine was created from scratch, without relying on previous versions. The new technology does not support DirectX 9, so Windows XP is unsuitable for the game. Developers recommend playing on a 64-bit system using DirectX 11.
The new Frostbite Engine 2.0 successfully took graphics and sound to a new level. The graphical enhancements will leave no one indifferent. The visuals in the first levels, as it seemed to me, are very similar to those in Crysis 2. One can admire the landscapes endlessly. Enemies have gotten smarter, and their animation has become more polished. Yes, adversaries now do not go down like sleepy flies. The animation engine ANT, developed by EA Sports, did not satisfy the developers. The development team planned to replace it, but this idea soon left their minds for unknown reasons. The DICE studio has always been good at creating sound effects. We are accompanied by pleasant music, which harmoniously complements everything happening. The destruction of the environment is still present. This aspect is handled by the Destruction 3.0 technology, based on Havok Physics. Finding sturdy cover is very difficult because small fences easily fall apart, and cars explode quickly. To survive, you need to think, as you won't last long without cover.
Verdict
Battlefield 3- the best shooter of 2011 at the time of its release. The multiplayer will keep players hooked for a long time. The single-player campaign can provide good entertainment during a chilly autumn evening. Unfortunately, the Russian localization can boast of its "quality." The voice actors were poorly chosen, and important lines are delivered completely emotionless. Sometimes restrictions on movement become frustrating. The screen turns black and white, and we are asked to return to the combat zone. The most obvious downside is Battlelog. Perhaps, if one gets used to it, the irritation will pass...
Ratings
Gameplay
8.5
Graphics
9.5
Sound Design
10
Overall Score
9.5
Note: The review is relevant for the PC version of the game.
Thanks for proofreading — Soth.
Thanks for the offline post editor — Midest.