Battlefield 2042 review – a chaos simulator made less for the purists

Recent articles

Battlefield 2042 continues to be an incredible sandbox experience (Image: EA)

If the sole purpose of Battlefield 2042 was to drop you in the midst of intense gunplay and explosive vehicle combat without worrying about the history of the franchise, it would have been a direct hit.

But for someone who’s been playing on and off since Battlefield 1942, BF2042 feels like the game that’s interfered most with the winning formula.

Much of what makes a great Battlefield game is still there, with chaos and intense encounters around every corner.

Even the habit of staying behind as a horde of vehicles flies off in the distance, leaving you to trudge to the first target is still part of the experience.

In some ways, 2042 feels like the most unBattle Royale game in the first-person shooter theater right now, with gamers respawning time and again, with the ebb and flow of a battle being determined by how good your air support is.

There are no shrinking circles of gameplay, and there is very little chance of making it to the end without losing many lives.

Even the top pilots navigating the map shooting down missiles and countermeasures will likely be shot down and have to wait their turn to spawn back into a helicopter or fighter jet.

But other elements of the Battlefield experience have changed, with developers dumping DICE core aspects of how to build gear around a class.

Specialists are the new thing and mean you can craft the gear that’s right for you without having to compromise.

It’s a great addition for those who drop in and play a solo role as it means you can achieve your goals without relying on a squad of willing players.

Becoming a shotgun-wielding medic with plenty of ammo to toss around is something new in the Battlefield franchise.

It’s weird to say I don’t prefer this option, but I’ve enjoyed the restrictions imposed on me in previous games. It’s taught me weapons and gameplay roles that I’d never try if I wasn’t forced to, and it’s made me a better teammate.

And while steps have been taken to make Battlefield more accessible to those who play alone, the key to complete fun is having friends to interact with.

Things are a bit complicated at the moment due to the in-game chat situation, but most crossplay teams can find ways to communicate.

And now that problem is solved, Battlefield 2042 becomes a great team shooter to enjoy with your friends.

Seeing a squad member drive their TukTuk into a tornado won’t win the battle, but it will make for a Battlefield moment for everyone to enjoy.

Eliminating the need to have a medic, engineer, and assault class on your team takes away some of the magic of teaming up, but nothing beats driving around the map, conquering control points and reinvigorating your besties.

On your own, Battlefield can feel a bit tedious, but it works so much better when you have someone to pick you up in a tank or give you clues about which target you should try to conquer next.

It’s also fun to use gadgets with your friends as you take on the giant maps of Conquest and Rush.

Launching a drone into the sky lets you see what’s coming and then eliminate you, while your friends can protect your stationary masses on the ground while you pilot your drone with sentry guns and bulletproof shields.

Battlefield 2042 feels like a team shooter that’s been watered down slightly to make it easier to drop in and enjoy the game, though we’re still a long way from having a smooth transition like we envisioned.

Game modes like Conquest and Rush take center stage and there are plenty of bugs that can ruin your game.

Not being able to select your gear or getting stuck on the vehicle screen is still an issue and something that will be fixed in the future. That’s without mentioning some of the console crashes and PC issues that cause players to get dumped mid-game.

Aside from technical issues, there are other issues to consider while playing Battlefield 2042 on next-gen consoles and PC.

The size of the conquest maps is impressive and each map contains varying degrees of layers due to tall structures or mounds.

Holding checkpoints is key to reducing your team’s exhaustion level and ensuring you emerge victorious.

But all the maps seem more vehicle oriented than infantry at the moment, and there will be a need for something more oriented towards foot soldiers in the future. While it’s nice to have a shotgun, you may not find many opportunities to use it.

The weapon list is also a bit sparse, though DICE has made up for it by offering a ton of different customization options when it comes to scopes, barrel expansions, and ammo.

While things look a little worn out content-wise, there’s plenty here to keep you from getting sick of playing the same card.

The key will be to add new content regularly to keep things fresh and the rotation more random, something that is easily achievable.

But the same should also be delivered in the new Portal mode available in Battlefield 2042.

Battlefield Portal takes previous games from the past and brings them into the modern age. It allows to play classic maps with the same rules as in the past.

Everything else lives in the skin of the new Frost Engine, meaning you can create your own custom experiences, mixing up the past and the present.

But while I really enjoy reliving Battlefield 3, we also need the best maps, and the lack of depth needs to be solved by moving DICE forward.

And this is where we come to Hazard Mode, my least favorite of the bunch and an experience I doubt I’ll be seeing much of again.

Hazard Zone brings Battlefield 2042 closer to the world of Battle Royale and games like Escape from Tarkov, where I didn’t feel a huge urge to play.

While I like all sorts of genres, there are plenty of other battle royale games that offer different play styles, and that’s no reason why I’d buy a BF title.

Removing vehicles and the open sandbox from the BF formula isn’t a bad idea, it’s just an idea that doesn’t attract much interest when it comes to the bounty of recent years.

But that doesn’t mean it’s worth ignoring when you first jump into Battlefield 2042.

When playing in a team of four, your mission is to locate and retrieve data drives on the map.

Unlike in Conquest, you will compete against AI opponents, as well as other teams competing for the same prize.

Ending the game with nothing is a big risk, as you have limited opportunities to exfil with something worthwhile before the location becomes danger zones.

Going out with some of that tasty data will reward you with Dark Market Credits, allowing you to buy better gear for the next time you pass by.

The problem here is that you can compete against some very successful teams, making it difficult to get your own venture off the ground.

But as with Conquest, it’s best to play Hazard Zone with a team you can talk to and enjoy.

Not being able to chat makes for a pretty dismal run and is a weird issue for a game that’s going up against other super-accessible crossplay giants.

At its core, Battlefield 2042 remains an enticing package for anyone who wants to get lost amid a chaotic series of events, without worrying too much about ultimate victory.

While playing the objective is key, it’s that Battlefield stands out when you go up against other teams, be it in the tank or in the air.

Hazard Zone is a nice addition, but the gameplay is something you can find around the corner, while Conquest and Rush remain much more unique and worth your time.

The limited content, map bugs and issues with the ping system can make the game feel a little undercooked, and it’s easy to see why some hardcore fans are disappointed with the changes made.

For me, I experience Battlefield best when flying with a team of friends through a tornado in a TukTuk or battling it out for a checkpoint against a sea of ​​enemies and precipitous odds.

SOLO REVIEW SCORE: 3.5

TEAM REVIEW SCORE: 3.8

Check all Gaming News here: Gaming Ideology

Source

Denial of Responsibility for the Content
Gaming Ideology is a News Source that collects News from different Media Agencies and acts as a News Aggregator. The content you find on our website is freely available on the Internet. We clearly mention the Content Source hyperlinked to its original source. We arrange that content in our platform for our readers for Educational purposes only. All Copyrights & Trademarks belong to their Owners/Authors.

For Content Owners: To remove your content from our website, please contact us by emailing us at: [email protected] and we will remove that content from our website.

Leave a Reply