Battlefield: Modern Combat Preview
Finally! It took awhile, but the award-winning Battlefield franchise from the PC gaming world is coming to the Xbox with a little help from our favorite rally game creators DICE. NO, it’s not the classic WWII game that the keyboard and mouse freaks get to play over the cables, but a later day version of the same game, focusing on the military technology of today. Battlefield: Modern Combat is EA’s way of sticking it to the PC guys, and that’s okay with us. Throw on the Kevlar helmet and reassemble the SAW; it’s time to unleash all of the latest weapons, tactics, and vehicle on your unsuspecting Friend’s list members. Now move out!
The concept of the Battlefield is pretty simple; throw a bunch of online games on a huge map and play capture the flag. The intriguing part of 1942 is the various land, air, and sea vehicles that are at every gamer’s disposal, and Modern Combat will be no different. Over thirty drab painted people movers can be chosen, including helicopters, personnel boats, and of course tanks. If motorized vehicles aren’t your flavor, you can always hump it while carrying one of 75 different weapons that cover the gamut of modern technology from all over the world. Games such as Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six 3 will give you a taste of the types of weaponry available, which includes assault and sniper rifles, bullpup smg’s, and a whole host of projectile and exploding hardware. There is no shortage of weapons to wield in Battlefield: Modern Combat, which is a good thing considering that Live’s best gamers are already plotting the different ways to take you out.
One thing that Xbox gamers are probably not ready for is the sheer size of the gaming maps. Battlefield: Modern Combat was designed to be an online multiplayer game first and a, well, nothing after. All of the emphasis and gameplay revolves around Live, which means that there won’t be many situations in which you feel cramped into claustrophobic story mode map. Three major geographical settings including Moscow, The Middle East, and China have been chosen as the battleground with each area containing from three to five maps. The final number of maps may change before the release date but it is almost a guarantee that each area will have a mix of close-quarters and long range courses which will cater to almost every multiplayer gamer, whether they are a line-of-sight type, a sniper guru, or the type who needs to spread the wings in an air raid. Each of the map’s flag point are scattered about the landscape and are sometimes hidden inside buildings, making foot action mandatory. Battlefield: Modern Combat feels extremely balanced for this reason, with very few of the conflicts feeling overly dominated by any one vehicle or any one carry weapon.
It’s no surprise that Battlefield: Modern Combat features the full compliment of Live features since it functions as a stand alone multiplayer title. A full compliment of stat tracking is available along with the usual friend’s lists, create-match, and OptiMatch features. Another unique feature that is sure to be popular is the ability to create clans through the game without trying to orchestrate offline or in normal Quick Match contests. There is also an online ranking system that works like a true military system with player experience and statistics formulating a designation such as sergeant or corporal. This poses interesting battalion formations since the players with higher rank can recruit privates for their clan and have them answer to the platoon leader, just as in most modern militaries. Just as in real militaries, only players of certain rank will be privy to special vehicles and weapons, which should really motivate the lesser experienced gamers to get on line and be all that they can be.
Battlefield: Modern Combat is set to launch with up to 24 players on any given map which should make for some extremely heated online action. Even though Modern Combat is still in its earlier stages, the gameplay moves at a decent clip for the sheer amount of things going on that tax the engine. Laser-guided missiles are smashing targets while a ground troop is planting explosives in a basement, all while you are planted firmly behind a fixed gun turret; there are few situations where silence falls upon the battlefield. This is a good thing so long as the server can handle it, which means that the software will need some tweaking to reduce the possibility of lag.
We don’t expect any high-res modes, but the game does look pretty even at this point. There is a slight lack of detail and some flatness which should be reworked for the final, or, it may be a necessary evil in order for the game to flow. We personally had no problems with the graphics since the gameplay was so damn intoxicating.
Minor framerate issues aside, Battlefield: Modern Combat plays like a big-boy version of Rainbow Six 3 or any of the other modern tactical titles. It is easy to get sidetracked due to the sheer scope of the game and the vast landscapes on which to battle, which is why having an experienced clan leader will come very much into play. Current games like Counter-Strike and RS3 are entertaining but they never feel like simulated combat since much of the focus is on the individual. Individuality won’t cut it in Modern Combat; there are far more ways to die on a map filled with armed Hummers, jets, and laser-guided weaponry. The controls will feel similar to may of the modern combat titles and seem to work well other than the lack of an override for the aiming system which doesn’t allow true pinpoint accuracy. A system where a pinpoint within the reticle can driven alongside of a semi-auto aim function would work well here and may sow itself in the final version.
Battlefield: Modern Combat isn’t slated for release until November but gamers familiar with the PC franchise are already getting excited over this one. There simply isn’t any other game for the Xbox that is developed specifically for online play and has this amount of gameplay scope. Keep it here for the latest information on Battlefield: Modern Combat. As you were soldier.
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Originally Posted by Huckleberry
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