MP Review - Battlefield: Bad Company
The balance and polish of Bad Company, along with the “Gold Rush” game mode, make it a truly amazing online experience. In each round, there is an attacking team that is trying to blow open some gold crates, and a defending team trying to protect the crates. This sounds like a typical game mode for any shooter right? It is until you add an almost fully destructible environment, unlockable weapons, and effective classes. What you are left with is pure gold… and my new favorite multiplayer shooter.
The destructible environments may sound like a gimmick before you play the game, but after a few rounds, you will see that it adds much more strategy to an already tactical game. Imagine taking cover and a few seconds later you have no cover at all. This helps keep the game moving and makes for some quick decision making.
Experienced Battlefield Veterans may have some trouble adapting to the game as there are a few changes. The biggest change for me was the fact that there are no parachutes. You are going to hate this at first, but after a while you will see why there are none. Basically, helicopters in Bad Company are meant for fighting, not transportation. It might also be hard getting used to the majority of classes not having a pistol, but I don’t miss it at all at this point.
I do have some complaints, but they have not stopped me from getting addicted to the game. My biggest complaint is the control scheme. The knife button is in the worst spot ever, and there is no way to change the button layout. Another problem I have with the game is the award system. It sounds like an odd thing to complain about, but after being in many games where my team lost due to a few guys trying to “Get 4 road kills with the helicopter in a round” or any other near impossible award; I can say that they are extremely annoying. I want achievements as much as the next guy, but not at the expense of a loss.
At any rate, it is worth a rent at the very least. Battlefield veterans should definitely try it before buying. I personally like it more than previous Battlefield games, but there are many who feel the opposite. Do yourself a favor and play it for a few hours before passing judgment.
