Why is it when you think
you’ve bought the feature-heavy Collector’s Edition DVD of so-and-so movie out
comes the Ultimate Collector’s Edition DVD with hours and hours of new content
and a much better picture quality? This is a similar quandary that gamers face
as well when a game is re-released on their new console with better graphics and
new extras. Do we buy the same game again for those reasons alone?
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for the Xbox 360 isn’t very different from last
year’s game that was released on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 nor is it a bigger
and better experience but it’s still a fun game with a lot to offer gamers new
to the series.
Gamers who have already
bought this first-person shooter game the first time around, allow me to put
your minds at ease. This is the same game with slight alterations in the
gameplay department, somewhat sharper visuals and an overall much more deeper
Xbox Live multiplayer mode. Even with these slight changes, the game plays the
same way it did the first time it was released so take that under consideration
if you’re deciding to buy this one. For those of you who have missed the game
the first time around, this 360 version is the “Ultimate Collector’s Edition.”
The situation in
Kazakhstan has reached a dangerously critical level and NATO forces are finding
it hard to go up against the Chinese forces that have come to aid the “freedom
loving” people of this region. Small skirmishes begin to escalate into fiery
battles as you see the conflict through the eyes of the NATO forces as well as
through the Chinese since the single player campaign mode switches between the
two sides throughout the campaign. The single player experience takes up 20
missions but they’re filled with fun shootouts, plenty of vehicles you can
simply hop in and start driving and a feature called HotSwapping that allows you
to instantly take control of any soldier within your line of sight at any time.
The best thing about HotSwapping is that you can practically get a chance to
take control of just about every specialty class and use them to your advantage
on the battlefield. Don’t think your sniper is doing a great job of covering
your troops? Look in his direction, press the X button and you’ll suddenly see
through the eyes of the sniper.
You’ll have a number of
mission objectives to complete within a mission and the great part is that the
battlefields throw vehicles you can use like Humvees, tanks, boats snow mobiles
and even helicopters. There are 30 vehicles in total and each drives differently
from the other. The objectives themselves have you taking out snipers using your
best snipers, securing an area, destroying bunkers and even sinking submarines.
On the consoles, Battlefield has taken an almost arcade-like quality to
the shooter action and, for the most part, it works beautifully. To top it all
off, the single player campaign is also both challenging and loads of fun.
The subtle differences in
the single player campaign will bring nothing new to new gamers but for
returning gamers you’ll see that the enemy AI is a bit smarter this time around
and prove more of a threat. While you’ll be playing both the NATO side as well
as the Chinese, the ranking system stays intact, meaning if you earned enough
stars and medals and earn the rank of Sergeant as a Chinese soldier you will be
a Sergeant as a NATO soldier as well. Earning stars allow you to upgrade your
army’s various weapons (add thermal vision for your snipers and powerful new
explosives for your Special Ops specialists). You will also get to unlock bonus
Challenges that have you earning extra stars by completing vehicle races, weapon
challenges or HotSwapping challenges.
As far as the game’s
controls are concerned, they’re quite basic since there are no complex actions
in this game. You can aim, crouch and go flat on your belly to avoid heavy fire.
You have a main weapon, secondary weapon and explosives. Where the controls do
seem a bit funny is in driving the vehicles, especially the bulky tanks and the
tricky helicopters. The first time I crashed a helicopter online, disappointing
my teammates, I had to go back and get use to the controls before picking up
passengers to transport. It’s tricky but with practice it becomes natural to fly
over the battlefield.
While the single player
campaign is downright fun, the real meat of the game is its online multiplayer
mode that might not be as impressive as the PC Battlefield games but it
certainly makes for one highly addictive Xbox Live game. With a whopping 24
players on the battlefield at the same time, the multiplayer modes keep things
basic by just including only two modes of playing – Conquest and Capture the
Flag. “Wait a minute,” you’ll say to yourself. “There are just two multiplayer
modes?” In the case of Battlefield 2, it’s not the quantity but rather
the quality that make the Xbox Live online multiplayer game such a rare treat.
New to the Xbox 360 are three new maps that were only available for download and
thus giving gamers 16 maps in total. In Conquest mode you are part of a team
that tries to fight back the enemy forces from taking command of your team’s
control points. It’s a simple enough scenario but add dozens of weapons and
vehicles and you have a massive battle on your hands. Capture the Flag is
self-explanatory although here you can call artillery strikes. You can even set
up or join clans as well as earn a new rank online by earning points.
As far as the graphics are
concerned, Battlefield 2 does get a better visual makeover than the
original Xbox version … but not by very much. You’ll certainly notice the
difference when you look at the ground or when the sun gleams off the smooth
surface of the wall. There’s a new shiny gleam to vehicles now and when they
explode you’ll be hit by the debris and marvel at the charred chunks that were
once a Humvee or helicopter. Even soldiers look good up close but when it comes
to the environments and landscapes it’s no different from the Xbox version of
the game. Thankfully, HotSwapping is still a visual treat to behold.
As far as the game’s sound
is concerned, this is a part of the game that is somewhat disappointing. The
sound effects, even on a good sound system just don’t push the HD in the same
way the visuals do. The music is appropriate for the militaristic theme of the
game but the voice acting just doesn’t cut it. While the NATO briefings are Ok,
the Chinese voice are just bordering on insulting. I’m talking South Park
-styled stereotyping here.
Whether or not you
consider buying this game again or, if you missed it when it came out,
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for the Xbox 360 is a really fun game and one
of the best Xbox Live experiences. It might not be a whole new monster in terms
of new content and visual dazzle but the improvements just make this a good
version of a good game that came out last year. Whatever you do, do not miss
this game at all so buy this game if you didn’t buy it then.
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#Review |
Gameplay: 8.2
Control-wise, Battlefield 2
plays just as good on the 360 as it did on the Xbox and while it keeps things on
the arcade side the firefights are just way too fun. The single player
experience provides plenty of bang for your buck but it’s the online multiplayer
that will steal your heart.
Graphics: 7.5
Graphically, the game sports some
tighter graphics and a much smoother animations. The bad news is that the
graphics haven’t been completely improved leaving some poor environmental
backgrounds. Still, the flashy HotSwapping zoom and the better vehicle
explosions more than make up for it.
Sound: 7.0
The game’s music is nice and
appropriate and the sound effects, although not as loud, are done right. What
doesn’t work is the voice acting, especially when it comes to the Chinese side
that sounds like an insulting typecast.
Difficulty: Medium
The enemy AI is a tad smarter and
thus a much better challenge to go up against in the single player game. Enemies
will make good use of mounted guns, vehicles and good aim so expect heavy
resistance. The mini-game Challenges are fun but tough.
Concept: 8.0
It’s the same game that was released
last year with a few extras and better graphics. The game has a number of great
elements that make this a fun shooter including HotSwapping, loads of vehicles
you can use and a solid single player mode. The best feature, though, is the
online multiplayer that will have you playing this game for months to come.
Multiplayer: 9.0
Battlefield 2
is one of the most addictive Xbox Live
multiplayer games you’ll love playing on your new Xbox 360. The framerate never
skips and while the game modes are limited to only two you will have a blast
teaming up with others to dominate the battlefield. The best part is that the
game supports clans, sets up a global rating and lets you answer the challenge
made by other clans. In short, this is still one of the best online multiplayer
games around.
Overall: 8.0
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
is still the same entertaining
first-person shooter it was when it was first released but on the Xbox 360 the
minor improvements just make this the game you’ll want to own. If you’re
expecting a whole new game built from the ground up you will be in for a
disappointment but if you’re looking for a fun game with an addictive online
multiplayer mode then you will definitely want to buy this game.
