End Game marks the final piece of DLC for Battlefield 3. Like the packs that came before, End Game features four maps, new toys, modes, and a theme that informs the design of each locale. For this DLC, the theme is speed. On that note, we get a dirt bike, tanks that fall from the sky, fast-paced CTF gameplay, and a mode where 24 players battle in nothing but jets.
Needless to say, BF3 is going out with a bang. Need more proof? Check out GameZone’s review for the DLC, as well.
Without further ado, here’s five tips to help you get the most out of this ridiculously fun expansion.
Get your dirt bike license
End Game’s new dirt bikes are plentiful and full of fun. The first order of business is learning to recognize them on the mini-map. They’re all over the place — especially in bases — but they’re hard to spot unless you reference the map.
Once you’ve got your hands on one, you’ll want to try to find a co-pilot. Of course you can run solo and switch seats whenever you want to shoot, or bail out in spectacular fashion, but riding brokeback can make you a speedy force to be reckoned with. If you’re riding on the back a lot, I recommend a grenade launcher or rocket launcher because you can’t be subtle launching through the air on a dirt bike.
There’s a subtle skill to driving the dirt bike, too. Keep in mind that pushing the sprint button will pull up the front wheel of the dirt bike. You can use this to perform sick wheelies, but you can also pre-load your jumps this way and turn BF3 into a 3D version of Trials Evolution. Navigating the environment without any hitches will require careful use of this button.
Switch up your tactics for CTF
Capture the Flag is the one of the two new game types in End Game, and it forces you to switch up your tactics and make note of the newer maps' designs. If you’ve ever played Blood Gulch or Valhalla CTF in Halo, you’ll be familiar with the gameplay flow here. End Game maps are more open and hilly, with longer sightlines and a heavy reliance on transport vehicles. The comparison to Halo is apt because these maps encourage epic chases between the two bases and exciting flag runs.
Squading up for a flag run is always a good idea, as is choosing to play defensively. Flag returns are required to score, so if the two teams have each other’s flags, things become even more heated. Like those moments in other shooters, it’s really important to split your team between attacking and defending without ever leaving your flag carrier behind to get killed. I’ve already had several occasions where I was left to babysit the enemy’s flag at my base all by myself, and it’s stressful!
The most important thing is to simply make sure your team isn’t leaving any obvious gaps. Play too defensively and the other team will be able to attack head on without worrying about their own flag, but play too offensively and they’ll have it even easier.
Also, covering your flag in explosives ain’t a half-bad idea.
Play a class your squad needs
Many of the expansions for BF3 have favored certain classes over others. Close Quarters left Recon out to dry, while Armored Kill was an Engineer field day. End Game throws that all out the window.
Wide open spaces make Recon snipers a huge help, while an abundance of vehicles give Engineers plenty to do. Meanwhile, Support can do a ton of damage with C4, suppressing fire, and by providing ammo. Even Assault can be beastly, thanks to their ability to keep everyone else alive and maintain an offensive push.
The main point here is that you should work to fill in any gaps in your team. Getting hounded by vehicles? Switch to an Engineer. Watching your team make flag runs and then respawning back at the base with nothing to show? Push forward with Assault!
Play Air Superiority and use jets without guilt!
Jets have always been a tricky thing in BF3, especially on consoles where player counts can be a concern. Dog fighting up in the sky, when other players are down doing all the work, can make you feel like a bit of a jerk. If you’re amazing with them, you can be an anti-tank savior, but it isn’t easy.
Air Superiority mode removes any qualms you might have and goes with straight-up dog fighting madness. Even with 24 jets going at it, though, there’s more to the madness than you’d expect. The mode offers up huge aerial zones where players must still capture zones and hold them, just like Conquest. In typical Battlefield spirit, the mode is more than just a stock deathmatch.
Air Superiority is also an excellent chance for players to get all their unlockables for jets. The jets have a lot of cool toys, but they’re so hard to use that most players never bother with it. In a dedicated mode, you’ll be free to learn and unlock without dragging down a team of tanks and ground troops.
Bask in the sea of BF3 maps
We’ve made it ladies and gentleman. Five expansions, an epic pile of maps, and Battlefield 3 might be one of the only EA games that went full bore with all the DLC stunts and managed to make everyone happy. The game is truly bigger now, with more variety and polish than it began with.
There’s also a ton of content that’s worth going back to, so while you might be obsessing over End Game now, remember to go back and explore all the other maps and modes BF3 has to offer. It might be time to give Armored Kill another chance or return to the wonderful Back to Karkand maps. Hey, you might even have some nostalgia for Metro by now.
It’s been a fun run either way. Now bring on BF4!
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