DICE recently had their biggest launch in history with Battlefield 1, one of the most critically acclaimed shooters of 2016. While most shooters are going towards the future, Battlefield did the exact opposite and turned the clock back nearly 100 years to The Great War AKA World War 1.
The series wanted to feel unique and offer something different for gamers while also innovating by creating one of the first World War 1 triple A console experiences. We’ve seen World War 2, but we don’t see World War 1 very much. Is it because it’s too dark of a subject to make into an entertainment product or is it that companies are too afraid of not being authentic enough to the experience and getting backlash for it? Who's to say, but after much contemplation from the team at DICE and EA, the studio finally went forward with the game and delivered one of the best experiences of 2016.
The game takes some of the best parts of the Battlefield franchise and mixes it with the unique and brutal setting to create a fun, yet educational and realistic product. We’re here to break down the top 5 things that really make Battlefield 1 such a great game. These are our opinions so if you disagree, feel free to sound off in the comments on what key points we left out!
5. An awesome progression system.
The way Battlefield 1 goes about its multiplayer progression system is pretty unique. In traditional Battlefield fashion, players can pick a “class”. A medic, support, scout, or an assault, each class has unique weapons and traits like being able to heal or plant explosives on a tank to level the playing field. In Battlefield 1, players are rewarded for their loyalty to their class by leveling up specific classes for new weapon unlocks and gear on top of the usual overall rank that appears next to your Gamertag. Some players feel this is kind of a poor way to tackle progression but I think it’s great because then it offers more rewards and more reason to continue playing. I’ll always be striving to unlock something because I am not earning stuff for all classes as I play, just the classes I am using the most. It keeps me coming back for more and it’s incredibly smart and satisfying to unlock that gun you’ve been working your ass off for.
The game also gives more value to battlepacks by tying tiers to everything you unlock. You know how rare or valuable something is and it makes it all the more satisfying when you get that melee weapon or skin you’ve been dying for. Battlefield 1 uses its loot boxes in a great way by giving out only cosmetic items, something Call of Duty doesn’t do. Call of Duty has weapon variants that change stats and can affect the balance between matches and can really frustrate the hell out of players. In Battlefield 1, no one has any advantage over anyone thanks to fishing something out of a battlepack. This is how you do in-game loot boxes, and I hope Battlefield continues to do this in the future.
4. Weapon pickups that make you feel like the ultimate badass.
In Battlefield 4, you would occasionally come across things like explosive automatic shotguns or grenade launchers just lying on the ground. These were pretty awesome and not many people really took advantage of them but Battlefield 1 has taken it a step further to make these weapons seem even more enticing.
Now the weapons are much more extreme, powerful, and noticeable. A notification will be given to all players in a general area that a weapon pick-up is nearby and everyone immediately stops what they’re doing and frantically rush to the wooden crate to get the weapon. These weapons can range from massive LMGs with high fire rates to full blown flamethrowers! It can give you a BIG advantage during team based game modes especially if you need to clear out an objective or if there are some pesky campers that you need to clear out in one quick, clean, fowl swoop. As an added bonus, some of these pickups give you a big suit of armor that makes you look almost like a knight, so if you’re worried you could get taken out by snipers while you’re in close quarters combat with your flamethrower, you can take a few bullets before dropping to the ground. It won’t make you invincible, but you can use it tactically if you move between buildings and stay in the shadows and take shots only in close range combat.
3. Behemoths like airships and trains can change the outcome of a match very fast.
Something I always look forward to in almost every Battlefield 1 match is the arrival of the behemoth. A behemoth is a giant vehicle that comes in near the end of the match that can only be used by the losing team to quickly turn the tables on the enemy. It is an epic, strategic weapon and turns the chaos of the match up to 11. If used properly, you could go from losing drastically to winning with flying colors. The behemoth changes depending on the map but is typically a heavily armored player controlled train, a massive blimp equipped with guns that deliver heavy blows to air and land forces, and a huge water vessel with big cannons designed to withstand hits from just about anything.
Not only do they absolutely clean house for the losing team but if the opposing team manages to destroy it, it creates a beautiful firework show. The blimp falls from the darkened skies, covered in orange flames and hits the ground mimicking the sound of thunder and destroying anything around it. It leaves a carcass for players to roam around and fight amongst and can even be used as cover if used properly. The ship and train also create massive explosions that are sure to make players stop to bask in its Michael Bay-esque death.
2. It’s Battlefield, how can you not love Battlefield?!
Battlefield as a series is just awesome. 64 player combat, a huge variety of vehicles at your disposal, modes centered around teamwork, and of course, ultimate destruction! It creates moments like no other game can and each match is unique to you. It is unlikely you will ever have matches where something awesome doesn’t happen at least once.
While you can play it without really putting in a lot of thought, you will enjoy it much more and perform much better by playing tactically and learning the strategies of the enemy and executing plans you and your squad make. If you’re alone, you may just enjoy improvising everything which can also come with satisfying results!
1. The campaign is a brutal, emotional ride through hell.
World War 1 is one of the worst periods in history. The war to end all wars resulted in 17 million deaths and 20 million wounded, it solved basically nothing and was one of the deadliest wars ever fought. The war was so disturbingly grotesque that the world agreed it would never use some of the tactics and weapons they used ever again. Gone were the days of mustard gas! It was brutal and many people sacrificed themselves for a war that will never be forgotten.
A lot of this history is replicated in Battlefield 1’s campaign. The game offers 5 unique short stories across the world showing 5 different factions, characters, and mission types. Not only is it smart from a story perspective, but it’s smart from a gameplay perspective. It gives players tons of variety and choice by letting you choose whatever you want right from the beginning. If you want to be a pilot, be a pilot. If you want to fight alongside Lawrence of Arabia, you can do that! It is engaging and fun to play and you’ll want to play through all of it because the stories are captivating.
Each story has some sort of theme about the war or just human beings in general. You will meet characters you care about, pull off awesome moments, and learn about the hardship faced in the war. The game has one of the most gut-wrenchingly brutal openings of any video game ever. While it isn’t really gory as in limbs are flying off left and right while people run around with their heads detached from their body, it is still horrifically haunting.
Without spoiling too much, it puts players straight into hell by showing them horrible scenarios that were encountered throughout World War 1 and the game wants you to endure it to show how terrible these events were. It is one of the most powerful and impactful openings ever made and I applaud DICE for having the cajones to do it.
Battlefield 1 is a shooter like no other and doesn’t lack in any department. The multiplayer is fantastic, the campaign is fantastic, and the gameplay is extraordinary! If you’re looking for a good game to play this holiday season, Battlefield 1 should be the one you pick!
[Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by EA, but none of our opinions were influenced. We accepted the sponsorship because we genuinely love Battlefield 1.]
