For a number of years, the Battlefield franchise has been duking it out with Call of Duty, even though the games are very different fundamentally. Most of the time, Call of Duty takes the lead in sales. However, things might be very different this year, and it all started with the release of the Battlefield 1 trailer.
A Different Era
People knew that there was going to be a new Battlefield game. However, they did not know what it was going to be or what time period it would cover. Some thought that they would continue their trend of modern shooters and that they would put out something similar to Battlefield 4. Others felt that they might go back in time a little bit, maybe to the Vietnam War or to World War II.
Very few thought they would go back even further to World War I, but that’s exactly what happened, and it was all revealed in a stunning trailer that quickly became one of the most viewed and most liked videos on Vimeo. It was a visceral and brutal trailer set to “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes, and the trailer really worked to get everyone hyped for the game.
The Closed Alpha
DICE and EA knew that they had something special on their hands. People were tired of the modern and the futuristic shooters that were on the market, and going to WWI proved to be a smart move.
They also knew that they had a lot to prove, as the launch of Battlefield 4 was very problematic. The game didn’t work well for months after release, and it really only came into its own about a year after release. When they launched Battlefield: Hardline last year, the launch was smooth, but not everyone was thrilled with the change in direction – they went with cops and robbers.
They had to show that Battlefield 1 would be different, and that it wouldn’t have the same flaws as their Battlefield 4 launch. They launched their closed alpha test to a limited number of people to test out the game and servers, and the results were buttery smooth for the most part. They took feedback and made changes where needed. They will likely have an open beta as well, which will provide them an opportunity to test their servers.
Quite a few changes were made to the overall gameplay as well.
Gameplay Changes
In Battlefield 1, every class has a unique role where they excel, and they have weapons and gadgets that are unique to that class. When you play, you can choose from – assault, support, medic, and scout.
The scout class is the sniper. Gone are the days when snipers will sit back in their spawn and take pot shots at people across the map. While the sniper rifles in this game are very powerful, the scopes are limited in their range. Scouts still need to be an actual part of the battle. When used properly, they can excel.
The tanks in this game are very powerful and frightening when they appear on the field of battle. The assault class can help to deal with them though. They have antitank weapons that are essential. The support class can lay down the suppressive fire and provide the rest of the team with additional ammunition.
Of course, if you want to do well and keep your squad healthy and out of the spawn screen, you are going to need a medic. They have medic bags that will heal people who stand around them, as well as a syringe that can bring back teammates who have been downed. In addition, you can use this syringe to kill the enemy with a well-placed jab.
There are some amazing vehicles in the game as well, including some of the earliest tanks and prototypes to ever see a battlefield. There are also warships, war trains, aircraft, zeppelins, and even horses, which is a first for the Battlefield franchise. In fact, there are quite a few firsts for this game.
Beautiful Maps
DICE has always made interesting maps, and thanks to the Frostbite engine, they also happen to make some of the most beautiful. From the Arabian desert to the French countryside and beyond, the visuals in this game will stun you.
Many fans are very happy that there is a massive element of destruction in this game as well, which was lacking in the past several releases. In Battlefield 1, there is a lot of destruction available, as seen in the closed alpha, as well as the recent stream from Germany’s Gamescom. Buildings go down when a tank shells them or when they are hit with explosives. This can reduce the amount of cover available and force people from their hiding spots.
The maps also feature something called behemoths. These are massive vehicles supplied to the losing team to help give them a fighting chance. These include ships, trains, and zeppelins. When the zeppelin is finally shot down, it can take out buildings, as well as soldiers, when it falls. The debris will stay there through the rest of the game, which can provide new routes and cover.
Single Player
While the 64-player combat is generally the big draw for the majority of the people who play Battlefield games, you will also get a full single player campaign with this game. The details of the story are quiet at this point, but if the past is any indicator, you can expect a big and bombastic story with some highly entertaining set pieces.
A Game You Don’t Want to Miss
With the Battlefield 1, no disc option, you can get the download code so you can download as soon as the game is available. This is one of the hottest games of the past couple of years, and it is one you certainly do not want to miss.
