Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on PC Multiplayer is fast and frantic with fantastic graphics and gameplay that feels somewhat like a mixture between Battlefield 2 (BF2) and Call of Duty 4 (CoD4).

The game is the sequel to the console exclusive Bad Company and is currently in a closed beta phase. Do Gaming has four servers up so if gamers have pre-ordered the game they can get their beta key and start playing.

Gameplay

The map for the beta is called Port Valdez, and the battle takes place between the US and Russian Armies. The battle is fought over four locations on one map. Think of the map in terms of a line, in order to get to point number two players have to blow up two locations at point one.

Once the locations at point two have been destroyed, players move on to point three and then the final location and victory for the attacking team. The attacking team has a limited number of tickets with which to complete the attack, and after successfully blowing up the targets at each point players receive additional tickets.

In order to understand the scale of the game, each section is roughly the same size as a large map in Counter Strike: Source (CS:S) or CoD4, and there are four sections linked together to form one huge map.

The size can be a little bit overwhelming at first; as the map is quite large it can be a little tough for players to find their bearings. However, after one or two runs, players will find the best and safest routes to specific targets.

Just like any other game there is a learning curve and if players have no experience in Battlefield, it may be a little bit tough to come to grips with the gameplay. However, new players can join a squad and start to talk to the other players who will more than likely be helpful in showing them the ropes.

The gameplay is very similar to other Battlefield games in terms of teams and a player being able to attack or defend from wherever they think is best. However, due to the fact that the map is somewhat linear, players only have access to one section at a time, and it does feel a little bit restricted.

When a Battlefield style Conquest map is released on the same scale, the game should excel. Even though this map is a tad linear, the final full release promises to deliver many more maps and modes that should be brilliant.

Vehicles

Don’t forget that the game also features vehicles! Quad bikes, attack choppers, transport choppers, tanks and even Vodniks with mounted machine guns all feature. The vehicles add another fantastic element to the title and one that cannot be overlooked. A single squad looking after the armour and keeping it alive via engineers can cause major pains in the opposing team.

The vehicles, however, do once again seem to be a deterrent to CoD4 players, many of which seem to prefer a game where vehicles are not in the equation. This could see many CoD4 players continuing to play CoD4 competitively after Modern Warfare 2 failed to take off as a competitive title due to its lack of dedicated server support.

Graphics and Sound

The game also looks fantastic. The textures are great, the debris from explosions and the dust clouds when tank shells hit the ground look excellent. The game looks particularly good at max graphics and the ambient sounds and wonderful effects all contribute to ensure players feel like they are on the battlefield.

The audio is crisp and varied audio is both scary and fantastic with players able to hear bullets whiz past their head and then experience the buzz of the bass when a tank shell explodes.

All in all, the gameplay is fast and frantic; it looks fantastic and it just feels like a good mixture between BF2 and COD4. Oh and let’s not forget that buildings, walls and even the ground in BFBC2 are destructible. This means that the building players are taking refuge in can and most likely will be damaged and blown up at some point. The destructible terrain is fantastic to see and really does add that something special to the game to make it stand out.

Competitive Aspirations

While the title still has a few problems that will be ironed out as it comes closer to release (weapon balance and server browser problems for example), its competitive success remains to be seen. The CoD4 players in general do not seem to like the title, but then again, COD4 and BF2 ran side by side in South Africa for many years. The existing Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142 players seem to be enjoying the title more; however they do not like certain elements that are very similar to CoD4 as well as the Rush Game play mode.

Dedicated servers, the gameplay and the Battlefield style clan games could in fact lead to the game becoming a very successful competitive title in South Africa. Add to this the fact that the new game modes, Rush and Squad Rush, means there could in fact be several leagues for players to take part in.

However, questions around competitive playing can only truly be answered once the game is fully released and guns have been balanced. It is only once players have had a chance to play that things will begin to settle down.

Overall the beta is most enjoyable. The dynamic nature of attacking and defending the different classes and class based unlocks coupled with the graphics, sound and gameplay makes Battlefield: Bad Company 2 an absolutely epic game. Gamers can only hope the final release will build on the beta to make the title a stalwart in the local gaming scene.

             
                                                                         BC 2 Walk Through Video!

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