Battlefield 2142
February 13,2007 - After last year’s decidedly killer Battlefield 2, desktop generals expect quite a bit from the pairing of big-budget publisher Electronic Arts and detail-oriented Digital Illusions C.E. There’s nothing wrong with wanting big things from big talent – any entertainment medium works the same way. Yet it’s hard not to feel a pang of minor disappointment after spending a few hours with Battlefield 2142. Not that EA’s latest is a bad game by any means, but because it is essentially a glorified add-on supported by a few stand-out features, it’s only a shadow of what it could have (and for a $49.99 MSRP, should have) been. The game moves, feels, and plays like Battlefield 2, from the weightiness of the player controls to the general roles of the four combat classes. Even the familiar glitches and sever issues that plagued Battlefield 2 are back in full form, unfortunately with some new ones popping up at undue times. That's not to say, though, that improvements don’t exist.

In fact, aside from the cold and gritty futuristic setting, the first thing stalwarts will notice about 2142 are the vastly reduced sign in and map load times. It’s not uncommon to load a map within 30 seconds to a minute, PC horsepower notwithstanding, compared to the gargantuan 3 minute-plus load times of Battlefield 2. The new buddy list feature lets players connect with each other in an instant and works as advertised. The graphics of 2142 are suitably high-end, though since they run on the Battlefield 2 engine, the whole game has a familiar yet slightly upgraded look. The series’ gorgeous special effects are intact; DICE has added a few new ones, too. Even the system of unlocking content is back with a technological makeover and a couple of controversial spins.

What’s massively archaic, and slightly irritating, is 2142’s way of handling kit upgrades. While Battlefield 2 separated these roles into seven distinct classes, the pseudo-sequel shoehorns the functionality of each into one of four classes. The resulting mishmash blurs class roles considerably. For example, the Assault class is effective at short to mid-range combat, but they also carry medical supplies with which to heal teammates and themselves, meaning that the most effective offensive class is also the best at healing their own hides. The issue ties into the relative difficulty of unlocking the equipment necessary to mold these classes into more defined roles. The rate at which you earn unlock points tends to be quick at first, but after the first seven or eight experience levels, things slow to a crawl. And unless you’re a certified cyber-athlete, you’ll have to put in some serious time to make your soldier an effective force. The Recon unit can’t even zoom in on their sniper rifle scopes before unlocking the appropriate upgrade. It’s also frustrating to deal with opponents who take cover behind barriers (which is basically everyone you’ll be playing against) before you’ve acquired the upgraded targeting systems. This frustration is doubly true in the beginning stages where almost everyone you play against will be better outfitted than you. The difficulty of unlocking equipment forces you to stick to one role and vehemently discourages experimentation with other classes.

Despite these knocks, there’s no better tactical shooter on the PC aside from CounterStrike and Battlefield 2. The rapid action of the latter is back here in prime form. It’s actually faster this time around, especially in the game’s new Titan mode. Essentially, it's an innovative take on the original Conquest mode and gives sundering resolution to the arbitrary war of “tickets” that characterized previous Battlefield games. Titan mode is rush to destroy the opposing team’s base, a floating warship of massive proportions. Destruction can be accomplished by one of two methods - capturing land-based silos that periodically hurl missiles into the air, or by directly assaulting the command consoles and energy core located within the enemy Titan itself. Pulling off this bit of espionage requires sound teamwork, a high level of skill, and just a little luck. These inner-Titan battles are some of the most exciting the series has offered, as squad leaders struggle to stay alive during violent, decisive pushes.

The presence of the Titan itself plays a major factor, not only because it carries powerful air-to-ground weaponry, but because infantry can spawn inside and “launch” themselves via a drop pod to any nearby location. Crashing smack-dab into the midst of a pitched battle never really gets old, and it serves an important strategic purpose. Since the commander can slowly steer the Titan around the map, parking this massive beast in an important location gives infantry troops an immediate doorway into the action.

As long as you’ve got halfway competent teammates, 2142 is a trip down ass-kicking lane. There’s nothing else like it when all cylinders fire on cue. You’ll be a part of some incredible action sequences: imagine running for dear life as a mechanized walker tramples the terrain, explosions deafening your ears and suitably blurring your vision. Or holding out against all odds as an artillery strike leads the way for an armored assault on your position. Or even playing the role of a sniper, calling out enemy movements and spotting them for your teammates. There’s a reason clans run deep and friendships are forged in games like this – it’s because the heat of battle is intense and synergy between squad mates is valued highly, especially in chaotic 64-player bouts.

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