Battlefield 3
Here is a YouTube video of online Team Deatmatch: Battlefiel 3 online Team Deathmatch
Tutorials and Guides
Relik Battlefield 3 Mastery Guide
Here are a few screenshots of Origin and the menu. (Yea, so now you know my name on BF3...)
Battlefield 3 Menu
First Glance
I experienced a bit of confusion when installing Battlefield 3: It firsts install a program called "Origin" where you need to sign up for an account or log in with an excisting one.
Origin gave me the impression of a "Steam light" engine. You need Origin and be online in order to install Battlefield 3. I used to have Battlefield Bad Company 2 on that particular computer and for some reason Origin wanted to download it time and again. Finally I got Origin to ask my BF3 product key, after which it asks you if you want to download the game.
Don't worry..as long as you are signed into Origin, have your DVD in the DVD tray and you press "download", it will actually install it from the DVD. Lastly, the latest patches are downloaded and applied. The first noticeable change was that BF3 menu opened in your Internet Browser which I am positive about; since all your stats (including your friends') are always visible.
Joy possessed my body and made it convuldge in excitement when I saw that co-op gameplay was an option on the menu. I know, i know...not a biggie for most of you out there -BUT..Sometimes a worthwhile single player campaign comes along that I just wish I could have shared with my friends and sadly it was not possible.
I've noticed several areas of this game that EA wanted to focus on:
1) Creating an easy platform to communicate, share and play with friends - a social network if you will.
2) Being environmently friendly - You only get an online manual of the game - Buying the DVD box set only provides you with the installation guide and warranty and two promotional leavelets.
3) Combining the best features of Battlefield 2 with Bad company 2
4) Customization of basically everything, except your character's looks.
I will talk about this a little bit more later....
The Menu
As you can see, everything is available from this page.
You can see live updates from your friends including: Their acheivements, comments and status.
On the bottom right of the page is a new addition called: "COM centre" From here you can chat with your friends, create a party, join a server that your friend is playing on, drop their icon to the server you are playing on to invite them and even use voice channels for communication.
I like the fact that you can immideatly see your upcoming unlocks and the progress towards them. Clicking on almost anything, will give you more information for instance: Clicking on my current weapon will show all the available unlocks for that weapon, my performance using that weapon, unlock progress and specifications.
All-in-all, I am very impressed with the menu when you consider the wealth of things you can do with the interface without it being a bit overwhelming.
The Campaign
Bad Company 2 had a short campaign with the object to familiarize you with the gameplay. Once you played the campaign, you were online combat ready.
Battlefield 3 have a solid campaign that is worthwhile playing.(In my opinion) It has a good story line with descent actors playing in the cut scenes. The campaign introduces you to the new game model by plunging you in a train, chasing down some bad guys. Next, Sergeant Miller finds him in a room with two guys interogating him. The answers Miller provides, plays off in-game.
There is a bit of a hand-to-hand combat model in the campaign where you have to press certain buttons as they come onto the screen, for counter attacks and so forth.
I enjoyed the campaign with much more realistic explosions, bringing light and darkness into play and just overall fun. It honestly pulled me into the story and got the adrenaline pumping. A lot of critics disagree with me on this point, but just like my movies, I am not into flair or art. If I want to see an action movie, show me one without incorporating some deep meaning or mind conflict. In the same regard, I am just an ordinary guy playing some games now and again wanting some fun.
Playing the campaign; however, did not explain all the features of online play and I therefore missed how you are supposed to customize your weapons. A quick glance in the manual won't hurt.
Gameplay
Addictive as ever! Some features that are different to Bad Company 2:
1) You can go prone again with the default 'z' key.
2) Tactical lights and lasers can disorient/blind you.
3) Not only do you unlock weapons and gadgets, but loads of accessories for your weapons.
4) Unlocks of accessories and abilities with air/land vehichles are based on points scored with that
item.
5) All projectiles have bullet drop at long range.
6) Each class (Engineer, Medic, Assault, and so forth) brings something new to the table. As an example: The engineer can unlock a remote controlled repair/bomb defuse robot.
7) You can unlock different camoflaged suits.
8) You can even edit your dog tags!
The dynamics of the game is awesome and it runs without problems on my Core2 Duo 3.0GHz and 4GB of RAM. The damage model to vehicles also changed a bit where you can, with enough damage, disable the vehicle but not to the extend that it can't still shoot! (You have been warned)
The maps are well designed with loads of shortcuts and hiding spaces.
All I can say is that the graphics are phenominal and the gameplay is extremely fun with some servers offering a mixed mode of play where one map will be conquest play and the next may be a rush map. There are also one or two new vehicles - both land and air.
Rating
I will give the game a solid 4.5 stars. I did get where Battlefield 3 stopped responding or where it struggles to do map changes. Luckily it is not too often.
