Battlefield 2142: Complicated Improvements and Unchanging Problems

If you're a fan of the previous Battlefield action franchise or would like to engage in some serious gun fights, then you should give Battlefield 2142 a try. Although much more complicated than its predecessors, it includes some cool features and developments. Battlefield 2 veterans will feel right at home with the improved interface. There are many new changes, albeit small, that should warrant your attention.

Set in the year 2142, the world is undergoing another ice age. As two factions fight an all ought war for survival and a new home in the distant future.

Features

The story describes a war that results from tensions between the European Union and the Russia-centered Pan Asian Coalition when both try to establish settlements in North Africa. The two factions are hard to distinguish in game with similar looking high tech armor.

The future will seem not so different from Battlefield 2. Weapons and vehicles still exist in the future, albeit improved and futuristic. There are assault rifles, sniper rifles, missile launchers, and light machine guns to use for the game’s four classes. Note that these four classes are down from the seven in Battlefield 2, but are more flexible and customizable. But, this flexibility does come with a price.

The idea of weapon unlocks in the previous version was well received and so the developers obviously took this into account for Battle 2142. There are over 40 different weapons or pieces of equipment players can unlock. Furthermore, classes can power up and specialize in one certain field. For example, a recon class player could become a powerful sniper or a Special Forces operator, depending upon the player’s choice of weapons and training. What’s frustrating about this weapon unlocking system is that most weapons require so much playing time to unlock that it simply becomes a matter of long term playing. Although the first few unlocks for each class is fairly easy, the more advanced weapons require insane amounts of points that must be accumulated by completing tasks in game. It was frustrating to be playing without even a very basic grenade for hours when I started, when I had to unlock it. This system apparently rewards long term play and so you won’t have much to play with in the beginning. The vehicles you will battle with are again familiar but futuristic. There are armored personnel carriers, tanks, and buggies revamped with unique special abilities.

There is also the reintroduction of the squad nature of gameplay and there are “field incentives” for teaming up and playing together. Players can accumulate points for following orders of the commander and for working together well.

Besides the familiar conquest mode of play, there is a new mode called the Titan mode in which players fight to destroy the enemy’s titan (a floating aircraft carrier/battleship defended by an energy shield). This mode can be both fun and frenetic as players from opposing sides go all out to achieve victory. This new Titan mode is innovative and allows players to take a break from conquest, which is a mode that forces players to capture and hold various control points on the map.

Battlefield 2142 has still around 16 player maps. This can possibly lead to players feeling bored at times from playing on the same maps over and over again. It is still uncertain whether or not an expansion pack will be released. If it isn’t then players are stuck with this lack of maps.

Battlefield 2142’s graphics engine is an enhanced version of Battlefield 2’s engine. This engine is still functional though it is not cutting edge technology as it once was. However at resolutions lower than 1280 X 1024, the graphics is still beautiful and clean. Battlefield 2142 still doesn’t offer widescreen support and still has long load times, which is fairly annoying.

Problems With Online Multiplayer Play

There is still advertising during online play. Although this isn’t a problem when offline, it can really be disturbing while online play. Electronic Arts has advised players to not play the software while on a platform connected to the internet if players do not wish to view ads. However, this is completely contradictory and doesn’t solve the problem. Although the offline single player games can be fun, they can tire a player out quickly. As with its previous version, online play was what made the series a success. EA should address this problem if it wishes for this version to be a success.

Final Thoughts

Battlefield 2142 takes place in a futuristic ice age world. It doesn’t appear too high tech with familiar weapons and vehicles. However, the now aging graphics engine, long loading times, and problems with online play hinder this game’s success. If you’re looking for a responsive fast paced action game to enjoy with friends online, then I suggest you look elsewhere. If you’re a returning veteran and could bear with the little problems, then Battlefield 2142 will offer for you tons of new interesting tweaks and improvements over its previous version.