Battlefield 2042 ate a whole lot of shit at launch, and rightly so, as a result of for a recreation claiming to be launching as a premium shooter at a premium worth level it positive got here out undercooked.
Most people merely stated the sport was “unhealthy”, although, which I’ve at all times maintained wasn’t strictly true, as a result of a whole lot of what was there was truly effective, it was simply launched in a sparse and unready state. With some work—the type of work DICE could be afforded with an additional yr, and with out the stress of getting to launch an unfinished recreation in the midst of a pandemic to fulfill EA’s executives and traders—I positively held out hope the sport would possibly sooner or later prove higher than effective. Good, even.
Now that we’re two main seasonal updates into the sport’s lifespan, I don’t assume it’s fairly there but, however you may positively see “Good” on the horizon. The sport’s main additions like new maps, weapons and Specialists have in fact helped flesh out the expertise, however the seemingly countless high quality of life enhancements made to each different nook of the sport, from menus to icons, are doing simply as a lot work.
A lot of the sport’s early criticism centered on how uncooked the sport was, the way it gave the impression to be lacking a lot of what made earlier video games higher. Stuff like scoreboards and lifelong statistics. Stuff that’s now within the recreation. It additionally felt a bit empty, and imprecise, like some maps held collectively by a handful of damaged menu screens. That’s mounted now too. Battlefield 2042 lastly feels extra like a coherent, useful online game, as an alternative of a collection of maps held along with tape.
All the things simply feels extra rounded out, extra at residence on the planet DICE constructed for this iteration within the collection. After some nips and tucks Specialists now look as severe because the climate-ravaged maps they’re combating over, and the maps are beginning to construct up sufficient in quantity and consistency that they’re fleshing the world itself out as effectively.
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Principally, there’s sufficient polish and content material right here that had you bought this in October 2021 as an alternative of what was truly rushed out the door, you may need merely thought OK, that is the brand new Battlefield recreation, let’s test it out. That’s a low bar to clear, I do know—assembly fundamental requirements of performance for a AAA recreation launch isn’t one thing we must be actively celebrating—however 2042’s launch was low, so any progress is progress.
Certainly issues are coming collectively so properly—if slowly—that I feel as soon as we’ve bought 1-2 extra new maps, possibly the identical quantity of Specialists, a couple of extra weapons (sniper rifles have been largely ignored since launch) and the method of remodeling the launch maps is completed (DICE are going again and modifying a lot of them out, including extra terrain and element), I feel “Good” is unquestionably inside attain of this recreation.
We didn’t simply magically arrive at this level, in fact, as many of the recreation’s updates have come within the type of its first two Seasons. I’ve lined Season 01 already, which was surprisingly enjoyable, and Season 02 dropped final week. Happily (?) I used to be off work with Covid final week and so bought the prospect to play the hell out of it, and I got here away as soon as once more impressed with the best way every part about it’s simply a lot extra attention-grabbing and gratifying than what was obtainable at launch.
The brand new armoured car, sitting someplace between the LATV4 and the Wildcat by way of its velocity, safety and firepower, was a blast to drive round, and between its passenger capability and talent to drop spawn factors it’s already a recon participant’s favorite. Crawford, the brand new Specialist, has a cell minigun turret, which is as silly and enjoyable to make use of because it sounds. The very best a part of Season 02 although is the brand new map, which I used to be down on at first look, however which is definitely in apply simply three lengthy “lanes” (a desert space for autos, a ship’s inside for close-quarters infantry bloodbaths and a sniper’s paradise amongst some palm bushes), providing three fully completely different playstyles which might be all only a fast jog away.
So yeah, each of Battlefield 2042’s Seasons have been nice, respiratory life right into a recreation many would have thought had landed Useless On Arrival. Keep in mind, although: AAA video games, particularly persistently on-line ones like this, are normally too large to fail, for higher or worse, and 2042’s sluggish enchancment after such a disastrous launch is the most recent instance of this.
