Battlefield 2142
Preview
Battlefield goes Sci-Fi
by jdarksun
previewed on PC
Vehicle Changes
As Battlefield 2142 is set in the future, it wouldn't do to have the forces fighting with Panzer VI tanks, Cobra helicopters, or TOW Armored Humvee's. There are still a variety of tanks, artillery pieces, fast transportation, troop transports and air units - but now there are also 'mechs' called 'Battlewalkers'. Because of its futuristic nature, the vehicles have undergone huge balance changes from Battlefield 2, and the outcome is extremely satisfying; a rock/paper/scissors -like system is functional and in place. No vehicle dominates the battlefield entirely; each has strengths and weaknesses.
Things haven't changed that much on the ground on the other hand. Tanks are still the trump card in many situations, but the inclusion of EMP weapons allows one to temporarily shut down a vehicle without damaging it. The biggest change is in the airborne game - smart munitions track targets, preventing ace pilots from striking with impunity, but still allowing Gunships to have an active and powerful role over the battlefield when operating with proper support. This just touches on the balance changes, but suffice to say (being a very veteran Battlefield player) they are all for the good.
Map Additions
Battlefield 2142 will launch with ten unique maps and a new game mode called Titan. This mode is essentially 'Double Jeopardy Conquest', and plays very much like the aircraft carrier maps from Battlefield 1942. Titans are huge, flying command centers - they launch infantry and vehicles, and have substantial anti-air weaponry and ground-bombardment capabilities. The destruction of your enemies' Titans is the end goal of the Titan game mode, and it can be brought about in a couple of different ways. Titan mode has been layered on top of a normal Conquest map, with the Conquest capture points containing anti-Titan missile systems. As the teams capture these points, the missile systems launch at the opposing Titan. This causes the Titan's shields (and eventually armor) to fail.
This is where the twist kicks in - once the Titan's shields are down, enemy squads can assault the Titan itself, gaining entrance and destroying it from the inside. Once four control panels are destroyed, the Titan's core is exposed and can be destroyed. This game mode is the shining star of Battlefield 2142, and exemplifies the game itself - not a huge revolution over the known and loved gameplay, but a fun and interesting evolution.
The Down Side
Unfortunately, it can't all be good news. EA has recently announced that Battlefield 2142 will feature 'Dynamic Advertising'; some sort of in-game presence, advertising a real-world product. This isn't a unique development; Sony's Planetside featured obscenely annoying advertisements on a short repeat loop in an immersion-breaking location (one does not expect to hear 2005 anti-drug commercials inside of a futuristic war simulation). What exactly will be advertised, and how, has not yet been disclosed. The advertisements will supposedly provide a 'contextually relevant' 'realistic brand presence'.
Aside from this potential blemish, Battlefield 2142 is shaping up nicely. Look for a public demo some time before its release in October.
