While it is sold as a downloadable title, don't let the platform or bargain price fool you - this game has been lovingly crafted by the development team at DICE, built from the groundwork of it entertaining console brother Battlefield: Bad Company - which we here at PALGN thought quite highly of.
The importance of good tank maintenance cannot be overlooked.
For those that are familiar with the popular FPS series, you won't find any surprises with the gameplay in Battlefield 1943. This title returns players to the era that made the Battlefield name, World War II. Though this time it take a fresh spin on quite a stale genre by setting the game in the Pacific theatre of war with the Americans taking on the might of the Rising Sun. Initially this may seem like just another generic WWII shooter, which die-hard Battlefield veterans will most likely scoff at due to the bare bones nature of the game, but DICE should be commended for bringing something different to the table. This cheap title presents players with a stripped back edition of Battlefield that is fast, fun and easy to learn - not to mention it's pretty good looking to boot.
At the moment, 1943 contains only one game mode, Conquest. The mode divides players into two armies ( US forces and the Japanese) where teams will duke it out against each other over capture points that are placed in different sections of each map. The objective of the game is for each team to capture the points to gain tactical advantage over the opposition, giving you a better chance to wipe out enemy reinforcements before they can establish a foothold in your territory. The to-and-fro nature of Conquest allows for some very intense and competitive battles, with players banding together to capture a point. Like most multiplayer titles there is always a gung-ho lone wolf type hanging around, but for the most part we were lucky enough to find ourselves working co-operatively amongst our squad members to help turn the tide of battle. Nevertheless, twenty-four players crammed onto one map makes for some hella good run-and-gun action.
A second game mode - Air Superiority - has been confirmed, which will see players jump into the cockpit and take to the sky for an online aerial battle for air superiority of the Pacific. We are unable to experience what Air Superiority has to offer as DICE are not making it available until players have completed the Coral Sea Challenge - a competition which pits Xbox 360 players against PlayStation 3 players in a race to collectively reach forty-three million kills in order to unlock the mode and the fourth game map 'Coral Sea'.
We can only imagine what's in-store for gamers when air superiority arrives.
One of the hallmarks of the Battlefield series is vehicular combat, and 1943 is no different, giving players four different vehicles to choose from. For those that like to make their presence felt, the tank proves to be the vehicle of choice as this slow-moving beast can easily carve up enemy units and structures. The jeep is mainly used for quickly transporting the troops (or hooning around the map if you're into that kind of thing), but loaded up with a few good men, it can prove to be a quick and deadly form of attack. Boats have only one singular purpose, but it's a rather important one - getting the troops from the aircraft carrier to the battlefield. If you can manage to stop the boats from reaching the island, you'll effectively cut off the oppositions line of reinforcements. The final vehicle is by far the best - the aeroplane. These planes can take off from both land or sea and prove to be quite a handful as they can easily strafe enemy infantry or bomb the enemy into submission.
One of the most important factors of an FPS title is how well it handles, and while many purists will say that nothing compares to the good, old mouse and keyboard combo, the gap between console controllers and the classic PC combination is closing. Those familiar with Battlefield: Bad Company will feel quite at ease with the controls of 1943. Controlling the aeroplane will likely prove to be the most taxing aspect of the title to master, but after a short session with the game you'll be dropping bombs like a genuine bombardier. The other vehicles are quite easy to get the hang of, as is the general control of your infantry soldier.
Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the bombs are pretty.
Which brings us to the class system of Battlefield 1943. The game breaks down infantry classes into three separate types, each with their own pros and cons. The rifleman comes equipped with a standard issue rifle, complete with iron sights which allows players to pick off targets from both close range and long range (which easily makes it the number one choice for gamers who like to maneuver in-and-out of the action) along with grenades to help you take out some pesky enemy vehicles. The scout class is for those who like to partake in the action from a distance, coming equipped with a sniper rifle and pistol, plus a satchel charge. Thanks to the large scale of the game's maps you'll have many opportunities to put your snipping skills to the test. For players who like to get up and personal, the infantry class is your best bet. While this class' sub-machine gun presents players with some short range limitations, the secondary bazooka weapon makes this class handy to have when you find yourself up against an enemy tank. The infantry class also allows players to repair your army's vehicles, but this is a feature that we've rarely found used during our extensive look at the title. Of course, at the end of the day it all boils down to player preference as to which player class gets your vote of confidence.
From a visual standpoint, 1943 is not the bees knees of what we have come to expect out of the Xbox 360, though it must be said that for a downloadable multiplayer title that boasts twenty-four players in online play, we are quite impressed with the detail that has gone into each map. Look closely though and you'll spot a few jaggies.
Whether you bleed for all things Battlefield or are just a gamer after a moderately priced casual shooter that is fun to pick up and play, you can't go past the entertaining gameplay of Battlefield 1943. However, we can't help but wonder whether players will stick around the 1943 servers once Battlefield: Bad Company 2 arrives. Until then though, the tropical setting of the title best describes our opinion of Battlefield 1943 - utter paradise.
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