Jesse Lardies
Publisher: Electronic Arts | ETA: Out Now | Price: £29.99 Inc VAT.
Battlefield: 1942 was, and is a staple in the PC online gaming community. With its large roster of vehicles, varied weapons and team based tactics, it's always a favourite for those seeking multiplayer Nirvana. Now the question is; does EA stick to the game-play that worked so well for the series? Or, do they try and improve on an all ready successful formula? EA is known for letting some of its other known game franchise’s fall into a somewhat bland state, as far as expansion packs and sequels are concerned. Medal of Honour: Rising Sun comes to mind immediately! The graphics in Battlefield: Vietnam is improved over Battlefield: 1942 and sport a more polished look. It is apparent that they have spent some money in the development of this game. EA, and developer Digital Illusions CE. have sought to bring you away from the beaches of Normandy with this latest instalment, and has, for the most part, delivered in spades. As before, up to 64 players can battle it out, this time choosing either the Allied or US forces, or Vietcong and Vietnamese allies.
Battles are carried out, much as in the real war, over land, sea and air. Battlefield: Vietnam gives you control over a variety of vehicles. Besides jeeps and trucks are the F-4 Phantom fighter jet, the UH-1 Huey helicopter, PT boats, APCs, Russian made T-54 tanks and MIG-21s. Of course, the standard issue M-16 Assault Rifle will be your best friend in the open battlegrounds. If you decide to join forces with the Vietcong, their tactics are a bit more dirty, implementing such traps as punji sticks, (which are in effect, sharpened stakes laid down as traps in covered pits). Also, rolling logs covered with spikes will be sure to introduce themselves to you if given the chance. Soviet Kalashnikovs, (AK-47s) are also some of the tools of the trade for Charlie. The same character classes are back for the fight including - Scout, Medic, Antitank, Engineer and Assault, each class having a specific set of weapons at their disposal. These are just some of the tricks crafty players will be able to implement in Battlefield: Vietnam.
Music was obviously a big part of the Vietnam War, (at least in the movies) and this is where Battlefield: Vietnam does some of its best work. Such classics as CCR's Vietnam Song, are included, also, Jimmy Hendrix's War obviously makes an appearance. There are many more great songs in the game. Flying a Helicopter, while listening to "Bird is the word" has few equals in the game world, as far as immersing yourself in the time period and settings. Every vehicle has a radio, as do US bases, which sometimes air a talk radio station much like that in Good Morning Vietnam - Which is a very nice touch!
Battlefield keeps a lot of the same feel from the original. However, some game modes were cut this time around. Capture The Flag and Deathmatch have been replaced by two new games. Evolution is one of the new game types, using two different maps while keeping the players score. The Custom Combat mode allows players to create custom configurations for maps, including changing weapon types, vehicles, and other options.
I was disappointed that there wasn't a true single player campaign to speak of, but rather more of a training exercise for what is the bare nature of the multiplayer game. Whilst the single player game covered some historical battles, such as the Siege of Khe Sahn, the battles on the Ho Chi Minh trail and the Fall of Lang Vei, I felt that Battlefield: Vietnam somewhat failed in comparison to games with both fantastic single player campaigns and multiplayer, such as Call Of Duty. I'm still waiting for a game with really convincing enemy A.I. Battlefield: Vietnam’s single player bots aren't the best team mates out there. Actually, the enemy A.I. isn't very good at all. They're pretty much the opposite from the second abbreviation of A.I. (intelligence). I've been able to walk right up behind a small squad of solders and shoot them each in the back of the head without their buddies noticing. I suppose the A.I. has improved over Battlefield: 1942’s, just not to the extent that we can call the bots intelligent!