GamesCom 2011: Battlefield 3 (Multiplayer)

One of the most talked about games at both this years GamesCom and pretty much in general is Battlefield 3. Personally, I am very excited for this game, and can’t wait to see some single player for it, but for now, multiplayer will have to do. But what was it like and will it live up to Bad Company 2′s multiplayer?

First off, I have to declare that we played the PC version of the game, which is my preferred version of shooter games since playing Bad Company 2 on my mates PC. But as far as I’m aware, other than the obvious differences, there won’t be too much between the two in terms of level design, weapons and other things like that. Anyway, moving on. As soon as you start picking your class and weapons, you feel as though you are already in the next generation of gaming from the Dice team. They have certainly vamped up the menus and made them more stylish than before, but just as easy to navigate as well.

Of course, the menu isn’t what you buy a game for unless you are a nutter. Once you drop into the game, you get a sense of levelling up from Bad Company 2. The visuals are much better, and the sounds are just fantastic. We go to use a great headset though, so that is a again a little biased in that sense. The available game type was Conquest, and as you all probably know, this is a favourite in the Battlefield world. It is a team based game where you have to capture and protect flags. With up to 64 players, this game type is pretty immense. Sadly, this scale of warfare is only really for the PC, but don’t be disheartened if you are a console player.

The way the player handles is pretty nice as well, and again feels next generation. It is all pretty simple to grasp, and those familiar with the series will pick it up even quicker. The running is much better than the last title, and crouching is handled well. In a similar way to black ops, there is a function where you can dive to the floor to get out of the way of incoming fire quickly. And prone has been added to the roster of stealthy gameplay. Weapon changing is basic as well, so you can easily access all your weapons and aid items.

Everything has been given a nice refresh in terms of style and graphics for this title. The engineers repair tool has been given a new look, and so have the ammo and heath pack drops. It just all feels shiny and new for this title, and that’s a good thing. On top of this, level design has been vamped up a bit as well. Battlefield has always had huge maps, and this title is no different. The map we were on was massive. It took a good 20 seconds to get to the action from the start when running, which is why vehicles are a massive part of the game. Access to land, air and water vehicles have been reinstated for this release, and should see some great use upon release, especially with the large range of maps.

Overall, this game feels brand new and nothing like a sequel at all, even though it is. The only thing being carried over is the game types and class selections. Other than that, it feels like a completely different game, and this is a good thing as it means they aren’t just rehashing code from before. It is a game that I am looking out for, and you should be too. Keep checking back for more news on the title as and when it gets released.