Much hype was had for Electronic Arts’ new blockbuster release “Battlefield 2042”. It’s the twelfth release for EA’s landmark franchise and this time it came with a slew of high expectations. Does 2042 exceed the standards of the gaming community, does it eclipse its rival Call of Duty? The answer is unfortunately no for now. The game is set in the near future in a world decimated by extreme climate change, weather, and collapse of multiple world powers. It’s a far cry from the previous Battlefield titles set in World War One and Two. Given that it is set in the near future aspect, the game also includes slightly futuristic weapons, drones, and vehicles. In addition, there are “specialist” characters that have their own but shallow personalities and futuristic gadgets.  

The game has three key modes: All Out Warfare, Hazard Zone, and Portal. The weakest of the three is All Out Warfare. This the main multiplayer section with franchise favorite game modes Conquest and Breakthrough. Breakthrough is the best game mode but unfortunately there are only two modes. EA was trying to narrow what people play but the lack of content just feels unfulfilling. This extends to the weapon and gadget selection. The game has substantially less weapons and gadgets than previous titles, especially Battlefield 4 which closely compares with 2042 based on the setting. The new specialist system replaces the staple class system. This is a big knock to the game and has angered the community. The four core classes in previous titles (assault, recon, support, and engineer) perfectly balanced each other and appealed to players’ playstyles. In 2042, the balance is off, and the game feels more like Call of Duty instead of its own thing. The game also has a massive number of bugs and graphical issues. The gunplay feels off and could use some tweaking as well. Luckily these issues can be fixed in no time. Good parts of All Out Warfare are the maps, weather effects, and graphics. The maps are set in interesting places and are beautifully made. The weather adds another layer to matches. A massive tornado could lay waste to a battlefield and cause a rocket launch pad to detonate, or a sandstorm could turn a long-range battle into a hand-to-hand combat massacre. Having access to next gen consoles enhances the experience, the graphics are next level as realistic as ever.  

Hazard Zone is EA’s take on a mode like Escape from Tarkov with some battle royale aspects. It’s a fun and addicting mode that drops you and a team of players into a map with 32 other players. The objective is to capture intel caches and extract without being killed by the other players. You can secure loot from the caches and use the loot in your next matches. It’s a basic and fun mode especially fun with friends. 

Portal mode is hands down the best section of 2042. It’s clear EA put a ton of effort and passion into the mode with the community in mind. The game mode is a sandbox that allows players to play maps with maps, weapons, and vehicles from previous battlefield games such as Battlefield 1942, Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, and of course the current game 2042. The server browser is already chock full of interesting and fun combinations put into 64-128 player matches. The mode gives the players freedom to edit and customize the game in their own design. It’s interesting that the game is at its best when the players are in control. 

In conclusion, Battlefield 2042 is a disappointment but has the foundations to become an excellent game. With the right changes and using feedback from the community this can happen in no time. This situation can be mirrored with the release of Battlefield 4, where the game was broken and buggy. After months of fixes and improvements, Battlefield 4 is now regarded as one of the greatest first person shooters ever made.