Battlefield 3 Review
More Game Info (Print This Article)
Graphics:
9.2
Gameplay:
8.7
Sound:
9.3
Control:
8.8
Replay Value:
9.0
Online Gameplay:
9.5
Overall Rating: 9.0
Publisher:
EA
Developer:
DICE
Number Of Players:
1-24
Genre:
FPS
It won all sorts of E3 awards. It’s EA’s big dog; the game that will steal away part of Call of Duty’s market share. The PC footage we saw earlier this year blew us out of our chairs. And now that it’s here, shooter fans everywhere are prepared for a groundbreaking experience. Well, the multiplayer, despite a few technical issues I’m assuming will be fixed presently, stands out in a number of different ways, and the campaign is super intense. It just falls a little shy of the, “damn, this is some next-level sh**!” that I had expected.
Much has been made about the graphics, so I’m going to spend a little extra time on this category. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the best looking games of the generation; the lighting is superb, the particle effects and intricate details are extremely impressive, and the atmosphere really is second-to-none. That Frostbite 2.0 engine is an absolute beast. It provides us with an invigorating, white-knuckle military atmosphere that keeps us rooted to the spot, wondering what’s going to happen next. In truth, you really shouldn’t be disappointed.
But let’s talk expectations for a minute. This is not the PC footage we saw, and it’s obvious. There’s more pop-in than I had anticipated, and the PS3 version definitely has some screen-tearing issues. While the textures are arguably better than RAGE, and the latter also suffered from plenty of pop-in, id Software’s product felt more like a refined painting in which we reveled at the extreme sophistication. DICE’s production is beautiful as well but with so much going on, we’re often forced to notice those small console drawbacks. This is still awfully pretty, though.
The audio is a definite highlight, even more so than the visual presentation, in my opinion. The satisfying, crystal-clear crack of your weapon – bolstered by the very distinct sound of each weapon type – and the whiz and crunch of bullets is fantastic. The cries of your allies, ranging from whispered orders to panicked yells, is very realistic, and the soundtrack rocks. The latter is a tad repetitive, though, and the enemy dialogue isn’t as accomplished as the ally voice work. That being said, you definitely want surround sound or a good headset for this bad boy.
With such a mammoth title, I was looking for two things: an excellent campaign that leaves me breathless and the robust, singular multiplayer experience that is undoubtedly the primary reason most gamers are forking over their cash. For the latter, I think DICE has succeeded beautifully with a few small exceptions and for the former, I maintain that it’s a worthy campaign and one well worth playing. However, it just didn’t reach that pinnacle of single-player action I wholeheartedly expected.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still wicked intense. In fact, I dare say it’s maybe the first military shooter where I actually felt frightened and on-edge; in some situations, I actually had to battle my nerves. That really doesn’t happen to me anymore, so this is a testament to the realism and immersion one enjoys when tackling the campaign. The vehicles are part of the patented DICE flair, and it’s great that the controls and mechanics for most every element are very well implemented and plenty accessible.
The pacing and style is that of a typical Hollywood blockbuster: lots of stuff blows up, there’s a constant sense of danger, and the faceless terrorists are dead-eyes but in general, aren’t very bright. This last point brings me to the first flaw; the AI sort of let me down. Other shooters this year have already exhibited smarter enemy intelligence, and that includes Killzone 3, RAGE, and even Resistance 3. The foes in BF3 will run for cover, but that’s about it. There isn’t much in the way of flanking, dodging, strategy, etc.
Plus, the other surprising old-fashioned aspect of the gameplay is that regardless of how many allies you have around you, the enemy will always fire at you. Man, I thought we had left this behind. But it’s still here and unfortunately, it detracts from the ultimate accuracy and realism DICE was going for; since when am I the only one on the battlefield? Lastly, I have to say that the story really isn’t anything special. It’s well presented and the voice performances are great, but it feels more like a vehicle for the nonstop action rather than an actual narrative.
Thankfully, the positive aspects greatly outweigh the negative in the campaign, because you always feel pumped. It just never lets up and that’s part of the appeal. The vehicles are awesome; I preferred being the gunner in a jet (you could see more of the unbelievable scenery), and other military vehicles are sweet. Oh, and we can finally go prone in a Battlefield title, which was a necessary addition for the sake of that aforementioned realism.
But it’s the multiplayer where gamers will get the most bang for their buck. Indeed, it’s crazy meaty and sadly for single-player lovers, sort of makes the campaign feel more like a tutorial than anything else. It’s all about teamwork in BF3 online and when everybody works together like a smoothly oiled machine, it’s the closest you’re going to get to a virtual warzone feel and sensation. The Battlelog is an excellent feature, as it keeps you updated on just about everything, including the unlocks that are heading your way.
You can upgrade in a million different ways. This goes well beyond simply gunning down other players; the vehicular aspect by itself makes the BF3 multiplayer unique. But you can also assist downed teammates, and unlocking everything is gonna take a significant chunk of time. That’s because there are independent unlock routes for every class, vehicle and weapon, and you can gain experience for any/all of them based on a round’s performance. Maybe you ran around resurrecting fallen allies with your defibrillator or maybe you were a sniper extraordinaire.
Whatever you decide to do, you can always expect deep, satisfying multiplayer action, round in and round out. DICE really seems to have thought of everything. You’re familiar with getting a little experience for an Assist, but have you ever been rewarded simply for keeping an enemy pinned in one spot until a friend can take him out? And did you know that while he’s pinned, he has to deal with blurred vision? The combination of the fantastic vehicular element and teamwork keeps it all fresh.
Battlefield 3 is a powerful shooter that tries its damndest to suck you in, to keep you saying, “woah, look at that!” In so many ways, it succeeds. I think the campaign will take too much flak for the problems I noted here, but the bottom line is that it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish. The campaign is about 7-8 hours, but I’m sure everyone cares most about the multiplayer, which is like nothing else out there. I didn’t play the beta; I know it had issues, but this seems just fine to me.
Maybe it’s the day-one patch they implemented that made it more stable. I did get stuck near a jeep once and the game froze, too, but through many hours of playing today, I didn’t find much to get in a twist about. The somewhat clichéd and uninspired narrative, disappointing AI, and graphical sacrifices clearly made for the console versions might drop this one down in your estimation, especially given all the PC footage we’ve seen. And if you’re a CoD fan, you really might dislike the multiplayer, as it’s a different experience. But overall, Battlefield 3 is a winner.
It just isn’t quite the massive elite shooter that outstrips all other FPSs in every category. If you can deal with that, I’m sure you’ll be happy.
The Good: Gripping, highly detailed visual presentation. Audio is gritty; voice work is excellent. Intensity is off the charts. Great control and feel. Multiple vehicles add a huge amount of flavor. Multiplayer is a robust, complete experience.
The Bad: Pop-in and screen-tearing issues. Outdated AI that doesn’t often acknowledge your allies. Storyline is lacking.
The Ugly: “Yeah, I’m the only out here. Mm-hm.”
10/25/2011 Ben Dutka
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Comments (124 posts)
NonProphet
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 9:36:32 PM
Reply
Also, I'm looking for a Battlefield clan to join, so if anyone is recruiting, or has space on their team, let me know. My psn name is: goldendutch. Thanks.
Last edited by NonProphet on 10/25/2011 9:38:12 PM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 9:51:41 PM
Reply
Anyway, I'm having too much fun with Batman right now to take it back early for this (I have a game pass at blockbuster). Though, I will return Batman, finished or not, for Uncharted 3 =)
3 up, 2 down
Shams
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:26:48 AM
2 up, 0 down
aaronisbla
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:01:57 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
tes37
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:16:17 PM
Reply
I usually play all my games on normal difficulty. So I'm assuming I will also encounter the same lone wolf feeling even if surrounded by allies. Maybe it will make a better player out of me when I go online for the multiplayer.
I had a few local friends back out on getting it at the last minute. I was really looking forward to playing with people I personally know because I would've been more comfortable about bad decisions that I'm bound to make. Oh well, you can't always get what you want.
1 up, 0 down
PasteNuggs
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:18:57 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
wenezz
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:26:37 PM
Reply
i could be wrong; but lets see.
0 up, 0 down
sirbob6
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 11:11:52 PM
... seems doubtful. It'll probably be a Micheal Bay styled America kills the Commies/terrorist story complete with countless explosions, twist that make no sense, and another head scratching cliffhanger ending. Simply an excuse to show off some cool special effects and improbable action scenes.
8 up, 0 down
Nas Is Like
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:27:39 PM
Reply
Nice job on the review. I just got the game game today and am having a blast with it.
0 up, 0 down
Nas Is Like
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:47:25 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Wraith
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:50:56 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
NiteKrawler
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:53:53 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 10:54:43 PM
1 up, 0 down
Geobaldi
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 11:18:42 PM
4 up, 0 down
johnld
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:42:57 PM
0 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:49:27 PM
1 up, 0 down
Geobaldi
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 9:19:30 AM
0 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:16:46 AM
Reply
3 up, 24 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:29:32 AM
And if you know how to play the multiplayer, you'll find that people who actually know how to function get the most out of the experience. I also fail to see where camping and sniping come into play with vehicles. I forget, does CoD have a lot of that?
If you only signed up to troll in reviews, don't bother to post. You don't fit in this community.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/26/2011 12:30:51 AM
14 up, 3 down
godsdream
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:47:45 AM
Nice review, looking forward to this game, but I think I'll wait for it to get cheaper. I now have a lot of games in front of this one.
3 up, 0 down
Geobaldi
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:59:49 AM
6 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:17:38 AM
Troll harder...
6 up, 1 down
Nas Is Like
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:34:38 AM
With that said, it does look like a troll attempt. And if it is, then it's best to avoid guys like him. Giving them attention is just adding fuel to a fire. Don't take them seriously, avoid them, and move on with your life.
4 up, 0 down
The Doom
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:54:42 AM
Just because its an opinion doesn't mean its a good one. It's obviously flame bait since it was outright bashing the score and nothing constructive.
1 up, 1 down
slugga_status
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 9:38:23 AM
The only thing I disagree with in your comment is that you make it seem as if CoD isn't filled with campers and snipers. CoD you even get spawn camped..That's just the truth..CoD is the definition of a twitcher. If you don't like a realistic shooter than just say it's not your cup of tea don't bash it.
5 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:03:07 AM
You are forgetting that a lot of camping happens in CoD. Trust me I've seen a lot of it. CoD isn't camp free, no FPS game is anyway.
Last edited by Clamedeus on 10/26/2011 11:03:32 AM
2 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:09:40 AM
2 up, 0 down
johnld
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:45:03 PM
Last edited by johnld on 10/26/2011 5:47:15 PM
2 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:41:05 AM
Reply
The vehicles are not a positive and really distract from a FPS. They have them because the maps are way to large. I am not sorry that I found the game horrible. I am certain that within a few days you will find there a lot more people who feel about this game the same way I do. I will just continue to play BlackOps for 2 more weeks and then get MW3. Like I said before if you are into the campy, snipy games go for it you will have a great time.
3 up, 11 down
PasteNuggs
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:07:31 AM
8 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:00:32 AM
(and ps: You don't look to be a troll to me. You were just a bit unlucky with your introduction in regards to the established way of putting things around here. You'll get the hang of it eventually. Welcome!)
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/26/2011 8:02:11 AM
1 up, 1 down
Monkeysnarf
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:59:19 AM
I’ve only played the game a few hours so far, no single player just jumped straight into online, and I’m not sure if I can recommend it to my friends or not yet. The game feels slow. I don’t know if it is yet or not though, but it feels like it is. Sort of like how MAG felt slow.
Plus some of the things that are pluses may or may not be to everyone. The lighting is different. I don’t think I’ve ever played a FPS that had glare. So you have to get used to that before you can tell if you like it or not. Just because something is realistic, doesn’t make it, in and of itself, fun.
The thing is COD is the best. It’s the best because while it’s not realistic, it’s fun. Everything about that franchise is centered on the game play. COD plays fast. You’ve got perks to make it play even faster, sleight of hand, marathon, light weight, the aim down sight faster, jump over junk quicker, etc. Even before you know the maps for Black Ops, you can still jump in with a sub machine gun and a run fast class and run around the map and do decent.
Battlefield is not like that. I haven’t played it enough to know what it is like but I already know where Herronhero is coming from. A couple games I grabbed the sniper and climbed up on roof tops and did really well. Some games I grabbed the M4A1 and wove in and out of the same shipping containers. While I wouldn’t necessarily call that camping, because I was always moving, I didn’t really explore the rest of the map either. (I mean why bother if I can always find targets?) I haven’t played with vehicles yet so I can’t really speak on that.
The truth is I bought Battlefield 3 hoping it would be entertaining enough for 2 weeks until MW3 comes out. So far, and I’ll know better after putting in more time, I think it was worth the $60. I just haven’t played it enough, and because it plays differently, to be able to recommend it to friends yet.
1 up, 3 down
slugga_status
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 9:48:58 AM
People who are CoD fanatics are simply not going to like any other FPS or give it a chance.
4 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:18:59 AM
Battlefield isn't slow paced, it depends on the player honestly. Everyone has a different play style when playing games.
The size of the maps could also make it feel slow paced, or feel slow paced because you aren't in the action.
2 up, 0 down
Monkeysnarf
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:11:28 PM
I didn't mean slow paced, I just meant it felt slow. Like I run slow, reload slow, jump over objects slow, etc. Plus, I'm not sure yet if it really is slow or not. I need to play it more.
Slugga,
Yeah I prefered 3rd person to 1st person. I loved Socom 2 and didn't care for Halo 2, last generation. Actually I didn't even like FPS until CoD MW1. Because of MW1 and MW2 I completely agree with you. With those games it's all about the game play. So then when I play another FPS I compare it to CoD and ask myself, is it more or less fun.
I just haven't played Battlefield 3 yet enough to really know what I'm talking about or to be able to recommend it to any of my friends that play Modern Warfare.
0 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:23:51 PM
That's completely understandable..MW1 did it for me as well..then Resistance 2 came out man months later and I had to adjust..I don't have a problem with CoD..I like 3rd person a lot better as well. With CoD I need to see something new instead of the same o same o..If nothing new then I'll be heading Battlefield's way
1 up, 0 down
johnld
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:49:49 PM
usually the first week of any shooter are full of campers or snipers. since they dont know maps they just do that. thats why i usually wait a week till i play online. i play campaign before online.
1 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:43:49 AM
Reply
0 up, 13 down
godsdream
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:52:26 AM
And this is why you act like that, only play online....You don't have a valid point buddy, sorry. But it's ok, go play again black ops, that's where you belong.
8 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:18:51 AM
8 up, 1 down
79transam
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 4:09:41 AM
The battlefield series is not for Run and Gun players that you get in COD and that is why you are having difficulty. Let me ask you a question say you were in a combat situation and you ran into a room would you not check the corners? Why then would you play a FPS shooter and enter a structure and not check your corners?
Also plenty of camping in COD and even more hacking
6 up, 0 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:51:25 AM
Very nice, and so true. To not check corners in a MP shooter is just padding the stats of the other player or team. You have to remember that the other team is preventing and defending their territory. You have to work as a team in BF unlike MW where it's you and you alone against everyone else. MW = Arcade and BF = True Military Team Work.
2 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:11:39 AM
3 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:21:34 AM
2 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 6:44:33 PM
I always, always play the campaigns in Amy game I own.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 10/26/2011 6:46:06 PM
1 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:58:22 AM
Reply
Act like what? I have not resorted to name calling or belittling (as an 8 year old would do when someone does not agree with their opinion). I have not accused anyone of trolling or misguided judgment. Your right about the Black Ops bit however. As I stated before I will continue with it as it is a better game experience for the things I enjoy (which you can see in my previous comments). At the end of the day way more people will agree that the CoD games are not necessarily better but different in ways that they enjoy.
The graphics in the game were amazing (as stated before). Everything else for me sucked.
Last edited by herronhero on 10/26/2011 1:04:43 AM
3 up, 7 down
godsdream
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:06:24 AM
If you were here more often you'd probably noticed it already, but since I know you're new to this site, I'm letting you know.
Welcome to the site and with time you'll notice that this are very honest and TRUE reviewers.
PD: you may want to go to PS HOME and check the PSXextreme show in the theater!!!
PD 2: if you want to reply to a certain comment, just click in reply button and write as normal, you'll notice the comment a little to the right from the original (the one you replied to).
Last edited by godsdream on 10/26/2011 1:08:23 AM
5 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:12:09 AM
3 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:58:46 AM
Reply
How does the tearing in this game stand out to you Ben but not in Assassin's Creed?
2 up, 3 down
Excelsior1
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 3:25:34 AM
so the screen tearing is not that bad? what about screen tears during the mp? you mentioned ac. i noticed a lot of screen tears in ac2.
i hate screen tears...they just look awful on a huge hdtv. if i ran quality control i would reject any game that has screen tears. there is no excuse for it when we know how great kz3 looks and performs.
so sow does this game compare to kz3's graphics? i'm very interested in the vehicles also. you can fly helicopters, right?
3 up, 0 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 3:28:02 AM
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:26:40 PM
As for comparing the graphics to Killzone, they are different styles and are boh great in their own write but Killzone has an extra coat of polish that BF3 does not. The graphics in BF3 are better in the campaign than the MP but they're still good. They remind me of a better Medal of Honor MP wise. All in all I think you will be pleased as long as you don't go in expecting it to be the next Uncharted graphics wise. For its small graphical faults, its still pretty great and it has nice lighting and particle effects.
Last edited by Jawknee on 10/26/2011 12:28:37 PM
1 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:13:52 PM
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 7:05:43 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 1:41:27 AM
Last edited by Jawknee on 10/27/2011 1:42:10 AM
0 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:13:40 AM
Reply
"I didn’t play the beta; I know it had issues, but this seems just fine to me."
The game was just released today so unless the reviewer was playing the multi-player function by themselves they only started today.
In regards to the campaign I can offer no satisfaction or dissatisfaction with it as I did not try it. I go straight to multi-player on FPS games and for the last 1-2 years not bothered with the campaigns.
My comments were strictly geared at online play.
As far as the reviewer is concerned it seemed to be a very good review. I read the entire review before posting my comments. I just disagree with their assessment of it's online play and it's ability to take away any of the CoD base. I could be proven wrong if MW3 sales are down in 2 weeks but I expect it will be the best selling FPS of all time and probably the best selling console game of all time as well.
4 up, 4 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:21:15 AM
7 up, 2 down
godsdream
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:24:57 AM
2 up, 0 down
StubbornScorpio
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:31:33 AM
You can reply to comments (even your own comments) so as to not take up the entire thread space.
The Battlefield series offers tactical gunplay. It isn't so much that people are sitting in one spot for long periods of time, it's that they are scoping out the terrain and planning their next move. You cannot expect to run and gun in the Battlefield series, it just doesn't work that way.
When gaming journalists review games, they are indeed given a copy a week or more prior to the game's official release in order to play the game and write up a review. Early access and a steady stream of games to play are small perks for a gaming journalist :)
By the way thanks for not resorting to name-calling and belittling. I'm fairly new to this community myself, but everyone here is a mature bunch, keep the respect mutual.
5 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:13:57 AM
The only thing you can't evaluate is the community. And that should not factor into a score.
1 up, 0 down
johnld
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:54:08 PM
heres the best tip i can give you on this game. when playing battlefield, get the call of duty mentality out of your head completely. This is not call of duty so playing it like call of duty can get yourself killed, alot.
2 up, 0 down
CaptRon
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:17:21 AM
Reply
5 up, 0 down
herronhero
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:27:41 AM
The statistics agree with me (at least historically speaking) as it was the best selling FPS of all time. That does not change my comment's above. If you enjoy CoD then your probably going to hate Battlefield 3 and there is no risk to MW3 from this game. I do wish the CoD makers would take a play from EA and host the games on central servers though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty:_Modern_Warfare_2
0 up, 4 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:14:52 AM
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:26:05 AM
Reply
6 up, 5 down
godsdream
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:29:32 AM
8 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:21:13 AM
7 up, 6 down
gungrave
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:38:20 AM
4 up, 0 down
Bloodysilence19
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 3:13:53 AM
Reply
Mp is fun clearly Dice told the truth when they said the final version of the game would not be as bad as the beta was. Though the mp still has occurring bugs from the beta such as your squad getting separate and going on the other team and the random one shot kill with no head shot still happens at times. Other than that I'm enjoying Bf3
0 up, 0 down
shiroxkatsuya
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 3:35:56 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
79transam
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 4:19:07 AM
Reply
So far I would give the SP portion a 8.5 but could easily be a 9+ with some fixes. I don't like how your squad-mates will just run into you and push you out from cover at times. Also the constant shooting at just you is crazy sometimes especially on hard.
I look forward to spending a good part of my life on the MP once I'm finished with the SP. I still love SP FPS games and this one is one of the better ones even with it's flaws
1 up, 0 down
Douchebaguette
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 4:45:42 AM
Reply
Talking about patience: the scolding of HeronAntiHero has reassured my questions on whether this game would be less frantic online or not. It'll probably be no SOCOM when it comes to tactics, however I reckon fun can be generated in this game without the form of mindless run and gun. I'll check out the PC version.
2 up, 0 down
___________
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:33:56 AM
Reply
though.............
tried to install the game but had to update origin.
ok origin is updated.
tried to activate my key but every time i went to activate it it just sent me back to the previous page asking me to activate it.
then reset my computer, did the same thing as above.
mind you every time i tried to activate it it sat at a waiting screen for 10 minutes!
then i said f*ck it, i reset the PC again, tried to install it again and it kept saying were sorry the activation server is unavailable please try later.
NO I WONT TRY LATER, I PAID 110 BUCKS FOR THIS TODAY IM PLAYING TODAY!
reset it again, tried to activate my key again, and another 10 times same server unavailable error.
then i reset my PC again, tried to activate my key but got a error saying sorry your key has already been activated.
so i closed origin, went into the game and clicked install and now for some reason its downloading the game instead of installing off the disk.
WTFs the point of going out and buying the game if you still have to download it!?
ah f*ck it, i cant be stuffed screwing around trying to insall it off the disk!
so now im downloading the whole game.
if it finishes downloading and i still cant play it, well…......... if you hear a really loud scream and a bright flash off light then all your glass breaks and your eardrumbs burst, well, at least you know why………........
god, who would of thought such a simple task of installing a game could take 12 f*cking hours and counting!
thats it, once im done with BF3 my PC is going on ebay!
im sick of buying games and not being able to play them for days if not weeks!
still waiting for THQ to fix RFA!
a SLI profile would be nice too...........
for once can i just buy a PC game, install it and play it?
just once?
pretty please???????????
this is exactly why DD will never happen!
theres so many systems in place for it to work and if one tiny little thing stops working your f*cked six ways from sunday!
you really think millions of people are going to tolarate not being able to play their games for a month because the online store is down?
yea, good luck with that!
Last edited by ___________ on 10/26/2011 5:36:09 AM
1 up, 2 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:30:30 AM
Reply
The graphics are the best in the series that's for sure. To me it's obvious how much better the graphics are compared to BFBC2 or especially Black Ops. The sound needs to be mentioned! It is a huge player here. Very good work Dice!
I have to say the maps are fantastic! There are your wide open maps and your closed in maps. The subway map was unreal in it's destruction coming from close combat. Played in many wide open maps and that is were BF3 really shines. So many ways to get back in the action. This saves BF as having to run to the action can take a long time. Squads FTW!
The shooting control just seems better as my accuracy was very good last night. PRONE!!! PRONE!! Wow, that has changed the whole game for the better! The weapons feel great and sound incredible! Really enjoying the melee from behind attacks. Reminds me of the King of Brutal Melee Killzone 3. The vehicles are great, varied and the control is excellent. I actually flew a helicopter by myself and didn't crash until 10 minutes later! If this were BFBC2 I would have crashed right away. I feel I will be able to do some real damage with the Helicopter by myself after my next session.
I squad-ed into 2 players that were in an attack helicopter. I was on the machine gun and found out we were being attacked by a jet. Turned and luckily blew the jet out of the air and the next one. While we were waiting for the next jet to come we were strafing soldiers on the ground. The third one got us. Ended up in the water and committed suicide because it was to far to swim! :)
Metacritic is so funny with all the MW lovers putting up these low scores for probably the best military MP shooter of this gen. I haven't tried the SP but I am sure I will enjoy it. I never get my hopes up for BF or MW SP so I always enjoy them because the MP is were these games focus.
I will more than likely pick up MW3 but it won't be until after Skyrim. But who knows with Back to Karkand and Dice's new effort to release more quality DLC I may not need to play MW3. I would pay $10 for a remake of Market Garden from BF1942!! Nice work Dice!!
Last edited by CrusaderForever on 10/26/2011 8:34:38 AM
0 up, 0 down
hizz
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 9:42:38 AM
Reply
Last edited by hizz on 10/26/2011 9:43:31 AM
1 up, 1 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:16:08 AM
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:12:48 AM
Reply
You're making sweeping conclusions based on a few hours of play, without ever touching the campaign, and you're telling everyone the campaign blows and not to play it, when of course, I have played it. You're telling everyone how long we spent with it, failing to understand that we've had the game for a few days, and multiplayer sessions are set up for reviewers to analyze such elements before the public servers go up. As was the case with Uncharted 3 when we reviewed it this week.
I'm not saying we did that with BF3, but it's something reviewers often can do, so don't think critics have the same restrictions as the public when it comes to seeing the multiplayer.
I also never said anything in the review about BF3 taking anything away from MW3, and I spent half the gameplay assessment talking about multiplayer. Furthermore, nothing you're saying jives with anything critics or Battlefield fans are saying about camping problems in multiplayer. Sounds to me like you're just no good at it and decided to take it out on the game.
You want to intelligently contribute without accusing others and the staff of being less in-the-know than you? Fine. Want to keep tossing out your opinion as fact? Please don't.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/26/2011 10:32:17 AM
6 up, 3 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:49:10 AM
4 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:18:58 AM
I'm pretty sure I disagree with nearly everything he says, but I'm willing to bet as he gets the hang of how everyone here converses, he'll begin to jive.
His tone did change at one point, and he did sort of apologize at one point for something.
He's just really passionate. Perhaps needs a little more time on this topic to flesh out his opinion a little more, but I can respect someone who is genuinely passionate about gaming. :)
4 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:56:38 AM
(I always agree with Underdog though. *sigh*)
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/26/2011 11:57:43 AM
1 up, 1 down
hizz
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:32:16 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Qubex
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:42:58 AM
Reply
Appreciate Ben's review, spot on; however for me, being so used to Battlefield 2, I am finding Battlefield 3 "difficult" to master, both in SP and MP. I will get better at it eventually, as I did with Battlefield 2.
For your interests here are my positive and negative criticisms thus far:-
1} Frostbite 2.0 is indeed a beast. Some of the best volumetric lighting I have seen in a gaming environment; however Killzone and Uncharted still take the cake. Admittedly; the lens flare effects in BF3 are incredible for a multi-platform game engine.
2} A.I. is generally poor in the SP campaign. Nothing so far touches Killzone and Uncharted in this department. The A.I. in BF3 was a disappointment for me.
3} Screen jitters and tearing are not such an issue for me. For the most part the performance is admirable considering this engine is not "optimised" to the extent exclusive engines are for the PS platform.
4} Recoil generally is too "realistic". Depending on the class I pick to play, and associated weapon, I find the recoil difficult to deal with. In BF2 the recoil was far more subtle for the most part, and my kill rate was generally higher than it is currently (on average) in BF3.
5} In BF3 mp i am dying far quicker than I used to in BF2 mp. This is partly due to not being used to the recoil effect in game currently. I think this will improve though as my weapons are further upgraded. I am desperate for decent "zoom" sites to help with the aiming.
6} Why no option to install the majority of the game to lessen disc access? I was very surprised to "hear" how hard my blu-ray drive is working while in game. It doesn't stop, and, on my PS Slim, the noise made by the drive lens constantly seeking and loading in content, is fairly annoying, and surprisingly loud when playing the game without volume. (Sometimes I have to do this when family members are sleeping - I have no headset yet, but will be getting one soon)
- The other issue is of course the overall wear and tear on the drive itself. It sounds like it is working very hard all the time... It's a shame DiCE didn't permit a full install. I really would have preferred this.
7] During mp play time, I did notice a few glitches that need to be ironed out. I actually went and read through what people are already reporting back to DiCE, and all the bugs experienced on the PS3 version have been talked about thus far - or so it seems. DiCE are looking at posts and I am sure we can expect the inevitable 2nd monster patch to iron these out...
What are the bugs I have experienced so far:-
*Objects moving/creeping across the map before a new mp game begins
*Some KILL CAM clipping into and/or under a soldier that has just killed you if that soldier is laying down on the ground, and/or near/top of a rocky outcrop
*During mp soldier in helicopter minding the big Gatling guns disappears when you are looking around the helicopter
*Objects that are blown up and moved by hand grenades, such as boxes / containers and the like, simply disappear!
There you have it...
I feel BF3 will grow on me as I upgrade my soldiers' weapons systems and acquire more weapon aids to make life a bit easier during mp. So far so good.
Like a fine wine and good cheese, it needs time to mature... BF3 wasn't everything I wanted it to be, but close enough...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 10/26/2011 10:45:16 AM
2 up, 0 down
Kiryu
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 10:45:12 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Chamoru_Warrior
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:04:05 AM
Reply
Secondly, this game > Rage in graphics. Sure, Rage may function at a blazing 60 fps but it has horrendous amounts of pop-in and texture streaming at every single turn and although texture detail of environments in Rage may look beautiful at a distance, up close they have got to be some of the fugliest and most low res looking textures I've ever seen in a current gen game. In BF3, the textures look beautiful and photorealistic even on the console versions and the PS3 version, much like the PC version, sports excellent HDR lighting.
Also, the realistic destruction effects and physics trounce Rage's stiff and often indestructible set pieces. As for tearing, it's grossly exaggerated across many reviews. It's really hardly noticeable and where it does occur, it's usually in the top edge portion of the screen. It's far from the amount of tearing that was in the BF3 beta or BFBC2.
The texture detail in the PS3 version is on par with Killzone 3 in many areas and not quite as polished in others. Overall, imho there isn't a game on consoles outside of Uncharted 3 and Killzone 3 that look better than this when it's at its best moments. Sure, it's not as graphically stable as God of War 3 and Gears of War 3 or Uncharted 2 but when it is working properly, it does look better and more impressive. And those are some of my fav games so no bias here.
3 up, 0 down
jacobRadio
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:48:26 AM
Reply
0 up, 8 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 12:31:09 PM
Find a dictionary next time so you don't look ridiculous.
And "latter" shows up three times in a review totaling 1,364 words. Please don't lecture me on how to write, and if you knew anything about me, you'd know I have zero bias for or against Battlefield or any shooter.
...pretty sick of N4G dopes signing up and acting superior.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/26/2011 12:34:47 PM
9 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:02:05 PM
When drawing conclusions between two things, it's not unusual to refer to them as the former and the latter after listing them.
This isn't a contract. You don't have to continuously label your ideas or provide an abbreviated version.
Saying "former" and "latter" is perfectly fine...
That assumes, of course, that the reader can keep up.
You can... keep up.... right?
4 up, 0 down
Alienange
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:05:57 PM
Reply
0 up, 5 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:17:32 PM
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. The MP works just fine and is a lot of fun and has no screen tearing that I have noticed. Funny you dont like tearing when it comes to DICE games but you will put up with it when it comes to Assassin's Creed.
Your anti-DICE/Battlefield bias is showing again.
And who are you calling "sheeple"? What does that make you? A CoD drone?
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:35:40 PM
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 1:37:27 PM
oops... Sorry Alienage.... I'm sure you're the one and only exception to this rule... probably... well... I know I described you there... but maybe your an exception... Nah, I'm sure you're better than that! You wouldn't do something like agree with an inconsistent reviewer like Simon... er... oh wait... you did that too... I'm sure it's just a fluke, though. You wouldn't be the type to constantly berate Ben at every turn over the last while... oh.. damn... that too... Well.... guess I'll stop, because... Damn... why is it so hard to be nice to you? I want to accept what you say, but ... well.. you just make it so hard with all your anti-truth sauce. Or maybe it's your habitual name calling.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 10/26/2011 1:41:20 PM
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:51:23 PM
If you don't want to read a review, then fine. If you want to accuse me of something when you haven't touched the game you're bashing, then fine.
But please, in the future, keep it all inside your head. When you've played it and have something intelligent to offer, feel free to let us know.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/26/2011 2:53:38 PM
4 up, 0 down
Alienange
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 3:47:30 PM
Jawknee - Ben is the one who said there is "screen tearing issues," I simply repeated what he said.
@ Underdog15 - No one knows what the hell you're going on about. And I have never name called. Sheeple was coined by Ben. Is he the only one allowed using that word? Take your internet police badge off for a night and give me a break.
@ Ben - Your angry tone is unwarranted. Your review is FULL of negative things about the game. If I'm the only one who sees that then fine. Case closed. However, I have read ALL of your reviews over the past 3 years and cannot understand why now, for BF3, a lousy campaign with poor AI warrants a 9. The purpose of my comment was not to call you or anyone a moron (as you are well aware) but to simply say "I don't get it."
0 up, 4 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 4:12:04 PM
First, you say the campaign is "pants" when I can't find a single solitary critic who says anything even remotely close to that. You just focus on the negative and block out the positive, apparently. Look at 1Up's review, for instance. The reviewer points out many of the issues I mention, but just like me, goes out of his way NUMEROUS TIMES to say there's nothing wrong with the campaign, and that it's fun.
And everyone is going to have a problem with your "opinion" when you haven't even played the game. I mean, come on. That's bush-league. This review is loaded with plenty of praise; you're just being voluntarily blind. It's hard to miss this-
"In fact, I dare say it’s maybe the first military shooter where I actually felt frightened and on-edge; in some situations, I actually had to battle my nerves. That really doesn’t happen to me anymore, so this is a testament to the realism and immersion one enjoys when tackling the campaign."
That's hardly the only example. It's like you're saying all I do is bash the game in the text and then turned around and gave it a 9.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/26/2011 4:13:04 PM
3 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 4:57:46 PM
It's clear you have some stupid grudge against DICE and the Battlefield franchise. You said similar things about Bad Company 2 without playing the game.
And yes, there is a small amount of tearing in the campaign, I haven't seen any in the MP, problem is you complain about it here "drrr, DICE hasn't fixed the tearing!" guess what, neither has Ubisoft which is 10X worse! Yet you are able to ignore it when it's a games made by them? That's not only annoying, it's also a tad hypocritical.
It's obvious your either just hate this franchise so much you just can't help but trash it without playing or you're trying to get a rise out of people. I'm inclined to think the former. Either way it's pretty childish.
2 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 6:18:25 PM
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sirbob6
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:28:29 PM
In Alienage's defense, I bash at Black Ops for various reasons and I have never touched the game. The game was also relatively well received among reviewers and overall a functional game. Yet I and other people call people who buy it sheep and enrage its fans.
On another note: I still dislike CoD and plan on getting BF3 in the future since it is well received here.
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 1:38:26 AM
0 up, 0 down
Darwin1967
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 2:48:02 PM
Reply
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sha4dowknight05
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:12:18 PM
Reply
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CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 5:53:49 PM
Last edited by CrusaderForever on 10/26/2011 5:54:30 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 6:20:17 PM
Reply
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79transam
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 7:00:47 PM
Reply
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CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 7:50:19 PM
Thanks
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79transam
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:23:16 PM
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Gamer Girl Gemo
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 7:45:50 PM
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I'm not saying that BF3 is a bad game or anything, don't get me wrong! I'm just saying that it hardly feels like they're fun or entertaining any more. We honestly need more intuitive games like Flower, Journey, Child of Eden, Heavy Rain, etc... It just feels like everything's action this, action that.
Anywhoosies, nice review as always, Ben. I might just rent this one and see if my feelings about it are as I suspect.
Last edited by Gamer Girl Gemo on 10/26/2011 7:46:46 PM
1 up, 0 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:04:46 PM
You have the right idea, if you are not hyped or not excited about it, you should rent it and give it a go. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Here that Dice! I said you perfected Battlefield :) Now give us Battlefield 2143!!!
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:09:34 PM
1 up, 0 down
Gamer Girl Gemo
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 8:20:17 PM
However, I will take this community's word for it, and definitely go into the game with an open mind the very next chance I get. Who knows? Maybe my beginning hype should have extended its stay :)
Last edited by Gamer Girl Gemo on 10/26/2011 8:21:35 PM
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Jawknee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 9:00:22 PM
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79transam
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 2:11:46 AM
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berserk
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 9:45:50 PM
Reply
I prefer the team deatmatch because there is action in it , there are simply not enough player for the other modes to be worth playing (except maybe 2-3 of the smaller map ) more then a few matches from time to time .
Last edited by berserk on 10/26/2011 9:56:17 PM
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79transam
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 9:59:24 AM
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riptide8
Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 6:31:56 PM
Reply
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Kealan94
Friday, October 28, 2011 @ 3:17:46 PM
Reply
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JimShorts
Saturday, October 29, 2011 @ 1:38:10 AM
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I played both Battlefield Bad Company 2 and CoD: Black Ops.
BFBC2, love the game. CoD: Black Ops, not so much. (Only reason I still have it, the zombie. :) )
Anyhow.. Now for BF3. It's quite interesting. I'm not sure if it's the incredible amount of details or my TV is just old and crap so I can't see anyone. But.. It's not as good as I hoped for. Perhaps once I get the upgrades my experience will be better. But until then... I personally find it to kill anyone.
PS The jet is awesome. Now.. I just need to learn how to fly it. :D
0 up, 0 down
JimShorts
Saturday, October 29, 2011 @ 1:58:24 AM
Reply
I played both Battlefield Bad Company 2 and CoD: Black Ops.
BFBC2, love the game. CoD: Black Ops, not so much. (Only reason I still have it, the zombie. :) )
Anyhow.. Now for BF3. It's quite interesting. I'm not sure if it's the incredible amount of details or my TV is just old and crap so I can't see anyone. But.. It's not as good as I hoped for. Perhaps once I get the upgrades my experience will be better. But until then... I personally find it hard to see and kill anyone.
PS The jet is awesome. Now.. I just need to learn how to fly it. :D
0 up, 0 down
MickaeL486
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 @ 6:44:33 PM
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wow.
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Dredd
Thursday, November 24, 2011 @ 3:31:57 AM
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Dredd
Thursday, November 24, 2011 @ 3:37:04 AM
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u r unlucky. it froze in SP on me just once (and i completed the campaign on hard).
the last comment by Ben is bang-on. enemies hit you from strange places and corners while the NPC allies stand and do nothing. this was handled best in Killzone.
0 up, 0 down
Zemus101
Reply
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 9:31:19 PM
Last edited by Zemus101 on 10/25/2011 9:31:56 PM