Well folks, it's time once again for the next big thing in multiplayer deathmatch to hit the stage, this time with the newest installment of the Battlefield franchise. The follow-up to the acclaimed World War One shooter, Battlefield 1, logically takes place during World War Two, and despite the absurdity of the numbering system of this series (I could talk about this point for hours, but that's not why we're here, I wont waste your time), is shaping up to be a fun new multiplayer experience. This weekend, the open Beta is available, and it might be worth your time.
Let me start with two things: I mostly play as a medic, and I'm not especially good.... The thing is, time is tight often times with gaming, but even when I have extra time to play, I have game ADD. I want to play so many different types of games, that while I am above average to advanced at playing games in general, I am not particularly mind-blowing at any specific genre. That being said, I can hold my own, and I will often sacrifice myself to revive a way better player, because I know the odds.
All of that aside, I have put a decent amount of time into B1. I greatly enjoy the Operations missions, which are still very much a part of Battlefield V, and the sprawling zone shifting gameplay. The tug-of-war type gameplay loop, with the capturing/defending/losing key points of giant maps, and ripping ass through said maps, continues to be the feel of this game mode. Now, here is where this game can be a hard sell for the time impaired.
I have put the obligatory six hours into this Beta, and I completed maybe six full battles. One match can drag on for an insane amount of time. Which is fun, gives the opportunity for both sides to gain and lose a decent amount of ground, and with the destruction effects, full on shape the battlefield. Being an online game, there is no pausing. So in a pinch, you'll just have to be fine with the battle continuing without you, as you handle your business.
However, there were shorter match modes in B1, so I imagine that will be available in the full version of V. The character customization is also not fully available in the Beta, so I couldn't dive into that too deeply, but you can unlock new weapons, colors for parts, and other goodies by competing, and completing challenges. You can also upgrade certain weapons, giving you bonuses to reload speed, fire rate, and the like, for a little touch of a RPG skill tree. The Beta does feature a series of community challenges that are completed through the Operations mode. You unlock other maps by completing these challenges, and can unlock special in-game stuff for getting to the end. It's a pretty fun way to give a little sampling of what Battlefield V will offer.
So, there are a few gameplay changes that I have noticed, and I dig them. If you play Medic class, a big change is in how you revive teammates. You no longer have to pull out a syringe as a separate doodad, but instead simply walk over to the downed player and hold X (on Xbox One), and you'll save them. Even if you aren't a Medic, you can even revive a fellow player, if that person is in your squad (a smaller group of players within a team, four or so, who gain bonuses for working together). This seems pretty minor, but can be absolutely crucial. The destruction has stepped it up a notch, feeling more improvised and realistic, the way stuff crumbles is so satisfying . And I absolutely still find it miles above other shooters. Nothing is more visceral than and explosion going off nearby, sending dirt raining, and snow to slide off of roofs just from the shock. Trees leveling, and whole walls coming down as a tank rolls through a building. It's immersive and leads to frantic firefights, where cover is rarely reliable, and constantly changing. Character animations are more robust too, giving you more natural angles when seeing your character's body rolling around, and little things like adding a crouched sprint, give the feeling of more control over your avatar.
Just as this is a review for a Beta, as is this article a Beta. Stuff I've experienced, and what you may experience, could be different from the finished product. But, from the fun I had here, and the previous experience I've had with the series, I will definitely recommend getting the Battlefield V Open Beta. It is free in money, but is certainly time expensive, so be prepared for that. It went live on September 6, and will continue until September 11, so if you want a little taste of some explodey fun times, grab it while you can. And look for the full game to be available for not free, October 19.