by BR88KLYN
Battlefield 1943 returns me to a time in history I thought that I would never want to visit again in a video game, WWII.
Graphics. This game is an obvious step down from Battlefield: Bad Company but thankfully that step is not a full staircase. Graphically, this game succeeds as one of the better downloadable games available on the Playstation Network. The characters are modeled well and each of the three available classes are easily distinguishable on the battlefield. Vehicles are more than what I expected and convey the level of detail and effort that has been applied to the graphics in this game. Explosions are satisfying and surprisingly alter the terrain and the buildings at each base. This game may not be as graphically robust as a full retail game but delivers unexpectedly in a good way.
Control. Control is at times both frustrating and enjoyable. The level of frustration depends on what vehicle you are currently controlling. There are four vehicles featured in the game, boats, jeeps, tanks, and planes. Boats and jeeps are responsive and the controls for these vehicles are in my opinion perfectly mapped to the PS3. The plane controls are a lesson in poor control choices that are further hampered by the handling of the plane itself. The control of the plane can be looked upon as risk/reward, the risk being the poor handling and control of the plane that can be overcome with practice that will reward the player with a greater opportunity to dominate while increasing your kill count, and will make you appreciate every kill made in a plane even more. This risk/reward does insure balance in every match but does so at the expense of greater enjoyment of this vehicle. Controlling the three classes of soldiers is familiar to anyone who has played a first person shooter, although I did hear a complaint from other reviews concerning the placement of the melee button, I myself did not encounter this problem. Any control problems encountered while playing can be avoided by taking advantage of the tutorial that will provide ample time to experiment with the controls while also learning the maps. For all gamers who want to take full advantage of the plane, this should be your first stop.
Sound. The sound in this game is appropriate in every encounter. Explosions are loud and give weight to every skirmish. Bullets will strike a wall or a body as the sounds conveys the impact of flesh or brick perfectly. Planes overhead will alert you to their altitude by engine sound. The louder the engine sound, the closer the pilot will be flying overhead. Tanks also will be heard long before you see them. These are the details that will keep you alive in matches, most people ignore sound in FPS but for this game you need to start listening, as any good player knows your ears can save you long before your gun does, and the sound in Battlefield 1943 is not only your friend but an ally in any matches you win.
Gameplay. Battlefield 1943 provides an experience that can rival any that you have had while playing any FPS title. The levels are big and provide an expanse that at times can seem too big to cover. This is where teamwork will come into play, as the class you choose and how you play with the people on your team will greatly impact your success. The three classes available are Rifleman, Infantry, and Scout. Each provides a different primary and secondary weapon and as I found out, as each match progresses and territory is won and lost, this will constantly force you to change your soldier class as each situation will require you and your team to think strategically. I started a match as a Rifleman and realized immediately that I needed the sniping capability of the Scout. So what did I do, did I wait to get fragged? No, I just committed suicide, a option that comes in handy just for a situation like this. When my team and I were close to taking over a base I switched to the Infantry class to provide firepower to capture the flag.
The ability to “Squad Up” makes teamwork easy and will insure that you stay in the action while maintaining your territory. Squad play can be initiated by sending or accepting an invite, and playing as a squad will allow greater re-spawn freedom as you will now be able to spawn near teammates who are in the heart of the fight, but also give you the ability to spawn at any flag under control by your team. The vehicles in this game change the dynamic even more, allowing team members to not only fly overhead in an airplane supplying fire support and enemy movement info but the tanks, jeeps and boats allow teams to engage enemies across all terrains providing unique opportunities for ambushes. Vehicles are just one of the game changing elements, as the inclusion of cannons and air raids can turn the tide of a match. The only complaint I have is the current lack of maps available but we are living in the Downloadable Content (DLC) era and I am sure the future will bring a greater variety of maps that will make this game a PSN classic.
Overall. This is a game that will not only be played for years, but this game will change what Playstation 3 owners expect from downloadable games in the future and what developers can deliver in a downloadable title. Battlefield 1943 is a steal at $14.99.
