Battlefield 2142

THE BAD:
-Vehicle/Infantry balance on some maps
-Gear unlock system can be counter-productive
-Most fun in the game is only possible when people work together

SUMMARY:
On the good side, the Battlefield gameplay that began with Battlefield 1942 has been tweaked again, with the prone spamming and bunny hoping issues of the Battlefield gameplay having been largely discouraged in 2142. The infantry has been given a much-needed boost in firepower to counteract the firepower of the vehicles provided, and most of the maps have strong infantry-to-vehicle balance

The introduction of the gear/weapon unlock system is also a nice addition to the gameplay. The ability to customize weapon loadout, gear, and even armor protection is fun and gives the player more options when playing through the multiplayer. Awards augment this system by providing much-needed blocks of points to players who spend many hours honing their craft, and encourage long term gameplay and commitment to learning the intricacies of each infantry class and vehicle.

However, vehicle-to-player balance on some maps can be off. Vehicle-heavy maps often suffer when a team's cohesion is lacking, as many players are stuck running across open field to assault other flags. Much of the fun to be found in 2142 is also heavily-reliant on teamwork. Spawn camping, or at the very least heavy losses, can be very common when a disorganized team is up against a cohesive team, or even two or three well organized squads.

The game is also heavily biased against newcomers with the unlock system. New weapons and gear that a player may use can only be acquired through hours of gameplay, leaving new players without much of the gear that provides survivability in the heat of battles.

These issues aside, 2142 offers some of the best multiplayer FPS action available on the PC. The visual appereance of the game is sharp, if sometimes uninspired. The Sidi Power Plant in particular seems to have been built with the idea to see how many different shades of brown can be used on a single level.

In conclusion, Battlefield 2142 is a game attempting to reach out to a particular audience. Gamers who want short, Halo-esque frag fests will not find much in 2142 that appeals to their tastes. 2142 does not however fail in this sense, but rather excels at promoting long-term gameplay and working to achieve greater skill through teamwork and personal growth.