Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

In bringing one of the biggest PC titles of recent memory, Digital Illusions, developer of Battlefield: Modern Combat, needed to look at the difference between console and PC gamers.  Marcus Nilsson, Producer at Digital Illusions, and his team think they’ve reached a conclusion.  “Console gamers prefer games that are more arcadey.  We brought that element into Battlefield: Modern Combat.”  And that they have.  Similar to, but not identical to, the wildly popular Battlefield: 1942 and its expansions, Modern Combat adds a little bit of flair to the game with small additions in the gameplay.   

Modern Combat takes place on Chinese and Middle Eastern soil, and gamers can play as Americans, Chinese, or the newly formed (and fictional) Middle Eastern Coalition.  Fifteen different maps will be downsized – consoles simply can’t afford as many objects as a PC – to afford a greater arcade experience.  No longer do soldiers from one end of the map need to trudge all the way to the action, there’s bound to be action in these close quarters just around the corner.  And with support for up to twenty-four online players (TWENTY-FOUR!!!), there’s no shortage of frags to accumulate. 
 

Of course one of the greatest features in the original was the ability to hop into any vehicle with some buddies and waste the enemy.  Modern Combat is no different, but because of map limitations, expect less fighter jets and more helicopters.  There’s no fun in flying from one end of the map to the other in a few moments.  Seventy-five different weapons will be at soldiers’ disposal, and it’s all been updated to accommodate modern technology.  Marcus showed me the air strike option, but said other modern items such as heat-seeking missiles and assault rifles are also included in the game.  Players can choose their kit from one of five classes, Assault, Special Operations, Engineer, Sniper, and Support. 
 

Small elements that really boost the arcade feel may cause veterans of the series to turn up their noses, but console gamers want action, and fortunately it doesn’t affect the gameplay.  Blowing up an enemy may vault a player 50 feet in the air, but the ragdoll effects are pretty sweet.  Collision models are still up in the air, with trees currently permeable ala Midtown Madness in order to keep the action going.  Some vehicle jumps can be found in the urban areas for those who prefer “Dukes of Hazard” style combat.  It all adds up to an enjoyable experience, with fast-paced action the heart of the design.

The good people at Digital Illusions decided to completely scrap the single player campaign, rendering Modern Combat for LAN support, PS2 online, and Xbox Live only.  The servers will all be client servers, meaning more people will be able to play with less cheating.  Deciding whether to get it on Xbox or PS2?  Definitely get the Xbox version, the graphics are much better and the superior processor allows for more objects to be on the screen such as foliage and manmade items.

Battlefield: Modern Combat is slated for mid-November. 

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