{"id":1489701,"date":"2021-11-12T02:44:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T02:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/c5b6a053-b46b-4e7e-aca1-c2230dadf66e"},"modified":"2021-11-12T02:44:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T02:44:52","slug":"battlefield-2042-review-in-progress","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platogaming.com\/plato-data\/battlefield-2042-review-in-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"Battlefield 2042 Review in Progress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

128 players simultaneously running into Battlefield 2042\u2019s<\/a> crowded warzones is a great example of why bigger can<\/em> be better, but isn\u2019t always. While chaotic gunfights are undoubtedly part of Battlefield\u2019s charm, massive lobbies with that many players eventually became frustrating instead of fun \u2013 even in the limited time I was able to play during a three-day “virtual review event” held by EA earlier this week. Thankfully, its tense new Hazard Zone mode provides an interesting strategic alternative on a smaller scale, and its customizable Portal mode tools are an exciting glimpse at how its future could thrive. But 2042\u2019s flashy, large-scale battles have left me wanting so far \u2013 but I have a ways to go before I’m ready to score it.<\/p>\n

To pull back the curtain on what reviewers had access to before launch, I was able to play about 12 hours of Battlefield 2042 spread across three days, meaning I couldn\u2019t just queue into any mode I wanted and was restricted to what was available that day and hour. For example, we spent one day playing just the All-Out Warfare modes, and only had about an hour to play Breakthrough on the first day and another chunk the next day. In that time, I only barely experienced the massive new weather system \u2013 I saw one tornado, but it didn\u2019t make it across the map to me. So I’m still chasing the storms.<\/p>\n

That means this review event felt more like a small window into each of Battlefield 2042\u2019s modes rather than a full experience of it, so I\u2019ll be waiting to do a full review until I\u2019ve spent more time with it on live servers. Look for that next week! That said, I did play more than enough to form some initial impressions on what it has to offer. Most notably, its traditional All-Out Warfare mode feels underwhelming compared to the pleasant surprise that is the unconventional Hazard Zone, its customizable Portal is an absolutely incredible window into game development, and it basically throws the conventional class system out the window \u2013 and not entirely for the better.<\/p>\n

Not So Special(ist)<\/h3>\n

At first glance it appears that Battlefield 2042 has a roster of 10 Specialists that are based off of the original four Battlefield classes: Assault, Support, Recon, and Engineer. However, unlike the previous Battlefield games where classes had very specific jobs and skills, 2042\u2019s Specialists\u2019 skills don\u2019t really change a team\u2019s dynamic much. For example, I first decided to go with Support Specialist Maria Falck to act as the team medic. Her Specialty skill arms her with a Syrette Pistol that fires syringes which heal allies and herself, but damage enemies. I initially thought Falck would basically be the only option for someone who likes to play as a medic, but it turns out that anyone can go in as a healer if they equip the medical crate gadget which lets them throw out the typical Battlefield area-of-effect healing box. And while Falck\u2019s Specialist trait allows her to revive downed teammates to full health, anyone can revive their teammates and can provide healing.<\/p>\n

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Every IGN Battlefield Review<\/output><\/p>\n

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