Battlefield 1943 Review

Battlefield 1943 is an online only FPS released for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network for $15. It has three normal maps, as well as one additional air combat map.

The game-play in Battlefield 1943 would be very familiar to any veterans of the series, but with a few minor changes that make a big difference. Up to 24 players compete to capture capture points, which cause the opposing army to lose points once the majority are controlled. One major change is the in Battlefield 1943 there are only three classes: riflemen, infantry, and scouts. Rifleman use semi-automatic rifles, rifle-grenades, and fragmentation grenades that are ideal for killing ground troops. Infantry carry sub-machine guns ideal for close range combat, a bazooka, and a wrench to repair vehicles. Scouts carry a sniper rifle, pistol, and remote-controlled explosives. Another major change is how ammunition is handled. In previous Battlefield games, ammo was resupplied by a support class, now that the support class is gone ammo is infinite; explosive weapons carry three rounds that recharge after being used. This helps to make Battlefield 1943 a much more fun and intense experience because instead of worrying about ammo levels, you can worry about how to best play the game. Vehicles make a triumphant return to the series, with planes proving difficult but very rewarding to master, and tanks serving as well balanced tools of destruction. A tank by itself will be destroyed very fast, but a tank in a combined assault is deadly. Overall I was very pleased with the game-play and nothing can replace the feeling of assaulting an enemy capture-point with the majority of your team, a tank or two, and planes dive-bombing your opponents to soften them up for you.

The graphics in Battlefield 1943 are great for an arcade game, but still a little underwhelming. The audio is stellar; as you walk through the battlefield you will hear the sound of planes diving, shells passing overhead, bullets whizzing by, and the explosions of destroyed vehicles. Weapons also are very satisfying and the audio is the main reason. Even though the graphics could be better, they are made up for by the destructible environments. In Battlefield Bad Company, buildings were semi-destructible, but in Battlefield 1943 most buildings are destructible to their foundations. They are still only destroyed in chunks and not as realistically as I hoped but it is still far better than the destructibility in any other games this generation.

This game provides limitless playability and enjoyment for the low price of $15 and cannot be ignored in an already great summer of download titles.