Battlefield 4

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Game Information
Name: Battlefield 4
Genre: First-person shooter
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Developers: EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Engine: Frostbite 3
Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, PC
Content Rating: M (17+)

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Overview
Battlefield 4 is the sequel to one of 2011's best selling games, Battlefield 3. There's one thing Battlefield is compared to, and will forever be compared to, and that is Call of Duty. To say these games are similar in any way wouldn't even relate to the Battlefield franchise. DICE develops their games differently, focusing their strong suits on different aspects of first-person shooters. After receiving numerous awards at E3, Gamescom, and more, it was no surprise the FPS community would be in a great title.

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Singleplayer Campaign

Much like it's predecessor, Battlefield 3, the footsteps are closely followed throughout the storyline in Battlefield 4. The main conflicts deal with the Russia/United States issues are at an all-time high. To add to the fire, China, being thrown into turmoil through the story's main antagonist, Admiral Chang, thickens the plot as he attempts to overthrow the Chinese government, ultimately controlling the Russian military. This, in turn, would result in an all out war against the United States.

Players play as Sgt. Daniel "Reck" Recker, a member of Tombstone, a U.S. special operations force. Coming back from Battlefield 3's campaign, players soon join forces with CIA operative Laszlo W. Kovic (Agent W.) and Huang "Hannah" Shuyi, a Chinese Secret Service agent.

With any Battlefield game, and especially now pointing toward next-gen gaming, it's very hard to find a comparison to Battlefield's gripping and enticing singleplayer campaign. Every mission comes standard with suspense, edge-of-your-seat moments, and explosions...many, many explosions. Is there anything wrong with that though? Don't players love those moments? You're damn right, that's what we all live for a fantastic storyline. We want just that, the suspense, explosions, everything! Battlefield 4 delivers just that.

I don't want to spoil the campaign here, as it wouldn't be fair. But, standing apart from it's predecessor Battlefield 3, this campaign proceeds in a chronological order, allowing an easy understanding of what's exactly happening. There's no more fumbling around trying to remember what happened 3 missions ago.

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Multiplayer Online

This is what Battlefield fans buy the game for. Sure, the story is a great feature and always good for a rainy day. The online though, this is where the Battlefield franchise shines. This is where they part the seas of FPS games and stand out. DICE sets themselves apart in this aspect of FPS games. Their Multiplayer Online almost creates an industry standard for future games. Need an example? Battlefield 3 was released in 2011, delivering a similar jaw-dropping experience. Destructibility through almost everything you did though, that is where Battlefield made it's mark. Let's move ahead 2 years to 2013. Call of Duty: Ghosts, releasing November 2013 showed previews/trailers of it's upcoming Singleplayer as well as Multiplayer Online. In these previews/trailers Infinity Ward showed off it's new-founded ability to add destructibility to their maps. I wonder where they got those ideas from?

DICE also had the opportunity of releasing their title on the next-gen consoles, Xbox One and Playstation 4, finally being able to bring 64-player play to the console world. PC has had this feature for a much longer time, but since the new consoles were sure to be a hit, this was a well-added feature and almost a demanded one.

But, like it's past titles, Battlefield's online experience is like no other. The extent to which things play out is immense. Anything can happen, literally anything. Almost everything is prone to Levolution, a term DICE has used to describe to game's interactive abilities. I don't have to exactly explain what this is. If you've viewed any trailers, and I mean any, you'd know precisely what I'm talking about.

As usual, the core features Battlefield delivers online are still present. Tanks, trucks, helicopters, jets, etc. are all at your disposal, waiting to be unleashed. There is never a dull moment knowing at any moment a helicopter or jet could come hurdling towards you, as it's shot down from the skies.

DICE has been known for their downloadable content, already releasing one prior to this review, China Rising. Buying Battlefield Premium though will allow players to download these maps at a cheaper price than buying each one individually at full price. I hate comparing this, but for those still questioning this, it's very similar to Call of Duty Elite. We can expect 5 DLC drops including China Rising. The others include Second Assault, Naval Strike, Dragon's Teeth, and Final Stand. Release dates for these have yet to be announced.

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Controls

Like anything, the controls of any game will take some getting used to. Some of the mechanics taken from Battlefield 3 have been revamped into new button/control layouts. Knowing this though, DICE has given the option of switching to Veteran controls, mimicking those of past Battlefield games, allowing "Veterans" to pick up right where they left off. Everything seems to be a well-oiled machine throughout the game I will say. The controls are very easy to pick up (if this is your first Battlefield game) yet very familiar if you're a seasoned veteran of the Battlefield franchise.

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Graphics

I can tell you this right now. There is literally nothing, and I mean nothing comparable to Battlefield 4's graphic display. Utilizing the new Frostbite 3 engine, DICE has managed to make one of the most, if not the most realistic looking games on the market. Again, this is a video game, nothing will be precisely exact. But let me be the first to tell you that Battlefield 4 is the closest game I've seen come to such realism.

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Ratings (Personal)
Gameplay: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Graphics: 10/10
Overall: 9/10