Discussion on Next BF Title!
I have been a fan of the Battlefield series since Battlefield 2 (2005) on PC and have played every one of the game since. While I enjoyed many of the other FPS games on the market, such as CoD, Battlefield always seemed more enjoyable to play, especially with the release of the Bad Company games and the introduction of destructible buildings, but also other factors.
That is why when EA introduced the titles of BF: 2042, I was stoked to play the next BF game and made the mistake of preordering the highest edition of the game, falling victim to the hype, only to feel immensely let down upon the launch of the game. Right away it just felt so out of touch, the gameplay felt nothing like previous BF titles, and despite really giving it a chance on multiple occasions, even more recently, I could just never really get into it and enjoy it as much as past games. It seemed like they lost sight of what the series was and tried to make it way too over the top and it came off as way too arcadey to me and many others. There’s already plenty of games like Apex Legends and what not that have these more arcadey type FPS movement mechanics, features like grappling hooks, and less realistic characters. The fact that they didn’t even have a campaign was even worse…
So, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on what the next Battlefield title could include to not just get the series back on track, but absolutely dominate the FPS market once again.
1. With recent Battlefield titles, such as BFV and 2042, there were different character or operator skins whatever you want to call them that were offered through in game store purchases and battle passes, but they always came off extremely goofy to me and out of place for what used to be a semi-realistic shooter, such as BF3 & 4.
- I propose that in the next game, they take a different approach where there’s an in game character customization menu that is more along the lines of what is seen in games like Ghost Recon Breakpoint, where you have the opportunity to customize your character from head to toe. That means your character’s gender, the clothing items (combat shirts, pants, flannels, etc.), gear (plate carriers, chest rigs, various helmets and hats, gloves, boots, etc.), and even different types of night vision goggles, and finally, the option to change the color or camo pattern on each individual clothing and gear item. This would allow each player to make their own unique character free from the premade store operators that just aren’t what many of us want. Especially when you look at the more unrealistic skins that just seem far too arcadey, like what we see in CoD’s Warzone these days and even in 2042. I want to see more realistic military clothing and gear!
2. Weapons & Customization: With 2042, we saw many guns and gear that were just made up and not real life guns, or at best, they were fictional, futuristic concept models of real life weapons. On top of this, the introduction of more arcadey stuff that just made the game feel more like something along the lines of Apex Legends, instead of Battlefield with things like ridiculous wingsuits, grappling hooks, ballistic shields that somehow stop way more firepower than they should, etc.
- I don’t think I’m alone when I say that EA would have far greater success making a modern time period war game and implementing real life guns, attachments, and class gear items. Take the game Escape from Tarkov as a great example of what the weapon customization should be like. Real guns, real attachments (lasers, lights, suppressors and other muzzle devices, grips, etc.), and a blown up customization menu that lets you take a generic weapon like an M4 or AK platform, swap various parts like barrels, handguards, stocks, and pretty much every last detail to go in depth on what we can do to build out various platforms for different uses. More customization freedom given to the players to make their own characters and unique loadouts is something that many game developers have done and even CoD has begun moving in that direction, but is still behind what Tarkov has achieved. If EA wants to beat out CoD in this area and attract a lot of players, customization and realism is where it’s at. Even the minor details like using the proper reticles for different optics and allowing us to mount red dots on top of scope or canted red dots to cycle between different scope magnification and between our actual scope and a red dot.
3. Graphics, Destruction, Sound, Particle Effects, Intensity, & Immersion: While BF 2042 has some pretty decent graphics and explosions, I felt the level of destruction was a step back in comparison to previous game titles and they focused too heavily on the very over the top and exaggerated storms. It was like they wanted to make things far too “epic” and Michael Bay movie like, rather than just focusing on making the previously listed topics more realistic.
- Look at games like Squad, Squad44, and Hell Let Loose, for example. Those games have some pretty impressive particle effects with explosions and the graphics are pretty dang good imo. I think if EA focused on the smaller details like rounds impacting and effecting various types of structures and cover, vegetation, and the environment on maps in general with realistic sounds for each weapon system that actually sound like the real life thing in game at various distances and within or outside buildings, that would do far more for immersive, epic battles than some giant tornado ripping through the map and letting people fly up in wingsuits… I mean they can always take that approach in a completely separate game title, but it doesn’t seem like Battlefield to me. I remember one of the things that I loved so much about games like Bad Company 2 and BF3/4 was the ability to spot a sniper in a window of a building, take cover, and then pop up to launch a rocket or 40mm grenade into the wall, blowing a hole in the wall or the whole corner of the building off and then with more and more impacts, the whole buildings could crumble down on top of them. That was dope! Some of the buildings in 2042 can’t even be destroyed like this, so that’s what I mean by they took a step back or in the wrong direction there.
4. Multiplayer modes: At launch, there needs to be both core and hardcore/realism servers for every main mode, such as Rush, Conquest, TDM, etc.
- Another thing I’d really like to see aside from those PvP servers is an option for a PvE game mode where people can join up with their friends in squads or platoon sized elements and take on various missions together against AI enemies. Imagine the ability to have friends piloting an MH-60L Blackhawk, or an MH-6J Littlebird and drop off your element into an AO either during a day or night time mission. Ability to conduct fast rope insertions, epic HALO jumps, and then coordinate with your teammates, who all have their own designated squad roles and loadouts, to conduct raids, hostage rescues, destroy enemy strongholds, etc. Use LMGs to set up support by fire positions, while a flanking element maneuvers onto objective to clear it.
- If this was done, EA would not just be attracting the everyday casual gamer who doesn’t care so much about this level of milsim realism for that PvE mode that would be wanting to play the standard/classic PvP MP modes, but they would be pulling a lot of players away from games like Squad, Tarkov, Gray Zone Warfare, and other games that have moved into this sort of milsim realm. It’s a win, win situation for everyone. Players that just want to hop on a quick match of conquest after work can do so, while those that enjoy a more milsim mode with groups of friends to take on challenging PvE missions could have that too.
5. Campaign: If the previous PvE mode is actually made, I wouldn’t even be upset if there wasn’t a campaign, because that mode alone could fill the gap there, but if they’re really feeling like not just restoring the BF franchise, but taking it to new heights, a gritty, realistic campaign with a story written based on real life modern combat operations, similar to the campaign of EA’s Medal of Honor (2010) game, then they’d REALLY make one hell of a game. That campaign was and still is one of the greatest FPS campaigns I’ve ever played, because they really took the time to interview SOF veterans to get their stories on various combat operations in Afghanistan and built an emotionally moving, intense, and immersive campaign story that was amazing.
6. Multiplayer maps: As I’ve already made it quite clear, a return to some of the semi-realistic combat elements of BF3 & 4 would be great and MP maps is just another piece of that puzzle.
- Whether the game is set in a modern war in the Middle East, based off of past events of the GWOT, focused on an Eastern European near peer conflict between NATO and Russia & China, or something along those lines, the maps should be set in those regions and go as in depth with the real life environments and terrain features of those parts of the world. This also goes back to the destruction and immersion and with past maps they had unique large scale destruction that could take place, such as large buildings completely collapsing, a dam bursting, etc. I’m not saying it needs to be that crazy or at that level, but having dynamic destruction where fires can start and spread throughout portions of the map/buildings, smoke clouding the battlefield, and just the immersion from the beginning of a match to the end and how the terrain and environment could change from the ensuing battle. This is where they could make the combat incredibly “epic,” without having to implement ridiculous and disorienting tornadoes and such.
