Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Firstly I would definitely say this game is better than Modern Warfare 2, simply because of almost everything, the excellent sound affects, the incredible graphics, the scale of the online maps and the satisfaction of destruction. Maybe it's true that it's story line is not quite as good as MW2's and as well as the fact that there's not a fantastic amount of variety in the missions, but it is still a lot of fun to blow a hole in a wall or bring a house down to eye level which never seems to get old! You will experience a few funny moments in the game which you wouldn't really have in MW2 which I like, but some aren't so keen on this. Now the multi-player, this is probably the best part of this game, as this game has been built on a foundation of pure online shooters. The fact that it feels like you're in an actual battlefield at times and not on you're sofa really is impressive, the settings of the maps and the sound of distant gunfire really is extraordinary. You have slightly more limited customisation options than you get on MW2 but I don't really see that as a problem, the ability to drive tanks or fly a helicopter really makes up for it. There are some issues with lag at times but this happens no more often than on COD and can normally be settled by switching your console off and on. This really is a fantastic game especially if you regularly play online, if your bored of MW2 and fancy a change then this is a very good alternative to settle your virtual warzone itch. So If you can't play this game online maybe wait until the price drops a bit, but otherwise, what are you waiting for!

The Heavy Metal mission, despite the tanks lacking FCS (Fire Control System), is a great example of using combined arms, including reconnaissance, artillery, and tanks, to secure the outskirts of a city.

Additionally, the Sangre Del Toro mission illustrates effective triangulation in communications and minefield breach opening procedure (with the game's limitation of turning back in 10 seconds or being shot due to map restrictions). This is achieved by navigating through an existing clearing that your forces are unaware of, but is restricted prior gaining the intel.

The lack of the prone stance, however, is a significant flaw in a game where we need more cover, especially considering that nearly everything is destructible.

It's worth noting that the game is more of an arcade experience than a simulation. Your companions are invulnerable, and in reality, a competent military operation would not involve inserting four individuals for these high-risk (or dare I say, crazy) missions. However, that's precisely what makes people enjoy the game and is part of its charm.

What was all the hype about? I was anticipating this games release for awhile. I heard it was going to be way better than CoD:MW2, which I was a fan of. I saw a goofy GameStop commercial and was thinking, the graphics look way better than that on the other commercials. When this game was released I picked up my reserved copy from GameStop. I went home and put it in my PS3. Right away I was kind of let down by the graphics. The reviews all said it was going to blow CoD:MW2 out of the water. What happened? Were all the game critics just hyping this game up for the sake of sales? Anyways, in single player the game is okay. I would say it's top 5 fps, but the online mode that everyone is going on about isn't much different than the old Battlefield 2. Back when Battlefield 2 came out, it was either Counter Strike: Source or Battlefield 2. Just like the whole CoD:MW2 vs. Battlefield: BC2 thing. I sided with Battlefield 2, because the online fighting was new. They haven't changed it much, and I have to say that some of the maps on the older Battlefields are better than the new Battlefield maps. Also, the graphics haven't changed much either. The lag kills on BC2, and sometimes accomplishments don't even load for about five to ten minutes into the game. I would also get disconnected a lot, which is frustrating when you are doing really well. I was always the medic, because that's my occupation in real life, so that was kind of neat, but when your accomplishments don't load for awhile, it gets kind of annoying trying to re earn everything. Also, sniper city. If the online play was tighter and the graphics more detailed, this would be able to compete with the arena style fighting CoD:MW2 brings to the table. You can't just rent this game because accomplishments take awhile to unlock, but the price is still a bit high. I'd wait to buy this when the price comes down.

If you feel like unleashing some large-scale firefights, riding in armored vehicles, and freezing in the middle of a snow-covered mission, "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" gives you exactly that. The story starts off intriguingly enough. The very first mission takes place in 1944 somewhere in the Sea of Japan, where the writers hook you with a secret "wunderwaffe." Then the game jumps to modern times, where you're tasked with investigating and searching for this mysterious weapon against the backdrop of a U. S.-Russia war. After that, the narrative follows a more predictable path: some characters wear serious faces, others have big plans, and you're off on missions to save everything possible. The variety of locations and familiar run-and-gun levels keep the pace lively, though the ending stumbles a bit, falling into clichés. The finale doesn't spark a "wow" or an "oh man," but rather a "well, time to install the next game and delete this one."

The missions themselves, however, are at times quite original. Take the snow episode, for example - a memorable challenge. The plot places you in extreme cold surrounded by deep snow. You literally have to keep warm through combat: freezing, sprinting from house to house, finding warm spots. Once you've thawed out, you mow down nearby enemies and keep moving. Frost creeps over the screen as if it's icing up your eyes, the protagonist breathes heavily as though you're out there without a hat yourself. Sometimes you need to get clever, shooting at conveniently placed barrels. They explode, set the area ablaze, and let you warm up again. It's a unique mechanic that sticks with you.

Beyond the "on-foot" action, the game lets you go wild with vehicles. Tanks, ATVs, armored carriers - no shortage of fun. You even get to play with something resembling a drone that guides missiles to targets. The missions are highly varied in terms of gameplay, and this variety feels good: guns roar loudly, vehicles move with confidence, and there's more than enough action to keep you engaged.

The graphics still hold up surprisingly well even today. The world feels alive, packed with detail, and the destruction is both large-scale and convincing. It's especially satisfying to watch an enemy hideout crumble into rubble - always a highlight. Less fun, of course, when it's your cover being blown to bits and you're suddenly exposed, scrambling to switch positions.

In the end, "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" is a solid, confident shooter with tight mechanics and lively gameplay. Not perfect, but definitely worth checking out - if only for a few standout missions and the thrill of feeling like more than just a soldier, but part of a massive, chaotic spectacle.

7 out of 10.

The first game is a childhood classic, but I've never played this one before so I decided to give it a playthrough. Before I played the campaign, I played a little multiplayer before it's servers were closed down, and truthfully had a horrible time playing against people who knew every corner, crack, blind spot, and exploit to basically spawn kill me. I was able to learn some of the ropes, but it just wasn't fun enough to continue.

The campaign on the other hand was awesome. The stakes are way higher than the first game, with a mission to find, locate, and destroy a terrorist weapon that uses scalar technology to cause mass destruction. Playing on the hardest mode, I had a blast, with me only taking a couple days to fully finish the campaign, as it really isn't that long. The level designs were everything you'd want from a game like this, the story was serviceable, and the ending was a blast. Definitely recommend for 1st person shooter fans.