When it comes to online combat, not many games can match Battlefield 3. It creates an immersive experience that is both addictive and exhilarating. This impressive upgrade from the preceding 2005 version has made the Battlefield franchise a worthy competitor with games like COD. Available on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, this game was released in 2011 and can be classified as a classic in the combat gaming world. Developed by Digital Illusions CE [DICE] and published by Electronic Arts [EA], Battlefield 3 does a great job of enlisting thousands of players into an online battle.

Battlefield 3 gives a more expansive experience than COD with sniper rifles and vehicular warfare like tank combat and intense jet combat. It is one thing to be a foot soldier, but flying a F/A-18F Super Hornet makes you feel like Maverick, and riding a tank is indescribable.

The Single-Player Gameplay Could Have Been Better

Battlefield 3’s campaign follows multiple characters through various locations into operations. You switch between being a US Marine to an M1A2 Abrams tank operator and super Hornet weapons specialist, among other characters. Battlefield 3 features expansive maps that range from Paris to Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait City. I must confess that the single-player mode was a letdown as the storyline felt constricted and monotonous.

You are forced through a plot into battle situations to battle cliché terrorists who are always posing a threat to humanity, and you have to engage them in lazy gun battles to progress into a similar boringness. I believe that Battlefield 3’s main focus was the multiplayer section, while the single-player campaign was an afterthought. 

The Mid Co-Op Mode

This series of mini-missions are not as restrictive as the single-player campaigns but are not as expansive as the multiplayer mode. It allows for some improvisation in carrying out missions, but it doesn’t stand out either. The AI soldiers tend to be wonky but work fine otherwise. The Co-op mode also allows players to collect points that unlock new content. 

Multiplayer Mode Reigns Supreme

The multiplayer mode fixes any negative impression that the single-player may have left. It plunges you straight into the depths of raging combat with other players online on different missions. It may take you a while to find your bearing in the chaos. The visible map makes it a bit easy to get. The speed and intensity that comes with combining sixty-four avid players in a location and giving them a mission are beyond words. The ambitious scope is exhilarating because active players try to take you out, which is exciting. 

For the multiplayer gameplay, you can choose to be one of four things, namely Assault, Engineer, Support, or Recon. Everyone has a specific skill set which improves the probability of success. While the engineers fix vehicles for movement, assault soldiers treat and revive fallen soldiers, and the Recon team takes out the enemies using sniper rifles. They are all fitted with ammunition that helps make them effective, and no one team is overpowered.

Impressive And Realistic Graphics

From helicopters flying a few feet over your head to seeing smoke rising from a burning vehicle to watching walls get demolished, Battlefield 3 is a treat for the eyes. It uses realistic lighting and reflection techniques that are out of this world. A few incidences of glare obstruct your line of sight, but that is also realistic. The graphic details in Battlefield 3 are a double-edged sword.

While the visuals are beautiful, the number of visual details displayed simultaneously sometimes obscure your view of the enemy, but it never obstructs theirs. A lot is happening visually that can distract you from the actual battle. After playing the game on a PC and with consoles, it is safe to say that its PC version can boast the best graphics. I found the Xbox 360 console gameplay my least favorite graphic experience. There were also some bugs like floating corpses, troops running on a spot, etc.

You Won’t Believe The Soundtrack.

The soundtrack was another impressive aspect of Battlefield 3. The developers managed to create a close to realistic auditory experience. All the guns sounded very distinct and as close to the real-world sound as possible, and you could literally hear bullets whooshing past your ears.

When in heavy combat situations, the music dies out, and you can hear orders from your commanding officer, distant gunfire, and bombs. Voices echo in hallways, and you can hear the echo of snipers’ shots which is a great sound design.

Full Weapons Chest

As expected, Battlefield 3 has a robust stack of ammunition that you can unlock or collect by killing enemy fighters. From assault rifles like G3A3, M416, and AEK-971 to carbines and handguns like the .44 Magnum, M9, and G18. You also get a wide variety of light machine guns and personal defense weapons such as the PP-19 and M5K.

Shotguns and rocket launchers are also instrumental in taking out snipers from hidden spots. You also get sniper marksman rifles like the AS VAL, SVD, and close-quarters M417. This is a really impressive list of guns and ammo. You would never know what your opponent has in multiplayer mode, which adds to the charm.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Battlefield 3 is a great shooter game and is highly entertaining. The world is expansive and gives room for teamwork and learning from one another. It doesn’t shine from a plot point of view, but the multiplayer campaign more than makes up for that. 

I should state that the console version is limited to 24-man battles compared to the PC’s 64 players; this was done for graphics reasons. Disparities like these affect players and get them to become numb to Battlefield 3. If you are looking for a kickass campaign, stick to the classic COD, but if you want to battle with friends and other online players, Battlefield 3 is your go-to.