Battlefield 4’s multiplayer is nothing short of fun! There have been quite a few changes to Battlefield 3. Squad numbers have been increased by 1 to 5, Voip is back allowing voice communication in squads and the commander role has also returned. There is also a lot more soldier, weapon and vehicle customisation as well with a plethora of attachments and gadgets on offer once unlocked and Battlepacks; a new addition that allows you to unlock weapons or gadgets without the need for class or weapon progression.
The Frostibite 3 engine has given DICE the ability to create some of the most impressive multiplayer maps in the business. You would likely remember EA and DICE peddling the “Levolution” term a lot during the marketing campaign but it was always going to be a game of wait and see. They promised maps that altered the battle each time, with dynamic environments that could be affected by player interaction. For the most part this is true. A lot of the maps have something that the players can do to change the landscape and play style. A skyscraper can be levelled changing a particular capture point, a giant cargo ship can beach itself and a dam can be blown to create a more aquatic battlefield. These changes affect gameplay by changing the map dynamics to make it more infantry friendly and limiting vehicle effectiveness or vice versa. Now while these elements are impressive at first sight (or even third and fourth sight) what is more impressive is the natural weather patterns that occur in some maps. The landscape can go from calm seas, bright and sunny island environments to tempestuous storms within a manner of minutes. On a number of occasions I have found that this has forced me to alter my play style as the environment itself becomes another barrier. I have found on a number of occasions that a large ocean swell inducing storm has actually meant my current vantage point is no longer useful as the rolling seas interrupt my bullet and its trajectory. Many times a well place head shot has failed due to the bullet being swallowed up by a wave. Perhaps features like this would explain the long loading times.
Unfortunately there were issues on launch with multiplayer and a number of people worldwide were affected by server and client crashes and stats being wiped. It’s a shame that things like this still happen and it bids the question ‘What was the beta all about?’ The Battlefield 4 beta was essentially released to test such things as server load capabilities and despite the beta being very popular these issues still find a way to slip through the cracks. Thankfully a number of patches have been released and these crashes have been diminished drastically making Battlefield 4 very stable.
Another contentious design decision lies within the way the game is launched. Battlelog is a website that allows you to adjust your load out, search for servers and even chat with friends. It is loaded by default when Battlefield 4 is run and is required even for the single player. Battlelog initially came under fire when it was first released for Battlefield 3 as it was very different to what online gamers were used to. However, I have always been a fan and found it to be more beneficial than a hindrance. EA have gone a step further with the latest version as there is now a mobile application for it that allows you to view the map, view your load out and stats and even change them on the fly while playing. All in all it helps to complete the experience.
Time will disappear when in game. Hours seem like seconds and this can be partly attributed to the fact that the game environment is so engaging and also because it’s incredibly fun to play! The multiplier experience will always vary each time depending on team and squad dynamics so for the best experience you can get make sure to squad up with friends and communicate on VoiP constantly.
The Frostibite 3 engine has given DICE the ability to create some of the most impressive multiplayer maps in the business. You would likely remember EA and DICE peddling the “Levolution” term a lot during the marketing campaign but it was always going to be a game of wait and see. They promised maps that altered the battle each time, with dynamic environments that could be affected by player interaction. For the most part this is true. A lot of the maps have something that the players can do to change the landscape and play style. A skyscraper can be levelled changing a particular capture point, a giant cargo ship can beach itself and a dam can be blown to create a more aquatic battlefield. These changes affect gameplay by changing the map dynamics to make it more infantry friendly and limiting vehicle effectiveness or vice versa. Now while these elements are impressive at first sight (or even third and fourth sight) what is more impressive is the natural weather patterns that occur in some maps. The landscape can go from calm seas, bright and sunny island environments to tempestuous storms within a manner of minutes. On a number of occasions I have found that this has forced me to alter my play style as the environment itself becomes another barrier. I have found on a number of occasions that a large ocean swell inducing storm has actually meant my current vantage point is no longer useful as the rolling seas interrupt my bullet and its trajectory. Many times a well place head shot has failed due to the bullet being swallowed up by a wave. Perhaps features like this would explain the long loading times.
Unfortunately there were issues on launch with multiplayer and a number of people worldwide were affected by server and client crashes and stats being wiped. It’s a shame that things like this still happen and it bids the question ‘What was the beta all about?’ The Battlefield 4 beta was essentially released to test such things as server load capabilities and despite the beta being very popular these issues still find a way to slip through the cracks. Thankfully a number of patches have been released and these crashes have been diminished drastically making Battlefield 4 very stable.
Another contentious design decision lies within the way the game is launched. Battlelog is a website that allows you to adjust your load out, search for servers and even chat with friends. It is loaded by default when Battlefield 4 is run and is required even for the single player. Battlelog initially came under fire when it was first released for Battlefield 3 as it was very different to what online gamers were used to. However, I have always been a fan and found it to be more beneficial than a hindrance. EA have gone a step further with the latest version as there is now a mobile application for it that allows you to view the map, view your load out and stats and even change them on the fly while playing. All in all it helps to complete the experience.
Time will disappear when in game. Hours seem like seconds and this can be partly attributed to the fact that the game environment is so engaging and also because it’s incredibly fun to play! The multiplier experience will always vary each time depending on team and squad dynamics so for the best experience you can get make sure to squad up with friends and communicate on VoiP constantly.
