The Battlefield series has always pushed to deliver the pinnacle of serious and authentic warfare, however, with 2008’s Bad Company, DICE threw in a little humor and action-movie elements in order to deliver a new brand of miscreant warfare. Bad Company 2 has finally arrived and is set to leave a flaming trail of debris behind it. But is this company worth keeping?
Bad Company 2’s story kicks-off not long after the events of the first game. B Company is back and up to their usual tricks. All of your favourite characters from the original are back and wittier than ever. This time around, they’re sent on a recon mission to try and extract a mysterious weapon that has fallen into some dangerous hands. The story is reminiscent of a very good action movie, but what makes it special is the dialogue and voice acting of the supporting cast, more particularly the members of Bad Company. Players will laugh alongside the action at the quirky remarks and blatant Modern Warfare bashing, which is all in good fun.
One thing Battlefield has always perfected, is the way the shooting feels, and the super-smooth gameplay mechanics that go with it. A perfect blend of heavy and light gun control is implemented and the actual shooting is incredibly satisfying for the player. The actual campaign remains largely the same, where missions vary from on-foot conventional FPS styled segments, to vehicle or turret sections, where you’ll man a tank or MG. What makes Bad Company so unique though, is the level of destruction, which was practically perfected in the first game. The destruction is now even more dynamic and it plays a role in deciding your tactics for each level; not to mention it looks awesome.
Speaking of looks, Bad Company 2 is visually phenomenal. The levels are extremely large and open-ended, allowing for a lot of different approaches to be made. They vary from snow, to desert, to tropical jungle settings, and they all are refined down to finest detail. The character models are beautifully animated and never seem to look awkward in any situation, and the destruction (being a highlight of the game) is stunningly gorgeous, with all the particle effects and debris to make your jaw drop.
A big part of Battlefield has always been the robust multiplayer, and no expense has been spared with Bad Company 2. The game offers different modes, which vary from Squad Deathmatches to Conquest matches, which is a capture-the-flag type mode. Another game mode, Rush, has taken place of the Gold Rush mode from the originl Bad Company. This time however, players are required to set charges and detonate the opposing team’s M-COM stations while they try defend the posts. The inclusion of vehicles in multiplayer may add a slight balance issue at first, but eventually serve to add some great variety to the online gameplay.
DICE have outdone themselves once again with Bad Company 2. It’s one of the most action packed and visceral games in 2010 already, and everything from the smooth shooting down to the sublime visuals is meticulously designed. Although a little short, the strong single-player and multiplayer component makes Bad Company 2 some pretty good company to have.
