Games
BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE BETA | Review
The excitement I got sums up the experience I had on the second Battlefield Hardline beta. It lasted for the week that ended 8th February and was available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The game was developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts.
In comparison to E3 release of the first Battlefield Hardline beta, the second beta is by far more impressive. As many game critics put it, the first beta felt more of a DLC than a full game which was quite true. It was very difficult sacrificing $60(equivalently Ksh5,400*) for the game they were proposing through the first beta. It is quite amazing what 8 months of corrective development can do. The second beta was a pretty big success.
Each round begins with two teams with criminals given task to plunder the city while cops tasked to stop them. There were various modes to choose from. In Heist mode, criminals’ work is to steal money and escape off scene. Rush mode is also similar to this with the police out on the defensive throughout. Blood money, yet another mode, involves both teams stealing a large stack of money with a more “Capture the Flag” touch to it but with many “flags” at stake. The new Hotwire mode has to be the best thing Visceral invented. It is a spinoff of Conquest mode which instead of capturing bases and holding them, you have to capture cars for as long as you can without being destroyed by the other team. You constantly have to keep moving on this mode so “No Camping” in short. That’s a problem many gamers wanted solved.
The game runs very smoothly and is now more fast-paced than its predecessors in the Battlefield series. The guns now have more recoil and the hit detection is distinctly better with less game bugs or glitches sited. This results into bigger gunfights and bullets flying all over. Also, there is no need to level up in order to upgrade weapons. All one has to do is to play correct by achieving the objectives and you will earn in-game cash for buying accessories, car and weapon upgrades.
The modern, shiny and crisp graphics always strike your eyes showing off the Frostbite engine’s power. The models were very attractive despite the low resolution textures. Probably, the low resolution was for smooth running of the game as I supposed. Additionally, this game takes a cops and robbers approach which is quite odd because the feel of the game is less than what it says you are. A rational example is, as a cop, you have to take precautions and measures to mitigate the damage done in situations involving robbery. Access to weaponry such as RPGs and grenade launchers actually downplays that role of a cop. On the robber’s side, it would be exhilarating if the heist is well planned but in Hardline, it looks more like a prolonged gunfight. I cannot complain much because a normal gamer wants huge guns and explosions.
The game has found its true identity and I can say is what Battlefield 4 should have been. The game now has the personality it deserved and this should give the Call Of Duty franchise a run for its money which is what Electronic Arts and Visceral are doing as it seems. The game will drop in March 2015 and I do look forward to buying it.
