Battlefield V | Xbox One | Review

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The game industry’s love affair with World War 2 goes back years, with countless titles following in the footsteps of film in exploring some of the most iconic moments in conflict. Battlefield itself is no stranger to WW2 either, with some of the game’s first installments set in the 1940s, but does Battlefield V feel like a respectful return to the well-trodden era or a tired relic?

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by James
Michael
​Parry

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@james_parry

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Developer: DICE
Publisher: Electronic
Arts
Platforms: Xbox One,
PS4, PC
Players: 1 - 64

Battlefield’s trademark scale is present and correct here, with epic, sprawling conflicts stretching out as far as the eye can see (more clearly now, since particle effects have apparently been toned down since the beta). As ever, the gritty, dirty historical period is convincingly brought to life by the proprietary Frostbite engine.

It does fall short of its ambition however, particularly when perhaps unfairly compared to the endlessly detailed locales of Red Dead Redemption 2 currently sitting firmly in many gamers’ minds. The character models feel bland and plain, even with the limited customisation on offer, reportedly dialled back to bring more “authenticity” to proceedings, but, in the fray of the fight, it rarely matters.

More troubling are the numerous technical issues which stick out like a sore thumb, from killcams showing characters with body parts missing to finding yourself clipping through a wall after a particularly nasty explosion. While those kinds of issues might be “the norm” for many titles close to release day, no doubt thanks in part to increasingly bewildering staggered release strategies, it’s easy to feel less forgiving - particularly as you sit being unable to find a game on the final, official launch day.

Destruction has often been Battlefield’s saving grace, offering you those “wow” moments as buildings topple and the landscape changes entirely, but, since there’s less architecture to play with here, owing to the WW2 context, there’s little chance for these moments to shine.

​​There are still glimpses of brilliance - like when a tank turns to face a building you’re cowering inside and then, in a flash, the building is all but gone - but there’s a strong impression that after so many years and entries in the series, it doesn’t have the same impact it once did, even for new players.

Core gameplay has been updated, in line with the usual tweaks between releases, most notably making the spotting mechanic noticeably less powerful this time around. What this means in practice is that you really need to look a tank square on in order to tell your squadmates it’s there, which can be a bit of a pain when you get a face full of explosive shell for your trouble.

Squads continue to be crucial to success in the objective-focused multiplayer, now boasting flimsy fortification building, helping Battlefield V to retain a point of difference from the killstreak-loving Call of Duty. The number of packs of ammo and health being thrown around at any given moment can get a bit out of hand at times, though it’s well worth sticking close to a particularly friendly ammo-bearer to avoid running out of munitions in the field, since they can now be fairly limited.​

Battlefield V still features some of the fairest, most accessible and well-balanced combat in the genre.

Community member Jordan "Metalrodent" Thomas tried to make the best of a minor crash situation.

The remixing of the iconic Rush and Conquest game modes continues, particularly with Grand Operations, though we’d argue the spectacle of the zeppelins in Battlefield 1 better captured the day-by-day, progressing battle approach to multiplayer skirmishes. Fortunately there are handy intro videos for each mode, so you can easily get to grips with the difference between Domination and Breakthrough, but the overall feel is similar throughout, with only different slants on scale and the use of vehicles.

From the hand-holding introduction accompanied by some stoic voice work from Mark Strong, the tone of the game is set early on - this is an entry in the franchise that’s taking itself a bit more seriously. The ongoing live service known as Tides of War, expected to bring to life the “unplayed battlefields” of WW2 with a foot planted firmly in historical reality, offers reason to keep engaging with the game, while an upcoming battle royale mode gives us something to look forward to from a development team very familiar with creating quality post-launch content.

The visual bugs are particularly abundant, such as this lovely floating bell.

Single-player War Stories make a return, bringing more intimate, even character-driven perspectives on the war, but the format remains too blunt an instrument to create the pathos achieved by something like the recent 11-11: Memories Retold, and distills down to a training grounds for the multiplayer main course.

In the end, it seems Battlefield V has achieved what it set out to do: bring tried-and-tested shooter combat - frankly, still some of the fairest, most accessible and well-balanced in the genre - and re-introduce it to a war which may have seen it all before, but still offers exhilarating experiences, enhanced by the solid foundation of the squad-based approach to combat.

It might not push the boundaries into completely new areas, but delivering an experience which both feels right to existing fans and isn’t too daunting for newcomers is a hard balance to strike. If only it had the character and humour of Bad Company 2 or sheer impact of Battlefield 4’s step forward in DICE’s self-styled “levolution” system, it might jump up from worthwhile to essential. As it is, in a crowded marketplace, Battlefield is finding it harder and harder to make its mark.

Pros

• Locations bring an authentic feel
• Doesn’t let itself be held back by history, but treats it with respect
• Squadding up with friends is still the best way to play

Cons

• Mechanics feel worn & gameplay repetitive
• Technical issues & bugs distract or worse
• Missing some of the excitement & character of its predecessors

7/10