Since the beginning with Battlefield 1942, DICE's Battlefield series has been hugely influential of all other multiplayer shooters. For years, DICE focused on this concept, bringing game after game to PC, something that changed with the release of Battlefield: Bad Company. For the first time, the Swedish developer brought a game exclusively to consoles, and focused on delivering a strong single player component to support the multiplayer, which was scaled back dramatically from the typical PC instalments. Now, with the sequel, the developer decided to continue the Bad Company series to include a more robust multiplayer experience, spreading it past consoles and onto PC as well. This choice seems to have worked out for them, since there's little doubt that Bad Company 2 has a lot more to offer than the prequel.
DICE went out of their way to keep a lid on details involving the single player campaign for this sequel, only revealing one bit of information prior to launch. The full squad from the original returns in the sequel, on a mission much more serious than they are used to. Storylines from the first game, involving stolen gold and the Legionnaire, are dropped entirely. Instead, the security of the nation rests in B Company's less than capable hands, and it's up to Sweetwater, Haggard, Redford, and Marlowe to save the day from a mysterious weapon. It’s a more linear and serious trek than it was before, and while obviously taking a back seat to the multiplayer offerings this time around, Bad Company 2’s story is still an entertaining ride from beginning to end.
Visuals are impressive, with massive, beautiful vistas populating the singleplayer, and large, open levels giving plenty of variety to the multiplayer. It might not be able to stack up with the likes of MW2, but it has some remarkable environments, and I cannot complain about how Bad Company 2 looks or sounds. Or plays, for that matter, as the sequel enhances the game in every way. Everything, in general, feels greatly improved over the original. DICE really nailed the controls this time around, meaning the console version should play as well as the PC version. The largest technical enhancement comes in the form of a more realistic war environment, seeing buildings collapse entirely when enough damage has been dealt.
Without question, DICE has managed to outdo themselves with Bad Company 2, making their best game yet. In fact, they’ve outdone just about everyone. There are few games out there as addictive and rewarding, making it impossible to stop playing. It has been done in the past, with different developers trying their best to find a way to organize the chaos that is massive battles. DICE has done it perfectly this time around, and the multiplayer mayhem needs to be experienced by all who considers themselves fans of the series.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 isn't good. It's great. There’s little doubt that DICE has secured its game a spot as the best shooter of the first half 2010. The multiplayer manages to feel completely fresh, making the dual-shotgun wielding Modern Warfare 2 look like a fantasy game by comparison. The story might not be as impressive as some hoped, failing to match the humor of the prequel, but the multiplayer goes above and beyond the call of duty, providing the best competitive gameplay in recent memory. DICE has helped redefine the online shooter, and should provide fans of the genre a plenty of fun for some time to come.
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