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Battlefield 1942: Deluxe Edition
by EA Games
Reviewer: Michael Knutson
Review Date: 11/06/2003
You must buy this game now!
GZ Review Ratings:
Gameplay 9.4
Graphics 9.3
Sound 8.7
Difficulty Medium
Concept 9.3
Overall 9.3
Last year people were raving about a game called Battlefield 1942. They were lauding it for having smooth controls, different job classes, and playing online with vehicles. I casually looked into the game, and while it seemed to have a few interesting ideas, I never tried it, until now. After playing this game for sometime I realize why this game caused quite a stir last year. This is one of the best renditions of War World II gaming I have ever gotten a chance to play. There are so many things players can do, and it all feels intuitive. Battlefield 1942 brings players into what it might have felt like while soldiers were on the battle lines during World War II. EA has recently released a Deluxe Edition of the game that contains Battlefield 1942 and the expansion pack The Road to Rome. If you do not have these games, I highly suggest that you rush out to the nearest electronics store and pick up a copy immediately!
As you can already tell by the title, this game takes place during the catastrophic events that shook the world during World War II. The single missions let players transverse through North Africa, Pacific Theater, and in Eastern and Western Europe. Players take on the role of a new recruit that always has to be aware of their surroundings to take the appropriate actions. At any given time, it is up to the player to be a pilot of a plane, a machine gunner, medic, and many other duties to ensure victory for their forces.
There are two modes that players can play in single player. The first one is a campaign mode, which takes players through the role of solider as they go through various campaigns to help win the war. The other is Instant Battle, which allows players to get their destructive fix without going online or playing a mission.
The multiplayer aspect of Battlefield 1942 and the expansion is its true source of enjoyment. There are a few different game modes that players will be able to partake in. Conquest is for players to try to get the other teams tickets (points) down to zero. The tickets are a pool of lives shared by everyone, the way to get more tickets is to kill enemy soldiers to capture key areas of the map. Co-op, is exactly like Conquest mode except that it lets players play against or team up with AI control bots. Team Death Match is a game where players try to minimize their casualties while they attempt to kill the opponents. All first person shooter games have to have a Capture the Flag mode, and this game is no different. Players must locate, capture, and try to get the flag back to your base, before being slaughtered by the enraged enemies.
What makes the multiplayer games even better is that players can use all of the vehicles found in the single player missions. This aspect makes the game much better because now when players can get in a tank (or any other vehicle), they will have an intelligent (hopefully) person in the gun and shoot the enemies. Nothing is better than playing with and against human characters, and this game does it better than any other first person shooter I have played to date.
Battlefield 1942 Deluxe Edition is rated T for Teen for violence.
The system requirements are:
500 MHz or better Processor
128 MB of RAM
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
8X CD-Rom
Direct X 8.1
Direct X 8.1 compliant video card with 32 MB of VRAM
Direct X 8.1 compatible 16 bit soundcard
56k or faster to play 2 to 16 people
Broadband to play with 2 to 64 people
TCP/IP installed to play over a LAN (Local Area Network)
2 GB of Hard Disk Space
Keyboard and Mouse.
Reviewer's Scoring Details
Gameplay: 9.4
There are so many different things players can do in this game! Gamers can choose different types of characters, from scouts to medics, and that is only the tip of the iceberg of the choices they can make. Players can also drive around a tank, be the person firing the tank guns, fly an airplane, drive a boat, and do myriads of other things. This is one of the first FPS's that I have seen pull off this much variety of things in one single setting, and it is done to perfection. The best part about this is the transition time. Players can be driving a jeep, see an enemy barricade, jump out of the jeep and start shooting all in a matter of seconds. There is no loading or long transition it all happens instantaneously. The controls for all of these vehicles (and while on foot) are very comprehensive and players will be able to pick it up in a matter of minutes.
Graphics: 9.3
Even though the game is already a year old, the graphics are still eye popping with greatness! The sky, land, water, everything is highly detailed to perfection. Players will be fighting in many different areas, and each of them give off the look that they are war torn. The cities that players go through are ravaged by the hard times that have been going on. The different places that the players will visit look different from previous locations. From the hot deserts of North Africa, to the lush jungles of the Pacific, players will be in new surrounds that make them feel like they are really in those places.
The characters models are detailed enough to show the tired yet determined faces. The effects this game has is also really nice, from the smoke bellowing when a shot is fired from a tank, and when a vehicle is destroyed it is all very realistic and interesting to look at.
Sound: 8.7
While playing this game, you might feel like you really are in the midst of a war zone. Each of the weapons has their own distinct sound which makes the game very realistic, and players will be able to know what they are getting shot at with. Some of the scarier encounters happen when players hear bombs going off in the background. The louder the explosions are they, the closer the bombs are to you which means it is time to find a place to duck and cover.
The music in this game is the only down side. The problem is that the variety is lacking, it seems that I am constantly listening to the same music over and over again. This is not terrible but having more musical scores is never a bad thing.
Difficulty: Medium
This game offers several levels of difficulty that can be further expounded on and further enhanced. This means that everyone will be able to find the perfect level of difficulty for them, and make the game enjoyable. It is better if players play in harder modes, because if they intend to play online, the hard modes will give players plenty of training. Many of the players found online will make the game extremely difficult for some, due to the fact they have been playing it for over a year and they know all of the ins and outs of each level. While some people may scoff at this, I think that it makes gamers become better when they face the stiff opposition, and makes them better overall.
Concept: 9.3
EA deserves a huge pat on the back for this game, and players will understand from the minute they load the game, why Battlefield 1942 was hailed as the game of the year last year. The Deluxe Edition not only has the original game, but the expansion pack as well. Plus the ability to drive vehicles in multiplayer games is very cool.
Multiplayer: 9.5
Battlefield 1942 Deluxe Edition combines the best of both worlds; you get the original game plus the expansion. People might suspect that playing with that many people is ludicrous and will not be any fun, but rest assured that once they taste this sweet little morsel their mouths will be foaming for more.
Overall: 9.3
I know this is sad, but this was my first time to touch this game, and I see now that I was a fool for waiting so long. If you do not have Battlefield 1942 or its expansion pack rush out to the nearest store and purchase it ASAP! This is one game that no PC gamer should be without. This is the first game that I have played that makes the whole World War II era come to life. There are so many minute things going on in this game at any given time players will be standing in awe, until they remember that they are under attack and must defend themselves. Battlefield is one of the best multiplayer and single player FPS games I have played in a long time and I can assure you that it will not leave my DVD-Rom drive for a long time!
Test System:
CPU - 1.4 AMD Athlon T-Bird RAM - 256MB
Video - 64MB NVIDIA GeForce3 CD - 16X/48X DVD-ROM, 12X/8X/32X CD-RW Drive
Hard Drive - 80 GB OS - Win XP Home Edition
Monitor - 17 inch Monitor Sound - Sound Blaster Live
Modem - Cable Internet
Review
by EA Games
Reviewer: Michael Knutson
Review Date: 11/06/2003
You must buy this game now!
GZ Review Ratings:
Gameplay 9.4
Graphics 9.3
Sound 8.7
Difficulty Medium
Concept 9.3
Overall 9.3
Last year people were raving about a game called Battlefield 1942. They were lauding it for having smooth controls, different job classes, and playing online with vehicles. I casually looked into the game, and while it seemed to have a few interesting ideas, I never tried it, until now. After playing this game for sometime I realize why this game caused quite a stir last year. This is one of the best renditions of War World II gaming I have ever gotten a chance to play. There are so many things players can do, and it all feels intuitive. Battlefield 1942 brings players into what it might have felt like while soldiers were on the battle lines during World War II. EA has recently released a Deluxe Edition of the game that contains Battlefield 1942 and the expansion pack The Road to Rome. If you do not have these games, I highly suggest that you rush out to the nearest electronics store and pick up a copy immediately!
As you can already tell by the title, this game takes place during the catastrophic events that shook the world during World War II. The single missions let players transverse through North Africa, Pacific Theater, and in Eastern and Western Europe. Players take on the role of a new recruit that always has to be aware of their surroundings to take the appropriate actions. At any given time, it is up to the player to be a pilot of a plane, a machine gunner, medic, and many other duties to ensure victory for their forces.
There are two modes that players can play in single player. The first one is a campaign mode, which takes players through the role of solider as they go through various campaigns to help win the war. The other is Instant Battle, which allows players to get their destructive fix without going online or playing a mission.
The multiplayer aspect of Battlefield 1942 and the expansion is its true source of enjoyment. There are a few different game modes that players will be able to partake in. Conquest is for players to try to get the other teams tickets (points) down to zero. The tickets are a pool of lives shared by everyone, the way to get more tickets is to kill enemy soldiers to capture key areas of the map. Co-op, is exactly like Conquest mode except that it lets players play against or team up with AI control bots. Team Death Match is a game where players try to minimize their casualties while they attempt to kill the opponents. All first person shooter games have to have a Capture the Flag mode, and this game is no different. Players must locate, capture, and try to get the flag back to your base, before being slaughtered by the enraged enemies.
What makes the multiplayer games even better is that players can use all of the vehicles found in the single player missions. This aspect makes the game much better because now when players can get in a tank (or any other vehicle), they will have an intelligent (hopefully) person in the gun and shoot the enemies. Nothing is better than playing with and against human characters, and this game does it better than any other first person shooter I have played to date.
Battlefield 1942 Deluxe Edition is rated T for Teen for violence.
The system requirements are:
500 MHz or better Processor
128 MB of RAM
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
8X CD-Rom
Direct X 8.1
Direct X 8.1 compliant video card with 32 MB of VRAM
Direct X 8.1 compatible 16 bit soundcard
56k or faster to play 2 to 16 people
Broadband to play with 2 to 64 people
TCP/IP installed to play over a LAN (Local Area Network)
2 GB of Hard Disk Space
Keyboard and Mouse.
Reviewer's Scoring Details
Gameplay: 9.4
There are so many different things players can do in this game! Gamers can choose different types of characters, from scouts to medics, and that is only the tip of the iceberg of the choices they can make. Players can also drive around a tank, be the person firing the tank guns, fly an airplane, drive a boat, and do myriads of other things. This is one of the first FPS's that I have seen pull off this much variety of things in one single setting, and it is done to perfection. The best part about this is the transition time. Players can be driving a jeep, see an enemy barricade, jump out of the jeep and start shooting all in a matter of seconds. There is no loading or long transition it all happens instantaneously. The controls for all of these vehicles (and while on foot) are very comprehensive and players will be able to pick it up in a matter of minutes.
Graphics: 9.3
Even though the game is already a year old, the graphics are still eye popping with greatness! The sky, land, water, everything is highly detailed to perfection. Players will be fighting in many different areas, and each of them give off the look that they are war torn. The cities that players go through are ravaged by the hard times that have been going on. The different places that the players will visit look different from previous locations. From the hot deserts of North Africa, to the lush jungles of the Pacific, players will be in new surrounds that make them feel like they are really in those places.
The characters models are detailed enough to show the tired yet determined faces. The effects this game has is also really nice, from the smoke bellowing when a shot is fired from a tank, and when a vehicle is destroyed it is all very realistic and interesting to look at.
Sound: 8.7
While playing this game, you might feel like you really are in the midst of a war zone. Each of the weapons has their own distinct sound which makes the game very realistic, and players will be able to know what they are getting shot at with. Some of the scarier encounters happen when players hear bombs going off in the background. The louder the explosions are they, the closer the bombs are to you which means it is time to find a place to duck and cover.
The music in this game is the only down side. The problem is that the variety is lacking, it seems that I am constantly listening to the same music over and over again. This is not terrible but having more musical scores is never a bad thing.
Difficulty: Medium
This game offers several levels of difficulty that can be further expounded on and further enhanced. This means that everyone will be able to find the perfect level of difficulty for them, and make the game enjoyable. It is better if players play in harder modes, because if they intend to play online, the hard modes will give players plenty of training. Many of the players found online will make the game extremely difficult for some, due to the fact they have been playing it for over a year and they know all of the ins and outs of each level. While some people may scoff at this, I think that it makes gamers become better when they face the stiff opposition, and makes them better overall.
Concept: 9.3
EA deserves a huge pat on the back for this game, and players will understand from the minute they load the game, why Battlefield 1942 was hailed as the game of the year last year. The Deluxe Edition not only has the original game, but the expansion pack as well. Plus the ability to drive vehicles in multiplayer games is very cool.
Multiplayer: 9.5
Battlefield 1942 Deluxe Edition combines the best of both worlds; you get the original game plus the expansion. People might suspect that playing with that many people is ludicrous and will not be any fun, but rest assured that once they taste this sweet little morsel their mouths will be foaming for more.
Overall: 9.3
I know this is sad, but this was my first time to touch this game, and I see now that I was a fool for waiting so long. If you do not have Battlefield 1942 or its expansion pack rush out to the nearest store and purchase it ASAP! This is one game that no PC gamer should be without. This is the first game that I have played that makes the whole World War II era come to life. There are so many minute things going on in this game at any given time players will be standing in awe, until they remember that they are under attack and must defend themselves. Battlefield is one of the best multiplayer and single player FPS games I have played in a long time and I can assure you that it will not leave my DVD-Rom drive for a long time!
Test System:
CPU - 1.4 AMD Athlon T-Bird RAM - 256MB
Video - 64MB NVIDIA GeForce3 CD - 16X/48X DVD-ROM, 12X/8X/32X CD-RW Drive
Hard Drive - 80 GB OS - Win XP Home Edition
Monitor - 17 inch Monitor Sound - Sound Blaster Live
Modem - Cable Internet
Review