Battlefield 3 Beta Review. (PS3)
Posted: 02 Oct 2011, 06:17
Well, after finding out that I cannot play DICE's new shooty-fun simulator on my PC, due to a distinct lack of DX9 support, I transitioned over to the PS3. And boy am I having fun =D
The Map
Good
It's fun. Really, really fun. The indoor sections are cramped (For BF), and force you to think quickly, or receive a thousand bullets to the face. It's extremely fast-paced and the attention to detail is astonishing.
Bad
Operation Metro is giving me mixed feelings. It's fun, and I like it a lot, however, the lack of vehicles mean that it just doesn't feel like Battlefield to me. Maybe it's just for the beta, and they'll add APC's and Heli's in the actual game, but this is a pretty major downside. I've also experienced a lot of gamebreaking clipping. It only happens in the first outdoor portion of the map, and it seems to be in specific areas, but I should not have to suicide, because I'm stuck 20 meters under the floor with no way back up. Also, dialing down on the destructible environments is a big no-no. I know that they've said that some maps will have more, and some will have next to none, but It's a nice feature, And I'd like to see it implemented across the board, instead of just here and there.
Bottom Line
As much as I've written a whole lot of bad as opposed to good, I like Operation Metro. It's fun, and it approaches the Battlefield formula from a new angle, and I like it, I'm simply disappointed at the lack of vehicular combat. It's always been at BF's core, and without it, it feels almost CoD-ifyed. I've heard this map compared to Medal Of Honor (the reboot), and I'd say that they are right.
Oh look, I did it again. I like Operation Metro. Let's leave it at that.
The Graphics
Good
It's stunning. The sense of scope is great, and everything looks really, really nice. I think that DICE have done a really good job, and if it looks this good on PS3, then I can't wait to see what it's like on my PC, once I upgrade it, of course.
Bad
DICE, when you set out to make a game look this good, why skimp on the little details? Namely, textures. For the most part, they are fine, but wow, character models need work. Also, what's up with the bloody BLOOM! I know, you like bloom. So do I. But I don't like to be blinded by it. It's lovely, and makes the game look mucho-pretty, but tone it down a 'lil, m-kay?
Bottom Line
Lovely looking game, but textures are slightly hit and miss. Only slightly, mind.
The Engine
Good
Nice HUD, good UI, fluid animations, and where things are destructible, it's rather impressive. I'd be singing DICE's praises right now, if it wasn't for...
Bad
THE BUGS. Oh my god, the bugs. Clipping through the floor, weapons disassembling themselves in front of my eyes, my screen going burning white, and, sweet Mary, mother of God, this...
The Map
Good
It's fun. Really, really fun. The indoor sections are cramped (For BF), and force you to think quickly, or receive a thousand bullets to the face. It's extremely fast-paced and the attention to detail is astonishing.
Bad
Operation Metro is giving me mixed feelings. It's fun, and I like it a lot, however, the lack of vehicles mean that it just doesn't feel like Battlefield to me. Maybe it's just for the beta, and they'll add APC's and Heli's in the actual game, but this is a pretty major downside. I've also experienced a lot of gamebreaking clipping. It only happens in the first outdoor portion of the map, and it seems to be in specific areas, but I should not have to suicide, because I'm stuck 20 meters under the floor with no way back up. Also, dialing down on the destructible environments is a big no-no. I know that they've said that some maps will have more, and some will have next to none, but It's a nice feature, And I'd like to see it implemented across the board, instead of just here and there.
Bottom Line
As much as I've written a whole lot of bad as opposed to good, I like Operation Metro. It's fun, and it approaches the Battlefield formula from a new angle, and I like it, I'm simply disappointed at the lack of vehicular combat. It's always been at BF's core, and without it, it feels almost CoD-ifyed. I've heard this map compared to Medal Of Honor (the reboot), and I'd say that they are right.
Oh look, I did it again. I like Operation Metro. Let's leave it at that.
The Graphics
Good
It's stunning. The sense of scope is great, and everything looks really, really nice. I think that DICE have done a really good job, and if it looks this good on PS3, then I can't wait to see what it's like on my PC, once I upgrade it, of course.
Bad
DICE, when you set out to make a game look this good, why skimp on the little details? Namely, textures. For the most part, they are fine, but wow, character models need work. Also, what's up with the bloody BLOOM! I know, you like bloom. So do I. But I don't like to be blinded by it. It's lovely, and makes the game look mucho-pretty, but tone it down a 'lil, m-kay?
Bottom Line
Lovely looking game, but textures are slightly hit and miss. Only slightly, mind.
The Engine
Good
Nice HUD, good UI, fluid animations, and where things are destructible, it's rather impressive. I'd be singing DICE's praises right now, if it wasn't for...
Bad
THE BUGS. Oh my god, the bugs. Clipping through the floor, weapons disassembling themselves in front of my eyes, my screen going burning white, and, sweet Mary, mother of God, this...
