Joined: Sat Dec 20 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2646
Well
Been playing the Alpha release of the game last couple hours.
So far it plays in a window mode so the graphics are around the 1280 area - but are really good. Trees and shrubs are rendered very well - and you can hide behind them without being seem - and even shoot through them. Water is fantastic - and you can go for a swim if you want. Fire, explosions, ect are quite good. Sound is great. You can hear all the bullets wizzing around and even the little thwip they make when they hit the ground near you.
The gameplay is VERY similar (at least in the test) as Bad Company 2. Rush maps where you have to take the objectives. There are only 2 small maps in the test but both are quite good. Unlike BC2 you CAN go prone - which is good. There are 4 classes - Assault(the med), Support(ammo), Engineer(bombs/at's) and Sniper (no extras). I've tried all classes - like the assault and engineer the best so far. The support carries the big guns - but to get the iron sights up (while prone) you gotta be carefuly as he deploys the front legs of the gun-takes a few seconds. The sniper kinda sucks still - it takes 2 shots to drop someone. The assault's gun is standard M16/AK47 at first - but you do level up after loads of play - just like BC2. The engineers AT is nice - great effects as well - although he carries a small gun.
While the Alpha test only gives 1 vehicle per side (APC type), there are quite a few others - all of which you can level up as well. Of course getting INTO one is difficult at best - everyone runs for it. I lucked out once by deploying on my squad and ended up in the driver/main gun seat. Good fun.
So far I'm impressed. Thing is its really just BC2 leveled up to the next generation graphics. The gameplay is almost the same. Of course this is only Alpha test - not even Beta - so there will be loads of tweeks until release. I hope they really revamp the server joining - it now goes through EA's ORIGIN program (similar to Steam) but is horrible - takes forever to join a server. I have a feeling that you will always have to join via an Origin interface - sorta like Steam. But once in the game its very smooth running. I never came across a glitch yet.
Might just have to break open the piggy bank and buy it - it ain't exactly cheap this one.
Hope more of you can get into the Alpha/Beta testing and we can try squad based delpoyments.
And for those that want to know - you had to sign up for the testing ages ago by registering all your Battlefield games with EA. Its possible I got an Alpha invite because I was able to register 5 games. You might still be able to sign up through their system to get into the Beta testing.
Oh, and go to YOUTUBE if you want to check out some gameplya. Although you're not supposed to some people have posted videos of the Alpha testing.