Battlefield Heroes
- Area: Global,USA
- Official Site: Battlefield Heroes
- Publisher: EA Games
- Developer: EA DICE
- Platform: Microsoft Windows
Overview
Battlefield Heroes is a cartoon-style action video game developed by EA. It is played from context-specific third- and first-person shooter perspectives. The game places less emphasis on skill and strategy, and is less demanding on computer specifications than the previous games of the series to increase the audience base. In addition, the game match players of similar levels together for fairer play.
Features
- Graphics
- Area: Global,USA
- Official Site: Battlefield Heroes
- Publisher: EA Games
- Developer: EA DICE
- Platform: Microsoft Windows
Review
Battlefield Heroes follows in the trends of free-to-play online shooters in the sense that it's incredibly easy to get into, and incredibly difficult to put down. From the moment you spawn into the tutorial, it's clear that DICE has gone to some effort to draw the player in as much as possible. Gone are the intricate and veteran- dominated aspects of online shooters such as Quake Live and we are then rewarded for our choice of title with simple controls and a reliably straightforward heads-up display. The aim of the online matches seems complex at first, with the two teams each starting with 50 tickets, a resource that, when depleted, causes your team to lose. In order to reduce your opponents to a smouldering ruin, you must apply your shooter skills to a variety of tactics destined to drag their score down and increase yours. These range from capture-the-flag emplacements dotted around the map to simply killing your opponents. The methods by which you kill your opponents vary massively, and you're presented with a wide variety of entertaining routes by which to ruin someone's day. Rifles, pistols and shotguns are standard, but with a selection of character classes to choose from (a la Call of Duty 4), you'll find yourself usually limited to two guns, a thrown explosive, and the various other items you can purchase from the online store to boost your character's combat effectiveness. If slogging it through the mud isn't your thing, you can zip around in a jeep, decimate enemy-held flag areas in a tank, or dogfight in the skies. Each vehicle is a simple one-button affair when getting in and out, and they stay balanced enough as combat tools so that you're never the only one left on foot at the start of a match. It's astonishing what the game accomplishes with the stereotypically meagre resources of online shooter titles, and it looks fantastic. Cartoony, cel-shaded environments and characters are a stark contrast to the gritty old-school aesthetics of Quake Live adding a casual look and feel to the title, something which makes decorating your character even more enjoyable. The online store that you'll use to purchase items for your character to wear, shoot, or even special abilities for them to use, is easily accessed, your funds coming either from victories or specially purchased "battle funds" that allow you to purchase more elaborate costumes. However, all items purchased only last for a set amount of time, though you're allowed to choose between a more expensive seven-day version of your new machine gun, or a cheaper option that only lasts for 24 hours. The gameplay is frantic and fun, and with various special abilities, costumes and the two factions of soldiers to choose from - the German - inspired Nationals and the British/American Royals - you'll feel like you've created something more than just a foe to be shot at. It'll be interesting to see what DICE intends to add in the way of future content, though with in-game achievements, micro-missions, a levelling system and a wealth of equipment to earn, it may not even need any.
