Review of Battlefield: Bad Company (Platinum) - PS3
Battlefield: Bad Company, released for the PlayStation 3 in 2008 and re-released as the Platinum edition, is the first entry in the Battlefield series to focus on a single-player campaign, alongside its signature multiplayer modes. Developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts, the game offers a mix of action-packed military combat, open environments, and destruction mechanics. While Bad Company introduced innovative features to the series, such as destructible environments and large, open combat zones, it also faced some challenges in terms of narrative and pacing. The Platinum edition is essentially a re-release of the original, offering the same core experience but at a more affordable price.
Story and Setting
The story in Battlefield: Bad Company is a departure from the typical military shooter narrative, focusing on a group of soldiers who are less concerned with patriotism or duty and more focused on their own personal interests. You play as Preston Marlowe, a soldier who is sent to B-Companya misfit group of soldiers within the U.S. Army that has been sent to fight in a war for questionable reasons. The game's premise is centered around the squads quest to steal a treasure from a foreign country, as they venture through enemy territory while fighting against enemy forces.
While the plot doesnt have the intense gravitas of some other military shooters, Bad Company differentiates itself with humor and a more lighthearted tone, particularly through its eccentric characters. The games squad, including the sarcastic and memorable voices of characters like Haggard and Sweetwater, adds a sense of levity to the otherwise serious war setting. The story itself is entertaining but doesn't deliver the deep narrative complexity found in some other action games. Its a fun ride, but nothing particularly groundbreaking in terms of plot.
Gameplay
Battlefield: Bad Company is a first-person shooter that features large, open maps and a variety of vehicles, both land and air. It also emphasizes a combination of infantry and vehicle combat, with a focus on the use of destructible environments, a feature that was quite groundbreaking at the time of its release. The gameplay, particularly in the single-player campaign, is dynamic and engaging, offering a lot of freedom in how you approach missions.
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Combat and Destruction: The games standout feature is the Frostbite engine, which allows you to destroy most of the environment. Whether youre blowing up walls to create new pathways, taking out enemy cover with grenades or heavy weaponry, or simply creating chaos, the environmental destruction is highly satisfying. This feature gives the game a fresh sense of unpredictability and makes the combat feel more dynamic than other shooters. Its a unique mechanic that adds a lot to the experience and encourages players to think outside the box. The destruction isnt just for funit can be used strategically to open up new ways of advancing through missions.
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Weapons and Vehicles: The game offers a diverse arsenal of weapons, from assault rifles to explosives, and players can choose how to approach each combat scenario. The choice between using stealthy sniping or aggressive vehicle combat is part of what makes the gameplay varied and fun. The inclusion of vehiclessuch as tanks, jeeps, and helicoptersalso adds to the sense of scale and gives players the ability to approach combat from different angles. The driving and vehicle combat are a little more simplified compared to some other shooters, but they provide an enjoyable break from the on-foot action.
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AI and Mission Design: The AI in Bad Company
