Status:
Complete and Play Tested
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Battlefield V (PS4) Review
Developer: DICE
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 20, 2018
Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS)
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
Gameplay & Mechanics
Battlefield V maintains the large-scale, squad-based combat the series is known for, while introducing subtle but impactful changes to the formula. Gunplay feels tighter than Battlefield 1, with more recoil control and a skill-based focus. The time-to-kill is faster, making positioning and reaction times more critical.
The revamped attrition system encourages team play by limiting starting ammo and health regeneration, making medics and supply crates essential. Fortification mechanics let players build sandbags, barbed wire, and defensive structures, adding a small but appreciated layer of tactical depth.
Vehicles remain a major part of the gameplay loop, with tanks and aircraft continuing to dominate large battles. Infantry-versus-vehicle balance is better than in previous entries, though occasionally skewed.
The destructibility system powered by Frostbite remains a highlightblowing up walls or buildings dynamically changes engagements. Movement feels more fluid, with enhanced vaulting, diving, and proning adding flexibility in firefights.
Career & FanHub
Theres no true career or persistent soldier progression akin to fan-driven modes in other games. Players rank up individually per class and weapon, unlocking cosmetics and attachments. While not a "FanHub" per se, player identity and customization are pushed heavily through gear skins, face paints, and weapon modifications.
This progression system is effective but somewhat grindy, and the lack of legacy stat tracking or deeper personal milestones beyond XP and unlocks makes it feel shallow long-term.
Modes & Features
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War Stories (Single Player): Battlefield Vs campaign is split into short narrative vignettes set across various WWII fronts. These War Stories are beautifully rendered but brief, lacking emotional depth or variety. They serve more as intros to the games mechanics than substantial campaigns.
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Multiplayer: The backbone of Battlefield V, featuring classic modes like Conquest, Domination, and Team Deathmatch, along with:
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Grand Operations: Multi-phase battles that span several in-game days, offering cinematic storytelling within multiplayer.
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Firestorm: A late-arriving battle royale mode that had potential but launched too late and with minimal support. It faded quickly from relevance.
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Tides of War: A live-service model replacing paid DLC with seasonal content drops. While conceptually good, the execution was uneven, with updates and balancing issues frustrating parts of the community.
Notably absent at launch were key WWII battles (e.g., Normandy or Stalingrad), though some were added post-release.
Graphics & Presentation
Graphically, Battlefield V is a showcase of the Frostbite engine. Weather effects, lighting, and particle details are stunningsnowstorms in Norway and desert heat in North Africa are convincingly rendered. Environments are vast yet filled with intricate details.
Performance on PS4 is solid, though base PS4 models show occasional frame dips during heavy action. Menus are sleek but cluttered, and some UI elementsespecially squad controlscan feel unintuitive.
Sound & Commentary
Audio design remains a Battlefield hallmark. Gunfire has a punchy, immersive quality, with positional audio helping identify enemy movement. Explosions, vehicle engines, and collapsing buildings all sound authentic and powerful.
The orchestral soundtrack blends tension and melancholy, fitting the tone of WWII without relying on clichés. Theres minimal narrationmostly in the campaignwith the multiplayer experience left to the chaos of the battlefield, as expected.
Final Verdict
Battlefield V is a visually impressive and mechanically sound shooter that falters due to inconsistent direction and undercooked features at launch. Its return to World War II is ambitious but oddly restrained, missing key historical moments and cohesion.
While the core gunplay and multiplayer structure are enjoyable, especially with friends, a lack of content and early design missteps (like confusing monetization and tone-deaf marketing) hurt its legacy.
However, with post-launch updates and gameplay refinements, it has matured into a solid, if not standout, entry in the series.
Pros
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Gorgeous visuals and sound design
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Satisfying gunplay and destructible environments
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Encourages teamwork and tactical play
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Free seasonal content via Tides of War
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Deep class-based multiplayer experience
Cons
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Weak single-player campaign
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Sparse content at launch
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Firestorm battle royale failed to gain traction
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Limited historical coverage of WWII
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UI and squad system could be more intuitive
Recommendation
Battlefield V is best suited for players who enjoy large-scale, chaotic multiplayer warfare and value teamwork over lone-wolf shooting. If youre in it for the single-player or full WWII immersion, this game might disappoint. With updates and fixes over time, its a competent but unexceptional Battlefield titlesolid fun with a group, but not a genre-defining experience.
Final Score: 7.5 / 10
(Ambitious but unevenredeemed over time by strong fundamentals.)
