Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
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| Battlefield 2: Modern Combat | |
|---|---|
| Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for Xbox | |
| Developer(s) | Digital Illusions |
| Publisher(s) | EA Games |
| Engine | RenderWare |
| Platform(s) | PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
| Release | October 25 2005 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single Player, Multiplayer (Multiplayer holds 24 players via Xbox Live or PlayStation Online) |
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a first-person shooter entry into the Battlefield series, developed by Digital Illusions CE. Initially released for Xbox and PlayStation 2 on October 25 2005 in North America, Modern Combat is the first Battlefield game for video game consoles. On April 11 2006, an updated version of the game was released for the Xbox 360 featuring improved graphics and online features. A PlayStation Portable version was announced in 2005, but was canceled. Instead, DICE will be developing Battlefield: Bad Company for PS3, Playstation Portable, and Xbox 360.
Campaign rank and upgrades
Similar to the PC game of the same name, both versions of Battlefield 2 share a similar plot, revolving around a modern war between the United States, China, a unified Middle Eastern Coalition (MEC), as well as the European Union. The single player portion of the game is set in the country of Kazakhstan, where players assume control of two of the four armies, The People's Republic of China and NATO. In the multiplayer portion of the game, each of the four armies is playable. The further a player progresses into the campaign, the more stars they earn, which in turn give the player the benefit of useful upgrades. The highest attainable rank in single player is ‘’Battlefield General’’. Initially, this rank is not visible to the player until they have reached the required number of stars to attain it. Early in the game, upgrades are fairly minor such as health being multiplied by 1.5 for a short time, and in order to activate these upgrades the player must kill a large number of enemies in quick succession. Upgrades to firepower are also attainable, and the player is awarded with extra damage, explosive bullets, faster reloading, faster rate of fire, and other such abilities. If the rank of Battlefield General is reached, the most overwhelming upgrade is invulnerability. Once reached, the player must simply kill an enemy often enough to hold onto the upgrade, and avoid death.
Xbox 360 version
On April 11 2006, EA released an updated version of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for the Xbox 360. Aside from a graphical leap, Modern Combat is essentially the same game as on the Xbox and PS2. The main new feature was the inclusion of three new maps, available on the Xbox version only by download, new vehicles, and enhanced graphics and Xbox Live support including statistic tracking and clan support. Also introduced are 1000 achievement points for players to add to their Gamer Score via 46 achievements. A video comparison of the two versions is available at the TeamXbox website. However the Playstation Portable variant of Battlefield 2 has been canceled by EA Games.[citation needed]
Source: Gamespot.com
Online rank and awards
In Battlefield 2: Modern Combat a player can obtain many ranks. Starting from the lowest, (Private) and begin moving all the way to the highest, (5 Star General). The way it works is an individual must obtain three criteria: Score, Medals, and PPH (Points Per Hour). Score can be obtained in two ways: a) Killing an enemy (one point per kill) or b) Capturing or neutralizing an enemy flag(s) (three points per capture) and (two points for neutralization). However, during Capture the Flag mode, points can be obtained in three ways: a) Picking up a flag and scoring it (two points for picking up) and (five for scoring), b) Killing an enemy who is carrying a flag (three points awarded) and (one point for returning flag), or c) Killing an enemy located near your or the opposing base. The ranks are as follows:
- Private
- Private First Class
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Sergeant 1st Class
- Master Sergeant
- Sergeant Major
- Command Sergeant Major
- Warrant Officer
- Chief Warrant Officer
- Second Lieutenant
- First Lietenant
- Captain
- Major
- Lt. Colonel
- Colonel
- Brigadier General
- Major General
- Lieutenant General
- 5-star General
Online
Gameplay
Gameplay differs heavily from Campaign mode, the single player aspect of BF2. The game only offers 2 different game modes, Conquest and Capture the Flag. Both game modes support 24 players, 12 per side.
In Conquest, the maps are full size, and they are really huge. Your goal is to capture 5 or more flags scattered across the map. There are two counters, which show the tickets remaining on both sides. The tickets decrease by 1 for each death on the corresponding side, and they decrease more for the less amount of flags you have. If you're side has more flags than the other, your team's tickets will not decrease unless a member of your team dies. Vehicles are readily available in this mode, and there are multiple types of maps, such as "Domination" maps which lets ALL flags be captured by one side.
In Capture the Flag, you play scaled down versions of the maps from Conquest. There are only two flags, one for each side, which also act as the team's base. There are multiple spawns, as the spawn bases are nicely sized. Instead of flags being on flagpoles, they are instead on small wooden bases. When an opponent walks over it, they have the flag and must return in to their base. You can only capture the flag if you have the enemy's flag and your own team's flag is at it's base.
In CTF, you get 1 point per kill. If you kill an enemy that possesses the flag, you get 3 points for killing him. You get 1 point for returning the flag. You get 1 point for assisting in capturing the flag (returning a flag right before your teammate captures it). You get 2 points for killing someone who is attacking the flag carrier.
In Conquest, you get 1 point per kill. You get 2 points for killing someone who is in a flag zone. You get 5 points for capturing a flag, and 1 point for assisting in a flag capture. You get 2 points for neutralizing a flag.
Universal Scoring
For blowing up a vehicle with an enemy inside, you get two points, plus an additional point for every other enemy inside. If you blow up an enemy's vehicle seconds after he exits it, you get 1 point.
For team killing, you get -1 point, a second Tk will get you -2 points, a 3rd tk will get you -4 points, a 4th tk will get you -8 points, etc. You will be booted after getting close to -20 points
Updates and Patches
Sometime in mid-January, EA quietly updated the BF2 MC servers for PS2, and Xbox. Many players were complaining mostly of glitches and lag problems, which in turn ruined the game and caused many to quit. Some players discovered and exploited a glitch which caused the server they were in to crash. Other players discovered "quick shooting" and "infinite ammo/extended clip" glitches. Some even tried to sue because of complaints that later players who purchased the game "couldn't enjoy the online component" because when they logged on they found no servers.
To combat this, EA updated the servers once again, and completed removed the ability to quick-shoot with sniper rifles and shotguns. Players could no longer do the extended clip glitches, because now when weapon kits are picked up, the player must reload even if the weapon was originally fully loaded. Some players keep trying to crash servers, and EA has almost stopped this, but there are now servers up all the time, and players have reported that they can also create servers and clan-matches again. When word of this update happened, many veteran and newbie players alike started to play the game again.
EA previously updated the game constantly with news updates and server/game fixes/updates, but this one in particular has been praised by many. This update brings more challenge and less cheap play into the game, where such things as sniping now take more skill because the player has to shoot and find cover.
Reception
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Battlefield 2: Modern Combat was considered disappointing by many reviewers, saying that it left the "original Battlefield teamwork inspired realism" for more of a "team based arcade shooter". The single player mode received very mixed reviews for being "new" and "a way to distract from the toned down multiplayer", but also met disappointed reviews for its arcade style and the fact that enemies spawn in the same place.
Multiplayer, being the main part of the Battlefield series, was also met with unsatisfied reviewers. It was criticized as "toned down" for its 24 person matches and "very much a departure from some of the things making the PC game so great". However, the original Xbox version was the second most played Xbox Live game of 2006.
The Xbox 360 version of the game did not receive better reviews, some sites even gave it a lower score. Most reviewers complained that the 360 version did not feature that many new things, only 3 maps minor graphics update, and a new snowmobile that just could not justify the extra cost.
Gamerankings [1] has Battlefield 2: Modern Combat as 80.7 for PS2, 80.6 for the Xbox and 77 for the Xbox 360.