"Battlefield 1943" is a bit of an experiment in the world of downloadable games. It's basically a carved-down version of "Battlefield 1942" with fewer maps, classes and features. And yet it manages to capture everything that's great about the franchise, and make it much more approachable than any of the "Battlefield" games before it. It's "Battlefield" for everyone, and its online following will be enormous.
The Basics
"Battlefield 1943" is a multiplayer-only game set in the Pacific theater of World War 2. You'll join teams, either the US or the Japanese, with up to 12 people on either side. You'll also choose from 3 different classes, each with their own specialties. From here the game plays out as a first person shooter, with the important addition of vehicles, letting you jump into any tank, plane or jeep that you come across.
The Highs
The Visuals
"Battlefield 1943" is powered by the same engine as "Battlefield Bad Company." With this new engine comes terrain and building destruction, impressive smoke effects and a much higher level of detail than "Battlefield 1942." Even at a distance the maps look great and will make you forget that you're playing a downloadable game.
Merging Classes
There are only 3 classes in "1943," but it's not to a fault. Instead of having more classes that are more specific, the classes have been merged. So the assault class packs not only a machine gun but also a rocket launcher, making them ideal for tanking out infantry and tanks at close range. Rifleman, on the other hand, are better against infantry at long range, packing in a rifle that can also shoot grenades. Invariably you'll find yourself jumping around each of the three classes depending on the situation, but you'll never find yourself in an SOL situation based on your choice.
Smooth Multiplayer
In several hours of play I never had any difficulty joining a map or having any significant issues with lag. And yes, I'm talking about games filled with people. The netcode in "1943" is stellar, which is good since online multiplayer is really all there is.
The Lows
Variety of Maps
The game has only three maps at launch (a forth will be coming when a certain global kill count is reached). While I've enjoyed myself on these maps a great deal, it did get a little redundant after a while, and I would like to see a little more variety. I'm sure the success of this game will lead nicely into "Battlefield 1944" which will probably include all European theater maps, but until then the sand and surf can get a little old.
No Character Customization
One of the strongest aspects of "Battlefield Heroes" is its powerful character creator, but "Battlefield 1943" will contantly set you up as a generic grunt. It's quibbling, since character customization has never really been part of the franchise, but it would be nice if progressing through the ranks unlocked different helmets or in-game medals.
Final Thoughts
For 15 bucks, "Battlefield 1943" is a solid deal. While I would've liked to have seen a little more variety in the maps, the exemplary multiplayer definitely makes up for it. The game is a fantastic example of how to bring large-scale online muliplayer to the downloadable games space.
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