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Battlefield Heroes
The place where tanks roam, planes soar and avatars emote. It's an animated war shooter from the talented team at Dice
Written by Andy Griffiths, 06 July 2009
'War has never been so much fun' is a tired and overused phrase when it comes to shooters. It's a pity that no term better describes Dice's latest foray onto the battlefield. With a casual, friendly atmosphere and cartoon style, Heroes is a fun experience which is too easy to enjoy.
Smooth Criminals need only apply.The first entry into free-to-play games by publisher EA, it's clear that everything in Battlefield Heroes has been thought over, perfected and polished. It's a third-person action game where teams of eight battle against each other to capture and keep selected points of interest around a map. Killing enemies and holding their flags will diminish their total over time, and the first team to reach zero loses the map. It's a great formula which has appeared in all previous Battlefield titles and constantly forces battles to erupt over capture points.
Smooth Criminals need only apply.You can also level up, unlocking new abilities and offering silver coins which can be used to buy new equipment, clothing and weaponry. Progression is constant, as XP is rewarded for every kill, capture and completed mission. All items bought expire after time and longer lasting items do cost a little more. As we've said, Battlefield Heroes is free to play and the only income received by EA is via mini transactions. You buy battle points with real money, which can be used against clothing and other items which don't affect gameplay. It's a wise move and as a result, games always appear to be full. Many hours can pass without forking out any cash, and while the clothing items do offer individuality, do you really need to look like a pirate when you're killing people?
PCGZine Issue 39
For our latest Battlefield coverage, click here to download PCGZine Issue 39 for free.Vehicular combat makes a welcome appearance and it's handled with the same arcade feel as the rest of the title. Tanks and Jeeps are simple contraptions but effective nonetheless. Planes feel a little fidgety but are worth mastering, as they soon become key in taking back capture points. Aerial dogfights are also a highlight and are replicated time and time again.
Smooth Criminals need only apply.Three different classes are on offer: Soldier, Gunner and Commando. Gunner can soak up lots of damage and packs a lot of firepower, Commando is more silent and can snipe enemies, and Soldier is somewhere in the middle. Each plays differently and offer alternate abilities and weaponry - for example, only the Commando can disappear, whereas the Gunner can apply a body shield, making him immune for a limited time.
An achievement system is also included, offering players incentives for capturing a set number of flags in a round and being able to kill multiple tanks without getting blown up yourself. It's all part of the ranking aspect, which is similar to those employed in MMOs and works in a similar vein. Gameplay is constantly changing as you level up and are matched against other similarly levelled players. The longevity of Heroes is assured with this system, and game experiences change not only with the map, but how players use their abilities.
Battlefield Heroes is an absolute blast, and its 'pick up and play' nature is hard to beat. With a deep XP and class system, even a quick round is both rewarding and fun.
Battlefield coverage available in PCGZine Issue 39 - click here to download it for free!
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