Ask most first-person shooter enthusiasts what the most complex, multilayered, expansive and aesthetically immersive games are from the last two decades and most will mention the Battlefield series. Developed by DICE, the Swedish software developer extraordinaire, this series has routinely changed the game when it comes to FPS titles, especially those focusing on historical time periods like WWI and WWII.
Like many first-person shooter series, Battlefield started in the early 2000s. The first edition, Battlefield 1942, was a computer game focusing on WWII. It introduced many of the longstanding hallmarks of the Battlefield series, with large-scale multiplayer battles, vehicles and various different types of guns and player classes.
DICE has run with this theme ever since, carving out a niche within the first-person shooter world for heavily realistic games, eschewing the classic arcade-style gameplay made popular by the likes of Call of Duty. Battlefield has always been for slightly more serious players who like to bide their time and play more strategically. Battlefield 1942 introduced the “Conquest” mode, which has been a hallmark in all other iterations over the years.
Battlefield 4 is arguably the main highlight of the series. Released in 2013, it was the first commercially available FPS game to feature destructive maps, where online players could destroy things like walls or sniper towers, and make a genuine difference to how things would play out. It also featured the Commander mode, helping online multiplayer gamers work together and use genuine battlefield tactics.
There is no denying Battlefield’s importance in the modern first-person shooter industry. In fact, many serious gamers would probably go so far as to say that Battlefield is one of the most influential games in the genre’s history. Nevertheless, the series is often underrated and doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. The slightly slower and more thought-out gameplay is the main reason, but once gamers start playing these titles, they quickly realize what they’ve been missing. Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of the Battlefield series.
About DICE: the Battlefield developers
Before we get into the nitty-gritty regarding Battlefield, let’s take a moment to appreciate the developers behind the influential series. DICE is a Swedish developer known for its ambition and expansive approach to creating video gaming titles. DICE stands for Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment, which is an apt few words to describe the company’s amazingly immersive games.
The company launched in 1992 and has been a notable subsidiary of the gaming giant Electronic Arts since 2006. Alongside the Battlefield series, DICE has also been responsible for other remarkable sharpshooter games, notably the Star Wars: Battlefront series.
Areas Battlefield has influenced since the early 2000s
Battlefield has inspired countless other games since the early 2000s. The huge scale of its maps and focus on tactical gameplay undeniably influenced the Halo creators, who also incorporated huge battle maps and an emphasis on tactics rather than the simple, gung-ho approach of the early arcade shooters.
And DICE has inspired other areas in the gaming world that you may not think about at first. For example, slots developers have evolved from making arcade slots like Fire Joker Freeze, with a whole plethora of first-person shooter-inspired slots now on the market. In fact, Dreamtech has even created a slot called Battlefield, which clearly demonstrates the influence the gaming series has had on all facets of the gaming world.
A summary of each Battlefield title so far
The best way to appreciate the remarkable impact that the Battlefield series has had on first-person shooter gameplay is to go back through the catalog so far. Check below for a quick summary of each Battlefield title to date:
- · Battlefield 1942 (2002): Set during World War II, Battlefield 1942 introduced gamers to the signature large-scale multiplayer gaming maps, and included drivable vehicles and various types of weaponry. It immediately became a bona fide classic, with some gamers still playing the multiplayer mode more than two decades on.
- · Battlefield Vietnam (2004): Set during the Vietnam War, Battlefield Vietnam expanded on the foundations set by Battlefield 1942. The added vehicles and weaponry were the main highlights.
- · Battlefield 2 (2005): Battlefield 2 was one of the first FPS games focusing on modern warfare. It was the first game to include Commander mode.
- · Battlefield 2142 (2006): Battlefield 2142 was set in a dystopian future, with futuristic weapons and gadgets providing thrilling gameplay. It also featured the Titan mode, where players had to destroy each other’s floating fortresses.
- · Battlefield: Bad Company (2008): Battlefield: Bad Company was the first game in the series to be released on consoles. It focused on a humorous narrative and an immersive single-play campaign.
- · Battlefield 1943 (2009): Battlefield 1943 centered on the Pacific Theater during World War II. The digital-only release meant it wasn’t quite as popular as other iterations.
- · Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010): A sequel to the original Battlefield: Bad Company, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 notably included a revamped destruction engine, allowing players to interact with their surroundings like never before.
- · Battlefield 3 (2011): Battlefield 3 was a landmark moment for the series’ focus on realism. The modern warfare game had sublime graphics and very realistic weaponry.
- · Battlefield 4 (2013): Battlefield 4 notably included the Levolution feature, allowing players to trigger large-scale map-altering events.
- · Battlefield Hardline (2015): A spinoff from the main series, Hardline focused on law enforcement and criminals, with a classic cops-and-robbers theme.
- · Battlefield 1 (2016): Battlefield 1 is still one of the only FPS games to focus on WWI, bringing it many fans.
- · Battlefield V (2018): Battlefield V returned to WWII, introducing the expansive Grand Operations multiplayer mode.
- · Battlefield 2042 (2021): Battlefield 2042 is notable for allowing up to 128 players on the multiplayer platform, generating some incredibly exciting online battles.
What’s next for the Battlefield series?
As you can see from the summary of each Battlefield game above, DICE never stops evolving the gameplay. Before you go looking for Call of Duty Warzone tips, consider playing Battlefield, arguably the best FPS series for serious gamers. With the next iteration just around the corner, there’s plenty to be excited about.
