Summary
Campaigns have never been the biggest focus of theBattlefieldfranchise, but that hasn’t stopped the series from having some great single-player modes over the years. The first campaign in franchise history didn’t arrive untilBattlefield 2in 2005, but it pretty much knocked it out of the park right away. Its Hot-Swap mechanic really reinforced the immense scale of the game’s conflict by putting players in the boots of a different soldier on the field after they die.
Since then, only a fewBattlefieldcampaigns have really stood the test of time.Battlefield Bad Company 1and2are two rare examples, offering larger-scale missions with more open-ended gameplay, as well as some great writing and voice acting to boot. And then there are the more recentBattlefieldcampaigns. Titled “War Stories,“Battlefield 1andV’s campaign modes showed a lot of potential that wasn’t quite fully realized, but that means that the nextBattlefieldcampaign could knock it out of the park, especially if it decides to go in an ambitious new direction.
The Next Battlefield Should Make a Bold Decision About Its Setting
Battlefield’s Next Campaign Should Cover Multiple Conflicts
Battlefield 1andV’s War Storieswere great concepts on paper. Putting players behind the eyes of a new protagonist every chapter,Battlefield’s War Stories are an effective way of covering a conflict as monumental as World War 1 and 2, offering a variety of different perspectives on the same war, which has both story and gameplay benefits. Allowing the player to control a new character every few missions, War Stories offered plenty of gameplay variety, with a new core gimmick like flying or operating a tank being used in each chapter. These War Stories also paved the way for plenty of narrative variety, with different settings, characters, and themes being changed out rapidly.
Though not all War Stories are equal in terms of length or quality, the general concept of them remains effective, and the nextBattlefieldhas the opportunity to take this premise even further. ThenextBattlefieldgameshould offer the largest-scale War Stories mode yet, including conflicts from across history. Rather than have a set of five or so chapters that give players different perspectives on one war, the nextBattlefieldshould deliver five or so War Stories that each take place during a different conflict.
This larger scale would allowBattlefieldto cover both major conflicts and smaller ones, including those that probably wouldn’t warrant an entireBattlefieldgame to themselves. This would also allow the nextBattlefieldto tap into fans' nostalgia, delivering specific War Stories centered around conflicts that previousBattlefieldgames have dabbled in, such asthe Vietnam War, and potentially even the fictional wars ofBattlefield 3and4. These War Stories could even stretch into the future, with one chapter being dedicated toBattlefield 2142’s 22nd Century Cold War.
Battlefield’s Multiplayer Should Take Players Throughout History
If the nextBattlefield’s single-player modetook players across history, then it would only be right for its multiplayer mode to follow suit. Though it would certainly be ambitious, and probably a whole lot more work than an averageBattlefieldgame, it would be incredibly refreshing to see the nextBattlefieldtry something truly new and bold with its multiplayer mode. Having maps set across different time periods would certainly hit that mark.
Rather than have a dozen maps based on one conflict, the nextBattlefieldcould include two based on each historical conflict seen in its War Stories campaign. And rather than include 20 or so weapons based on one period of time, the nextBattlefieldcould include four per historical period, potentially limiting it to just one per class, which could be marketed as a throwback to the old days ofBattlefield 1942’s limited weapon offerings. It would take a lot of effort on the part ofBattlefield’s developer, but the nextBattlefieldgame could genuinely offer an experience like no other military shooter on the market right now.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
