BFBC2 vs MW2

Battlefield Bad Company 2 is shaping up to be one of the best shooters of 2010 but has it got what it takes to challenge the mighty giant which is Modern Warfare 2? It is polishing up to be a very worthy sequel from Bad Company 1

Single Player
Not a whole lot has been revealed about Battlefield’s single campaign but it will still follow the classic group from Bad Company 1, the “B” squad ensuring some humour again. Described as “intense” the campaign mode sees the player travel from snowy mountains to dense jungles with an aim of preventing a world war.
Compared to the single player of Modern Warfare 2 it sound’s far superior, many more environments and the variety of vehicles are a few of the things different to MW2. However, I do not think BFBC2 will be anywhere near as intense as MW2’s campaign nor do I think there will be as many show-stopping moments as there were in MW2 which literally made me drop my mouth open.
Character Movement
Both games are first person but the movement on BFBC2 is a lot different to MW2. For a first time player to the Battlefield series this can be seen as very daunting but when given a good chance you’ll see that the settings feel right, perhaps up the sensitivity? Once you’ve played BFBC2, MW2 will feel as if you’re a ghost with the ease of movement on there.
Class Customisation
This is where BFBC2 exceeds greatly in my opinion, there are four set classes; medic, mechanic, assault and sniper. Each one comes with different abilities, for example the medic comes with health packs and a defibrillator which allows you to revive downed team-mates whilst the mechanic comes with an RPG and a repair drill which allows you to repair vehicles. There are no different camouflages for weapons because they’re simply not needed, there is however, an extensive range of guns, gadgets and attachments. All of which add a different depth and are unlocked by playing different classes or achieving different streaks and all unlocks can be fine tuned to the players requirements.
Map Size
Simply put, each game perfects the sizing. BFBC2 would be unplayable on a small map just as MW2 would be unplayable on a large map.
Destruction & Vehicles
Destruction really adds a whole new depth to the playing field and boy, it sometimes is satisfying, bringing a house crushing down with multiple enemies inside. Not all buildings in BFBC2 are destructable so there’s still somewhere to try and hide, destruction would be nice in Modern Warfare 2 but with the current maps and the amount of buildings it would be pretty impossible.
The ability to drive your own vehicles on BFBC2 is a great addition to the multi-player world. Since the maps are so large vehicles are practically a requirement, but, the ability to control your own UAV is a fantastic option. Again, due to the map size of MW2 vehicles would be pretty impossible to use!
Multiplayer
The “Goldrush” mode from BFBC1 makes a return in the sequel however, it has lost the gold from the title. The aim of the game remains the same, destroy two crates at each base, either by shooting them or planting a charge on them. A smaller scale version has also been announced called Squad Rush, whereby two teams of four compete over one crate. Whilst MW2 does have more game modes I have never seen someone who plays each game type, normally someone finds their favourite and sticks with it.
Post Launch Support
Well, with BFBC1 we received a free map pack and a new game mode which is set to continue into BFBC2 with the developers, DICE, promising a mixture of both paid and free addon’s including stuff for the single player campaign! At this stage of the game, I find it highly unlikely, given the greed of Activision (an extra £5 on the game in the UK, why?), that MW2 will receive any free packs, or at least any major addon’s.
Conclusion
Both games are very different beasts and whichever online you prefer I think comes down to mindset. If you prefer to be a bit more tactical then BFBC2 is for you since the maps are much bigger and the enemies can never have all the map covered allowing you to get past them. MW2 is basically running and shooting, which after playing BFBC2, I don’t see the fun in – but to each his own, eh?
Whilst BFBC2 is a fantastic game I do not believe it will surpass MW2’s sales. For starters, the hype around MW2 nailed many pre-orders well before anyone could complain about anything they found unfair within the game, for me personally, the online is so unbalanced.
Also because the movement in BFBC2 is quite different to what the majority of people are used to, they are not giving it a chance, they’re simply giving up which is probably going to be the games biggest downfall in terms of sales.
If you’re interested in giving it a go, download the demo from the PSN or from the XBL Marketplace or try the PC beta.
Battlefield Bad Company releases in North America on March 2nd followed by Europe on March 5th. If you’re interested in more options ingame preorder the Limited Edition which comes with ingame unlocks. It is available for the same prices as the standard edition.