Developed by the Swedish video game company DICE and published by Electronic Arts on October 21, 2016, one of the greatest Battlefield games was released.
Battlefield 1 was critically acclaimed as an absolute masterpiece. That was already an incredible feat, considering some of the Battlefield titles that came before it, like Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 4. The bar was set high for Battlefield 1 and was watched closely by the entire community. However, it not only reached this bar but exceeded it by a mile.
What Was Different About Battlefield 1?
Set in World War I, Battlefield 1 had an immersive environment and combat that some Battlefield games couldn’t really capture. Its historical accuracy was astounding to many, as the maps were based on actual battlefields from World War 1 and were modeled to look almost the same. The weapons and vehicles were modeled after the real things very accurately and functioned just like them as well.
The gameplay mechanics were the same as every other battlefield before it, and instead of trying something new, they perfected it. The game was heavily reliant on teamwork, using a class system to force players into depending on each other for support. It was simple and effective. The weapons and vehicles were balanced, each having its own unique twist on them. The maps flowed and allowed each team to have a chance at winning with different terrains and buildings while also looking gritty yet beautiful. The destruction helped develop the maps throughout the game. It forced players into different engagements, allowing every class an opportunity to excel in their field. Overall, it took everything from previous Battlefield games and did it better than ever before.
How Is It Still Kicking?
Compared to its younger brother, Battlefield 2042. Battlefield 2042 was the complete opposite of what Battlefield 1 was. On release date, it crumbled apart with complaints on every aspect of the game. The community complained about weapons, vehicles, balancing, maps, and the removals of the class system. One of my clan members, Jacob, from Battlefield 1, said, “It no longer felt like a team-based game or even an actual Battlefield game at all.” The game flopped entirely, and even after it improved over time, it never regained its player base. So where did they go?
The player base went back to its roots and stayed with the classics. Battlefield 1 still had an enormous player count for such an old game, considering how long some multiplayer games last. The community kept the game thriving with custom servers that were always filled to the brim and constant queues. You could find games fairly quickly and there weren’t any game-breaking bugs that interfered with your experience. The community was also very close-knit since the same people would often run into each other on the same custom server and formed friendships that would last for years. A player I Interviewed, NannyNuclear, said, “Lots of the people that I’ve played with or against have been the same people for the past five years.”
The game is an actual Battlefield game. Many think it may be a dead game, but you would think otherwise. 23,000 players is the average player count. Seeing people band together and keep a game thriving like this, is magnificent.
