E3 2011 Hands-On: Battlefield 3 Multiplayer - Preview

Yesterday at the EA Press Conference, we saw an amazing live demonstration for Battlefield 3's single-player campaign. The tank battle really showed off the power of the Frostbite 2 engine. The fire, smoke, particles, and lighting effects were particularly brilliant. At today's VIP demo for Battlefield 3, I had a chance to get up close and personal with the multiplayer experience DICE is bringing to the fray.

They first sat us down to explain some things. The multiplayer will be class-based. The classes are Soul Soldier (medic), Engineer, Support Soldier (assault with ammo regeneration), and Recon Soldier (snipers with intel gathering). We were allowed to choose whichever class we desired with some upgrades already in place. The mechanics are very tight with responsive controls and hectic multiplayer action.

The game mode we played was called Rush. In Rush, you have objectives and a home base. After accomplishing the objectives, a new home base is established with a couple new objectives. The new sections of the map are dynamically different from the last. This particular map was called "Operation Metro," taking place in downtown Paris. The Russian forces have taken control of the stock exchange and your group of U.S. Marines is tasked with taking it back. The first objectives involved planting charges (or trying to diffuse charges) on a control panel and forcefully destroying an anti-aircraft battery.

The landscape is varied with plenty of levels and opportunities for destructible cover. Destruction, of course, is a huge part of Battlefield and this third entry is no exception. Cover is never cover for very long with all the explosive artillery, heavy vehicles, and a flurry of weapons fire going off everywhere. These two combine for a dramatically changing battle landscape as you go along. Speaking of vehicles; tanks, boats, helicopters, and yes, even jets are returning to Battlefield 3.

Progression through multiplayer will be fun and dynamic. Experience is earned for not only kills, but performing your class-based duties properly. Healing comrades as a medic, repairing tanks as an engineer, laying down suppressive fire (which lowers enemy combat efficiency even if you don't hit them) as a support soldier, and delivering valuable intel as a recon soldier all grant more experience. Dog tags are also returning in Battlefield 3. They're now customizable and dynamically update. If you're awesome at killing with heavy artillery, you can have your dog tag reflect that and it will actively update with your most recent heavy artillery kill count. Stealing dog tags just got a lot more awesome.

Overall, Battlefield 3 is looking like the true contender to the Call of Duty throne that Electronic Arts keeps claiming it to be. Battlefield 3 fans cannot pass up this game and even hardcore Call of Duty fans would be remiss to pass on this one.