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Battlefield 2142
Author: Ryan GarsidePublished: 3rd November 2006
New Gameplay Mode
As fun as capture the flag is it's starting to get a little bit tired. For a game like Battlefield though the options are pretty limited on what you can do. Other traditional multiplayer styles such as deathmatch or Counter-Strike-esque bomb defusal maps just wouldn't really work with the engine. Instead DICE has come up with a new game mode, which it has called 'Titan', which offers gamers a more engaging and complex battle situation.Essentially Titan mode is a more complex version of Capture the Flag. The maps, which are the same ones used for the traditional conquest modes, contain two behemothic motherships known as Titans. The objective for both sides is to destroy the opposition's Titan before their own mother-ship is destroyed. The flags of old have now been replaced by missile silos, which you need to capture, re-program and target at the oppositions mothership to reduce her shields and allow your troops to board.
So, the initial struggle is wrestling control of the five missile silos on the map. Once the oppositions Titan's shield is down the game becomes slightly different. Your new task is to get into the belly of the oppositions craft and destroy various points to bring down the ship. The catch? Well, usually at this stage the opposition will be on board your own ship trying to do the same thing to you. The result is a requirement for teamwork, half of your team need to be defending whilst the other half need to attack, if this balance isn't there it will soon be exploited and your precious ship will be heading towards the ground quicker than you can say "I bet that's expensive."
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If that didn't make any sense allow me to explain. The new unlock mode is an addiction which you can only fulfill by killing people, capturing flags and destroying Titans. It's a gaming drug designed to push you forward and play the game more. I'm a medic at heart and so felt wounded by my inability to help fallen comrades when I first started playing the game. However, upon my first promotion I was able to unlock an ability that could bring players back to life. I got my first real buzz, I'd tasted the drug and I wanted more. The next upgrade made me run faster, the next upgrade increased my stamina… New weapons came next, extended ammo, increased abilities commanding the squad… It went on and on, a slippery slope where I didn't just want, I needed the next fix...
Fortunately, I'm a person who is surrounded by a lot of caring people and they help me to snap out of these things (actually Wil and Tim generally just smack me about a bit if I end up playing a game too much. That's a lie - Ed.). The implementation of upgradable abilities has worked like a charm for DICE. Battlefield keeps you coming back for more with its promises of exotic weapons and abilities that will distinguish you from the mob.
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When you start to really dissect this you see a formula not too dissimilar to World of Warcraft. Offering small and tasteless sweets to keep one on the trail to gaming bliss. I have to say, though small, and though tasteless, I quite happily devoured these sweeties and would love DICE to throw more at me. I think most of you will too.
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