Battlefield fans have been waiting a long time for another modern addition to the franchise, ever since Battlefield 4 in 2013 to be exact. But the wait is almost over! Recently I got a taste of the action that awaits players in the upcoming Battlefield 2042 Open Beta which commences this week - and I'm here to tell you all about it.
The Beta is small in the sense that it gives players just one map and mode to play for the duration. However, as you'd expect from Battlefield games, the map is a lot bigger than most, and the mode included in the Beta is Conquest, a favourite among fans. The mode is known for its large-scale back-and-forth battles and varied pacing.
The map included in the Beta is called Orbital which, as the name suggests, is all to do with space and rockets. In matches, you'll play as Russian or US forces who are fighting to prevent a controversial space launch taking place in Kourou, French Guiana. Developers DICE class Orbital as a medium-sized map, which is debatable when you first load into a game as you are almost overwhelmed by the graphics and colour palette, as well as the sheer size of it. I dread to think how long it'd take me to traverse a large-scale map in Battlefield 2042.
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Check out some of the action that awaits you in the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta!
At the centre of the map you'll see a large rocket and launch pad, which you might recognise from the initial reveal trailer in June. It's here where you'll get your first taste of Levolution in Battlefield 2042 and trust me, you won't want to miss this! Levolution, to put it simply, is a game changing element hidden in multiplayer maps which allows you to destroy objects both big and small, and thus changing the way the map plays out. In Battlefield 2042's Orbital, the launch sequence is triggered automatically (not by player action) and provided the rocket hasn't taken enough damage, it'll take off on its journey into space. However, if you've managed to deal enough damage during the initiation sequence, the rocket will be destroyed with debris completely transforming the situation. Whatever the outcome of the Orbital rocket launch, whenever it happens, you'll find yourself taking a moment (hopefully you don't get picked off by an enemy) to watch the spectacle unfold.
As well as Levolution, Battlefield 2042 boasts dynamic weather which completely changes the aesthetics of the map. One minute you are basking in the Kouroun sunshine and the next there's a tornado hurtling towards you. Yes, I said tornado. The weather is completely random and is sure to keep you and your squad on your toes throughout.
While there's just the one map to experience, playing in the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta this weekend will give you a chance to try out four specialists which feature in the full game. Each specialist comes with unique traits and specialties which can be a boon on the battlefield. These specialists are Casper (Recon), Mackay (Assault), Falck (Support) and Boris (Engineer). You can modify your loadout and specialist depending on your playstyle and squadmates. I found myself gravitating towards Boris and his nifty little sentry gun, which could provide valuable cover from behind. But equally, I had as much fun with Mackay's grapple gun and Casper's recon drone. I was impressed at how wonderfully balanced each of the specialists and their gadgets felt. The simplistic loadout modifications and specialists are intuitive for both newcomers and Battlefield veterans.
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The size of the map makes Orbital the ultimate playground for vehicles, with a wide array for players to choose from too. Options range from heavily armoured T28 tanks to KA-520 Super Hokum attack helicopters which you can take control of to unleash hell from above.
Although Battlefield 2042 suffered from a minor delay recently, pushing the release back to November 19th, there's definitely no immediate cause for concern based on what I've played. I had a couple of buggy encounters during my hands-on time, however the Open Beta build which'll be playable this week will have a lot of those ironed out, and I'm sure with player feedback this will only get better as we inch closer to launch.
What I've experienced so far playing Battlefield 2042 has been great. In the short stint I spent playing the game, it's lived up to all my expectations, and then some. EA and DICE have harnessed cutting-edge technology, taking Battlefield 2042's gameplay to new heights not yet seen before in the franchise.
Battlefield 2042 was previewed on PC with a code provided by EA. The open beta will be in early access between 6th-7th October before general access commences on 8th and runs until October 10th. The beta will be available on PC (Origin, Epic, Steam), Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Playstation 4.
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Topics: Battlefield 2042