Battlefield 2 review

Battlefield 2 is simple: a frantic race to capture check points without losing the ones you already have. You and your team have a full arsenal of military might to help you; tanks, fighter jets and helicopters (with really big guns). The rub? So will the other side.

The teamwork that BF2 inspires is its own greatest reward and it achieves this with more than a virtual pat on the back. You'll get electronic carrots; points for doing what a good team should, like capturing flags and healing teammates. Persistent scoring will bring you awards, medals, and a higher rank. But you'll also get the stick; a Commander who constantly calls on you to be all that you can be. And in this case, we mean that literally: BF2 features built in voice comm.

If you're a fresh recruit to the Battlefield series, don't worry: the Commander mode is brand new for BF2. Being the Commander offers one player on each team a real-time strategy-style overhead view of the wargrounds. As a result, sneaky players will find it harder to stay hidden due to the Commander’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and satellite sweeps. You are always being watched.

The level design borders on pure genius. Maps now scale in size to match the amount of players allowed on the server. This means it's easier to be in the thick of the action instead of searching for a fight. Strategy changes too; small 16-player maps have simple Counter-Strike-esque elegance, while bullet-ridden 64-player games are glorious meat-grinding expletive factories.