Online is where Bad Company 2 really comes into its own, which isn't a surprise really as DICE has been crafting beautiful multiplayer games for PC for ages. EA clearly know this, evidence of which can be found here...
Above: The box art features a sign of EA's intentions with Bad Company 2
'Defining Online Warfare' informs the tagline on the box which turns out to be somewhat understated.
Multiplayer is so good in BC2 that it made us rethink our score instantly. It's like a completely different game. Far from the suffocated battlezones of the single player, online is packed with sprawling landscapes for you to fight across and packed with enough vehicles and gadgets to blow even Modern Warfare 2 away.
Above: Taking to the water when the heat rises is always a good idea
It's essentially Battlefield 1943 but with modern weapons and far more variety inthe areas - from dukin' it out through woodland passes full of lovely autumntrees to rolling out in a tank on snowy industrial environments, it all looks great.
The main guts of the online mode come in the form of Rush (where you have to blow up/defend crates) and Conquest (battle/defend checkpoints as the map rolls on to new areas). There's also a team deathmatch mode thrown in for good measure.
The 24 player maximum you can have here, feelseven more hecticthan 256 players in MAG andis about three times as exciting.How?Well, the teamwork comes naturally here. One minute you're riding on the back of your buddies quad bike-popping shots off as you go - and the next you're holed up in a building watching his back as he snipes the enemy.And it all feels so seamless too.
Above: Flank the tank
This is a much more accessible multiplayer shooter too:unlike Modern Warfare 2's 'blink and you're dead' attitude, which sees youshotgunned into next week by some cackling prepubescent there's a real methodical pace to Bad Company 2 online. You can take your time and pick out camping spots (if you're into that sort of thing) or jump on a jet-ski, rideacross the water behind the enemy and pick them off that way.Or you could even fly a choppertoward your foes like a kamikaze pilot and parachute to safety as you send several tons of metal their way. The possibilities are endless.
The sense of progression is nicely balanced, although it takes a while to level up and open new perks like being able to drop ammo crateson enemies.Stick with it, though, and the rewards just keep on coming. You'll then be privy to airstrikes, heavier armour and more powerful bullets - all of which can be combined with with your team-mates' perks online.
Whether you're a twitch gamer (Modern Warfare) or a slow and steady shooter (MAG) BC2 will have something for everyone andwon't fail to entertain you online. It's a shame that the solo mode is so drab, but with an online experience this polished you're certainly getting your money's worth on both fronts here.
Is it better than...?
No. While the multiplayer aspects of Bad Company 2 are more engaging than MW2, you've got to look at the whole package here. Single player campaigns in Call of Duty are always big deals and although the story is wonky at times, the set-piecesmore than make up for itin Modern Warfare 2.
Yes. Although the plots in both games are pretty generic, we prefer the real world settings and destructible environments of Bad Company 2. And as for the multiplayer, Killzone 2 falls short of coming anywhere near matchingwhat DICE has to offer.
Yes. As rough as the single-player mode is in Bad Company 2 at least it has one. As previously stated the team-work comes naturally in BC2 and the huge maps give a sense of an enormous battle even if they aren't quite as large as MAG. BC2 is simply the more polished of the two.
Just for you, Metacritic!
You'll come for the solid FPS experience, but you'll stay for the delicious helping of online goodness. We just wish that the single-player mode could've been as fun and thrilling as the original. One thing is certain - DICE is providingone of thebest onlineFPS experiences you'll play on a console.
