Battlefield 3

Pros

• Great multiplayer campaign
• Simple & tight controls
• Multiple classes
• Numerous maps

Cons

• Single-player mode isn't as deep
• AI opponents can cheat

Battlefield 3 is a first person shooter that's designed around the Frostbite 2 engine, which gives it an unprecedented level of rendering power. While you might be used to high resolution graphics in FPS titles, Battlefield 3 takes these to a whole different level. You'll feel like you're really there. Another aspect that really helps to set it apart from many other titles is the setting.

Instead of going with a historical military conflict or some kind of futuristic one, Battlefield 3 is set in a relatively modern day scenario. You'll be able to play as a member of the United States Marine Corps or the operator of an M1A2 Abrams tank. The developers made sure all of the details involved with modeling the military hardware and weapons are extremely accurate.

Ironically, that makes Battlefield 3 an ideal title for those who are into military history in spite of its rather modern setting. It also gives players the opportunity to play as a weapons system officer flying in F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters as well as an operative of the Russian Spestsnaz GRU organization. That should give gamers plenty of variety when it comes time to switch out their preferred allegiances.

On top of all these design features, Battlefield 3 features an extremely smooth level of gameplay. Those who don't care about plot or stetting will still love to explore the world around them and rack up the total number of enemies that they've neutralized over the course of a single game.

Like most modern FPS titles, Battlefield 3 maps movement to the WASD keys while leaving Z-axis motion to the mouse. Depending on how sensitive your mouse is, you might want to test it before you dip your feet into the expansive online multiplayer mode. Many players who regularly explore the game online are ready to frag any newcomer who isn't prepared for the rigors of network play.

That being said, you shouldn't experience any big surprises when you first try out the controls. Even the secondary buttons perform the tasks you'd expect them to, though you're free to remap the keyboard layout if you'd prefer to. Hardcore network gamers might want to use some of the right hand keyboard caps, like Home and Page Down, to carry out devastating attacks while they keep their hands on the movement keys.

While you can adjust the difficulty level, you'll find that the single player campaigns are quite brutal and unforgiving even on the easiest settings. The title is designed to corral players in areas that look somewhat open but are actually much more linear than they first appear. All of the AI opponents have a sort of homing beacon that tells them where the player is at all times. That makes it especially tough to get ahead on some of the maps.

Semi-destructible environment features make it even harder to make it through some of the foot-based missions, so you'll want to stay prone for as long as possible. While you can expand the game's single-player mode with a number of DLC packs that are installable once you've activated the main title, the real action is all in the network lobbies.

In fact, the four soldier classes are obviously designed with multiplayer in mind. They cover different play styles, so those who prefer to act as tanks will appreciate the option to do so while others might want to go on the assault or work as a member of a recon team. Leveling up is as easy as completing different objectives on a regular basis.

Users can even earn points outside of combat. For instance, using various gadgets can give you experience points if you do it correctly and this helps to contribute to the defeat of the other team in many cases. At the end of each match, you'll receive a set amount of experience based on your performance throughout the duration of it.

While it takes a while to earn anything meaningful, you'll eventually start to unlock some serious upgrades that can help you earn additional points to get even more coveted items. This gives Battlefield 3 some of the depth of a dedicated RPG title without detracting from the action sequences that FPS players would prefer to focus on.

Pros

• Great multiplayer campaign
• Simple & tight controls
• Multiple classes
• Numerous maps

Cons

• Single-player mode isn't as deep
• AI opponents can cheat