Quite possibly the most disappointing game launch of 2021 as a whole, EA and DICE’s Battlefield 2042 (BF2042) is the least optimized Battlefield title release to date as well as being the one with the least to offer gameplay-wise. While beneath the rubble there is genuine fun to be had, its issues smear any glimmers of greatness. It’s no secret that this game’s beta was notoriously bad, and this final version is no different.

Gameplay

BF2042 offers players a bunch of cool new upgrades to the franchise like battle-affecting storms, new vehicles, and operator tools that can help breath new gameplay situations into the battles. All of these new elements really do a great job at creating those unique and playground-like situations that the BF franchise is known for.

Traversal and verticality specifically are at their best here, between the new and massively diverse environments and equipment. The Sundance operator was my favorite to play as because they have a really awesome wingsuit that allows you to freely glide across the map. It’s aspects like this that drive the franchise forward into innovative paths.

The gunplay is probably the best that the series has to offer, in my opinion. The BF games are a lot more tricky than the average FPS but I’d say that this one feels fairer than its predecessors. Additionally, you can also edit your guns’ attachments on the fly now which is yet another fantastic addition that really became a part of my minute-to-minute gameplay.

As I said, Sundance was a standout for me, but there are many other operators to choose from. I personally appreciate the fact that certain weapons and gear aren’t limited to a specific operator either. Besides a few key gadgets, you can swap just about anything out so that you have the best time in these massive open playgrounds.

It goes without saying that DICE really did a great job when it came to some of the new maps. Each map has its own distinct areas that play a part in how battles unfold. It’s also worth noting that when storms come into play, it’s just another crazy fun time to be had. Running headfirst into a tornado has never been so fun.

Though I had instances of actual joy playing BF2042, the majority of it was spent being annoyed but just how broken the game really is. You’ll oftentimes not be able to load into games, enter games without the ability to choose your loadout/operator, or spend the entire game rubberbanding around while you try to fight off a migraine.

It just goes to show that EA and DICE really don’t seem to understand how to release a title together without it being near-unplayable at launch. It’s extremely worrisome though that EA just can’t seem to get it right when it comes to the quality of the titles that they’re selling to their consumers. It’s as if they’re doing it on purpose and really just don’t care at this point.

Audio and Visuals

BF2042 is a very beautiful game. It isn’t the best-looking title on next-gen hardware by any means, but it certainly does a great job at looking and sounding alive. Though, even audio and visuals aren’t even spared when it comes to the lack of optimization here.

The worst and most noticeable piece of audio is the fact that footsteps are atrocious. Half the time you can’t figure out where people are coming from and the other half is the fact that you could be at the top of a skyscraper and yet hear footsteps on the bottom floor.

Next up on the chopping block is the texture pop-ins. These can be downright nightmare-inducing at times with PS1-level visuals jumping out of nowhere. I just can’t seem to wrap my head around some of the shortcomings that DICE manage to create with this one. I’m dumbfounded.

Replayability

In all honest, BF2042 offers very little for players at its core. The game launched with All Out War which is comprised of conquest and breakthrough, Hazard-Zone which is its own spin on BR, and Portal which is a user-focused part of the game that heavily relies on the creation of content by the folks who bought the game.

Portal basically gives players free rein to create their own servers with just about any kind of wacky parameters that they’d like. It also gives players the chance to blend aspects of a bunch of BF titles into each other. The included titles that give a bit to play around with are BF2042, Battlefield: 1942, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Battlefield 3. Only, there are just 2 maps per game so there really isn’t even much to choose from.

Luckily, DICE managed to muster the strength to put together 3 modes of their own, but the rest of the job is to be carried out by players. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that there’s room for user-generated content within BF2042. But what I hate is the fact that DICE and EA have leaned into this so much. Portal should be an addition to the core pieces of what BF2042 has to offer, not part of the core itself.

What It Could Have Done Better

You’ve read just a few of the many issues I take with the game. And it isn’t only limited to just how poor the game operates. There are also some design choices that are just bewildering. Like the fact that there’s no scoreboard or voice chat either. In a game that focuses on team-based combat, you’d think that there’d be some kind of in-game voice chat. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

I also feel that a lot of the environments can feel bare at times. The building will often times be completely empty, making it all just feel lifeless and uninhabited at all. I also believe that some maps are simply large just for the sake of it. It’s lazy level design at its worst.

And while the game tries to innovate in some spaces, it backtracks in others. Like the fact that you can’t zero in with sniper rifles. How come there isn’t a way to do this? It makes 2042 feel as if it’s purposefully working against snipers especially when you take into account that the maps have never been bigger.

Perhaps one of my biggest “what the heck?” observations for me though was that there isn’t any cross-platform play between new platforms and old ones. Sure, the player count and maps are smaller, but I don’t see why that would affect an Xbox Series X|S or PS5 at all. I feel that yet again, DICE took the easy and lazy way out for this.

Not to mention that the Portals servers have become nothing but bot farming pastures. You’d be lucky if you could even get your own legit server up let alone find an actual real one. It’s just yet another hollow aspect of the 2042 experience.

Verdict

In 2013, I thought that Battlefield 4 was the worst game launch of all time. Only 8 years later, and the same feeling looms over my head. It’s very sad that in over 8 years, EA and DICE still have yet to learn how to kick these bad habits. And with the fact that games are only getting more expensive, it’s increasingly disturbing to see that BF2042 offers so little in return at its core.

Perhaps the most egregious of all things here is that there hasn’t been a single patch this entire week that the game has been out, for any of the issues I’ve discussed. While the game can and most likely will be iron-out, this is a shameful cash grab.