Marching into E3 with Battlefield 1

By Abhilash Pavuluri

Electronic Arts (EA) and DICE media’s latest addition to the Battlefield lineup took quite a surprising turn, and for the better we feel. Going back to the brutality of World War 1 and not some futuristic shoot-em-up setting, Battlefield 1 promises a lot. What do we know so far? Dig in to read more before EA makes further announcements on June 12.

The obvious World War 1 setting

In the age of automatic pistols being controlled via drones, it’s amusing to think EA would take a step back in history and develop a WW1 game. But the truth is, WW1 was the first step in modern weaponry, scientific advancements and an eventual catalyst of world history as we know it. It is in this vein that EA wants to showcase Battlefield 1. You have ground troops, cavalry, air support and much to our delight, as seen in the trailer, an airship. There’s also driveable/flyable vehicles and aircraft, as we’ll discuss later on. Lead game designer Danny Berlin mentions that “we are going back to the dawn of all-out warfare. (World War I) is the genesis of modern warfare”, hence the name Battlefield 1. It’s a refreshing change to be certain. To experience in a whole new graphical environment the phenomenon that was WW1 can be exciting.

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Melee combat at par with guns

Let’s face it, even the most damaging of guns can take eons to reload, could get jammed or even make you lose interest in a fight after repeated use. Which is why EA has concentrated on melee attacks this time around in Battlefield one. There’s different kinds of melee weapons, each having a certain strength and weight. Players must make the tradeoff between carrying a heavy melee weapon for more strength, or a faster light melee weapon. Some weapons, like a bayonet, have to be manually attached to a rifle before becoming available for use. To quote DICE Producer Aleksander Grøndal, “(In WWI) They had all kinds of weird, bizarre and really brutal-looking melee weapons they used. Players will be able to choose from all of those.” Grøndal also mentions that each melee weapon has a distinct purpose. One can be used to break down a door and one cannot.

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Multiplayer with up to 64 players

Those looking to form fighting squadrons with friends will rejoice, as Battlefield 1 will allow players to do just that. Players will be able to fight on maps that host a range of land,sea and air battle options. There is also the option to drive or fly vehicles with your fellow squad. One such scenario is where two players are in control of a fighter plane during a dogfight, one flying and the other shooting down other planes. There are also 4 player classes : Assault, Scout. Support and Medic, to provide a strategic squad formation.

EA is further showcasing the game’s multiplayer capabilities by having a 64 player show-down called Battlefield Squads, with famous celebrities from Youtube and otherwise on June 12th at the EA Play event. Most of these celebrities include the likes of Wiz Khalifa,BFF-NOOB and so on. The event will be live-streamed via social media channels. There was also a recent trailer released that showcases the possible multiplayer capabilities and the usage of melee weapons in the game. Watch it here .

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Vehicles to be more immersive

Most war games focus on the infantry perspective. Battlefield 1 aims at changing that by offering a wide range of vehicles to be used. Different vehicles for land, sea and air(that airship!) are available. Keeping in mind that World War 1 was where the innovation started, Battlefield 1 showcases authentic vehicles and aircraft of the time, like biplanes and the advent of armored cars. Each model will have a certain strength and weakness, and like other situations, the player must make the ultimate decision on what to use where. The vehicles are based on classes depending on the type of vehicle. For example, tanks will be categorized into light, medium and heavy variants. But by far the most interesting class of ‘vehicle’ would be cavalry. That’s right, players can ride horses in Battlefield 1. As DICE mentions, players can “ride horses into a tank battle.” This is certain to be an advantage in situations where tanks are too heavy to maneuver.