Taking bold steps in a new direction, Battlefield 1 sets its sights on World War I, targeting a period which boasts unique opportunities for all-out virtual warfare across land, air and sea.
Upon booting the game and playing through a short, yet incredibly sweet, prologue sequence, players are greeted with a new user interface. This acts as a way to bring the latest news, videos, statistics, and other community posts straight to the console. This middleman menu dynamically changes based on game completion and multiplayer performance, displaying content relevant to each individual. I can’t be sure how the material on offer differs between players, but for me it shows a bunch of “tips and tricks” videos, which I’m trying not to find offensive. Seriously though, it’s a neat touch, and provides a clear look at what’s going on in the Battlefield community.
Brave New Campaign
Selecting the single-player campaign will open up five “War Stories” to be completed in any order. These hour-long episodes put players into the shoes of different soldiers stationed in various parts of the world, each fighting their own unique battle. Characters are quickly introduced, and are just as swiftly disposed of, but still serve their purpose well. I wouldn’t say I grew emotionally attached to any of them, but they are all entertaining, and the light-hearted humor is welcome amidst the devastating war being waged. The plotlines of these stories are unfortunately pretty predictable and don’t do much for the overall experience. Though I must say that they are an improvement over anything else that Battlefield has done before, so there’s that. Do note that some cutscenes are unskippable, as discovered on my second playthrough, though this is likely due to loading occurring in the background.
What makes the single-player campaign worth playing is the gameplay on offer. It’s clear that developer DICE wanted to include as much of what makes Battlefield’s multiplayer so great into the single-player, as large, open maps play host to huge-scale battles. These levels are also used in the multiplayer portion, albeit tweaked for balance, so don’t be surprised if you’re hit with déjà vu.
Whether I was driving a tank as a Brit, piloting a prototype plane as an American, or donning a suit of armor as an Italian — no matter where the battle was taking place or who I was playing as — it was absolutely epic. Even the stealth sections are fun to tackle, with weapon caches bestowing players who choose to investigate with more powerful guns and equipment. And if everything hits the fan and you’re discovered, there’s no failure state; instead you switch to your non-suppressed rifle and start blasting a new route through the enemy.
The prologue and five War Stories took me six hours to complete on the standard difficulty, after which an epilogue cinematic was unlocked. Missions aren’t too challenging, so long as you take your time. Enemy AI isn’t the best, with them often employing stupid tactics or just standing still waiting to be shot. With that said, players who attempt to rush through levels will quickly find themselves overrun with these idiots and, like zombies, they will take you down. Those hoping to find some replayability in Battlefield 1’s campaign will be happy to hear that there are hidden collectibles to pick up, and challenges to complete. The more you accomplish, the more information about World War I you’ll uncover. It’s a neat touch.
Prettiness vs. Performance
The Frostbite engine reaches new heights in Battlefield 1, providing visuals that better the beautiful Star Wars Battlefront and a good enough frame-rate that stays close to 60fps, the majority of the time. Though single-player remains very smooth, when the action gets intense in multiplayer with a large number of players battling it out, stutters do become noticeable. The game remains playable, of course, and when everything is considered — 64-player engagements, the impressive destruction of entire buildings, a dynamic weather system, and other physics magic — I suppose it’s impressive that the PS4 can even manage above 30fps. Though it has to be said that I’d happily trade in some of the pretty effects for better stability. As for the audio, it is stellar. From the quiet clinks of bullet casings hitting the floor, to the deafening bombardment of missiles raining down, Battlefield 1 sounds insane and it does wonders for immersion.
During the alpha and beta stages, I grew worried at the number of bugs and glitches experienced by myself and fellow players. Sure, they were sometimes funny, with horses flying off into the sky and equipment bouncing around on the player models, but getting stuck while mantling and not being able to actually level up had me wondering what on earth the final product was going to be like. After playing plenty of the final build, I can say that things have improved dramatically, with only a handful of issues remaining. Most of these problems are “legacy bugs” that have stuck with the franchise and its engine of choice for countless years now. For example, you can sometimes reload your weapon without triggering the animation. There’s also an odd bug surrounding the revive function, which leaves resuscitated players unable to fire their weapon.
This Is Battlefield
Before diving into the multiplayer’s core, I’d advise checking out the various option menus. While you may dabble with this during the single-player, enabling a few settings here and there, it’s in the multiplayer where these options become most effective. The amount of customization available here is ridiculous. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when dipping into the “Advanced” section, but having the ability to fiddle with sensitivities for specific scope magnifications, for example, is very much appreciated. The stand-out addition for me is the FOV slider, with which players can adjust their field of view. Seeing this on console makes me extremely happy, and has set the bar high for other first-person shooters.
If I had to describe Battlefield 1‘s multiplayer in one word, it would be “refined.” Rather than cramming as many features into the multiplayer as humanly possible, DICE has included what works well and nothing more. At launch, there’s six modes: Conquest, Domination, Rush, Team Deathmatch, Operations and War Pigeons. The last two are the new game types, and wow they are fun! I feel like Operations will be the new go-to mode for the majority, and War Pigeons’ chaotic gameplay will become a favorite for many as well. DICE will also be exploring new ways to play in the Custom Games section, which will introduce different mechanics to help shake things up on the battlefield. An example that I played was “Fog of War,” which causes a thick mist to cover the map, making it difficult to see which players are friendlies and which are enemies. Weapons are also limited to just pistols, which is an interesting twist. These Custom Games will be added at a later date.
As for the maps, there are nine: Ballroom Blitz, Argonne Forest, Fao Fortress, Suez, St. Quentin Scar, Sinai Desert, Amiens, Monte Grappa and Empire’s Edge. My personal highlights have to be Amiens and Argonne Forest, though all are brilliant when paired with the right mode. Like in previous Battlefield games, the map alters to suit the selected game type, meaning there are several alternate layouts of each. A new map called “Giant’s Shadow” will be added in December via free DLC, which will boost the count up to ten.
Refinements have also been made to weapon customization. There are now only six primary weapons per class, with up to three variants of each. Each variant offers a set of attachments which cannot be adjusted. There are some additional tweaks that can be made, like the type of sight and whether it comes attached with a bayonet, but that’s about it. Honestly, after Battlefield 4, I’m ecstatic to see that DICE has reeled it in a bit, focusing on quality over quantity.
Less is more also applies to the gadgets and grenades. Sure, there’s still obnoxious equipment like the Tripwire Bomb that rewards players for simply hitting a button and walking away, but overall the annoyances are minimal. Loadouts can be saved, allowing for quick switching between roles within a class, which is very useful during objective modes when you have mere seconds to switch setups and get back into the fight.
Anyone who has played a Battlefield game before will recognize the four classes available in Battlefield 1: Assault, Support, Medic and Scout. Since the beta, the Medic has been fixed to more easily see players in need, and the Support class now comes equipped with a Limpet Charge, to offer greater assistance against vehicles. I’ve had good fun playing as all four classes, and they are more balanced than ever. No longer will players run rampant with both the most powerful weapons in the game and most useful gadgets. However, and I feel bad saying this as I’ve had such fun with it, but I do think that the Scout is a little too effective. While other classes will struggle to hit anything at longer ranges, the Scout dominates. Obviously, this should be the case, but the Scout can also be effective in close quarters. The old trick of zooming in quick to hit an enemy in the chest, before switching to a pistol, can work wonders for a decent enough player. I’d like to see Scouts face more pressure at closer ranges. Perhaps an increase to the weapon swap time would be a sufficient nerf?
Moving on from the potentially unbalanced class, to the intentionally overpowered Elite Classes. The Flame Trooper, Sentry, and Tank Hunter classes are souped-up soldiers, offering a buff to the player who is first to the drop location. Elites are like the Heroes in Battlefront, but much easier to take down, with a bayonet charge capable of killing any of them in a single hit. They’re fantastic fun to play as, and not super annoying to deal with. In other words, they are perfect. There are also Tanker, Pilot, and Calvary classes which become available when entering a fresh ride from the spawn screen. When inside their corresponding vehicle or atop a mount, these classes offer an advantage. Acting as infantry, however, they face restrictions. This helps prevent vehicle abandonment, which was always an issue in previous Battlefield titles.
Battlefield 1‘s WWI setting allows players access to planes, tanks, boats, bikes, and cars of the era. These all handle extremely well, and offer a significant advantage if the enemy refuses to counter. Wise opponents will act quickly, however, using gadgets and stationary artillery to focus fire on particularly pesky machines. There are horses, too, which handle less brilliantly, but are still a lot of fun to ride. Then there are the huge Behemoths, which appear in Operations and Conquest to aid a losing team. The Armored Train, Airship, and Battleship grant multiple soldiers powerful guns in an attempt to turn the tide of battle. I won’t lie, it’s kind of annoying how the losing team gets a buff like this, but I suppose it makes the most sense when trying to make matches as exciting as possible.
The Future Is Bright(ish)
Battlefield 1‘s multiplayer component is an impressive one. Recovering from the awful Battlefield 4 launch was never going to be easy, and yet here we have DICE pushing out a much more refined and stable release. Sure, I have my complaints — like the crazy lock-on melee attacks, bayonet charges stopping suddenly and leaving me for dead, the inability to take health and ammo from teammates like in Battlefield Hardline, both stab and charge bound to the same button, no custom server options available at launch, flickering symbols on the spawn screen, and no way to change loadout outside of games — but these are by no means game breaking, and with the support that Battlefield 4 has seen over these past few years, I’d say that Battlefield 1 is starting strong and is only going to get better.
When talking about a multiplayer shooter, it’s important to consider what’s going to happen further down the line. The future of Battlefield 1 seems to have been laid out pretty clearly, with a “Premium Pass” already available to purchase. This includes early access to all expansions, the chance to play as the French and Russian armies, 16 new multiplayer maps, new Operations and game modes, as well as not-yet-revealed Elite Classes and 20 additional weapons. As Battlefield is a giant franchise with a lot of fans, it will likely get away with splitting the community into groups of those who do and do not buy the season pass. There are also Battlepacks, which unlock cosmetic skins that can be applied to weapons. These are currently only available via end-of-match drops and by spending in-game currency, but I have a sneaking suspicion that real-world money will also be accepted for them soon enough.
Battlefield 1 shows progress for the franchise in single-player storytelling, evolving from an experience that many would skip over in favor of more multiplayer action, into something that everyone should play through at least once. Though there’s only a short amount of time spent with each set of characters, they carry the story well. What truly sells it for me, however, are the epic moments contained within every chapter.
Of course, multiplayer is the real home of these epic moments, with “Only in Battlefield” highlights making Battlefield 1‘s player versus player modes unique and fun to play. Though the “1” in its name may officially stand for the Great War, it could also represent the rebirth of a franchise that took a bit of a beating with Battlefield 4, went down an awkward path with Hardline, before finally rising as the Battlefield title that simply all shooter fans must buy.
Review code for Battlefield 1 provided by publisher. Accommodation and transport to review event was paid for by EA. Game was additionally tested at launch on PlayStation 4 using public servers. For more information on scoring, please read our Review Policy here.
Battlefield 1 Info Dump
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Battlefield 1 - Everything You Need to Know
Let's get to it.
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What is Battlefield 1?
Battlefield 1 is the first mainline entry into DICE’s tentpole franchise since the launch of Battlefield 4 three years ago. It’s not strictly speaking Battlefield 5; instead, it breaks course from modern warfare to explore The Great War.
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The Great War
It’s not your traditional setting for a video game — World War II is considered more cinematic and, frankly, easier to communicate in a compelling, palatable manner — what with its trench warfare, chemical warfare and rudimentary vehicles. Battlefield 1 doesn’t shy away from the rough and tumble, though, as those blistering trailers for the single-player campaign attest.
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War Stories
Aiming to funnel the complex narrative of WW1 through different perspectives, War Stories are story-driven vignettes that place players in the shoes of multiple characters.
If that sounds like an anthology format, is should; DICE “decided on an anthology format; a set of characters with their own more focused stories. That way we can have immersion and variety – a double win.”
We know the identity of five thus far: Friends in High Places, Nothing Is Written, Through Mud and Blood, Avanti Savoia, and The Runner.
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Land, Sea and Air
A change in location and time period hasn't quelled DICE's enthusiasm to engineer warfare on a massive scale. While the core campaign will have players storming the trenches, hitting up North Africa and even exploring parts of the Alps, those more inclined to hop into multiplayer can look forward to saddling up to ride a horse. They're a powerful asset, too, with DICE writing that, "their speed and agility means they can trample enemies under their powerful hooves, and they’ll get you close enough to slash them down with a saber."
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Dynamic Weather
Fuelling that all-out warfare is the addition of dynamic weather, a feature that DICE believes will ensure that no two multiplayer matches will ever be the same.
Those who partook in the beta test will have no doubt encountered a sandstorm or two on the plains of the Sinai Desert. But the fun (read: chaos) doesn't end there.
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Vehicles
World War I heralded a defining leap forward in war technology, and though the tanks may seem primitive and rudimentary by today's standards, those hulking behemoths were fairly revolutionary.
Have a gander at all vehicles included in Battlefield 1 right here.
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What are Battlepacks, exactly?
Battlepacks are, in essence, in-game boxes that can be earned simply by playing Battlefield 1. Each will come packing pretty weapon skins for your armaments, and you can find further details below.
"When you open the Battlepack you will always get one amazing looking weapon skin. These skins come in three different rarities – Special, Distinguished, and Legendary. You may also receive a rare bonus item – either an XP boost or a puzzle piece to a unique melee weapon. Collecting all puzzle pieces to a melee weapon will enable you to assemble it and bring it into the game.
"On a regular basis we will rotate the pools of Battlepack content, or revisions as they’re called in-game. With new revisions coming up, it’s a good idea to stay connected to the game to see what awesome items you can get a hold off. Before you open up a Battlepack, you will see a list of what skins the current revision contains, making you aware of whether a skin for your favorite weapon is contained in the pool of possible items.
"So what about that Scraps system? Here’s how it works: when you receive a Weapon Skin or a Bonus Item that you don’t want or need you can salvage it for Scraps, an in-game currency that can then be spent on new Battlepacks. As mentioned, spending Scraps is the only way of getting hold of Enhanced and Superior Battlepacks. You might want to save up Scraps for an upcoming revision of Battlepacks containing a skin that you know you want."
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Game Modes
Mixing the old with the new (war pigeons!), a round-up of the modes included in Battlefield 1 on day one can be found below.
WAR PIGEONS
During the Great War, man-made communication systems were still crude and unreliable, so dogs and pigeons were used extensively to carry messages. In the War Pigeons game mode the opposing sides compete to use messenger pigeons to call in artillery barrages on the enemy. When the game starts, a pigeon coop with a messenger pigeon is placed somewhere on the map. Locate the pigeon before the enemy and carry it to a safe location out in the open.
CONQUEST
An all-time fan favourite of Battlefield players, Conquest is a large-scale game mode with up to 64 players fighting for the control of key objectives. With large armies on foot or behind the wheel and the addition of fearsome Behemoths, Conquest brings together all the elements of the signature Battlefield All-Out War.
DOMINATION
Domination offers a fast-paced infantry focused combat in close quarter locations. It’s a smaller, but more focused version of Conquest, and the fighting revolves around strategic objectives. Ready your shotgun and sharpen your hatchet – in the Domination game mode things tend to get close and personal.
OPERATIONS
Operations offer epic journeys across several maps based upon real battles of World War I. We wanted to offer a large and epic experience with a focus on teamplay and frontline combat. Adding this meta-layer to the game mode, and stretching it across multiple interesting locations that both look and play very differently, adds a whole new layer of scale and variety to the battles in Battlefield 1. Your team can win on one map, proceed to the next map, and actually see the map you previously fought over on the horizon.
RUSH
Communications and artillery were crucial during World War I, and Rush mode will have you interacting with both of them. In Rush, the Attacking forces must find and destroy the Defending force’s Telegraph Posts, which the defenders can use to call in artillery strikes. The Defenders can deny the Attackers by disarming the explosives they plant, but should the Telegraph Posts be destroyed, the Defenders must fall back to another sector.
TEAM DEATHMATCH
In many ways World War 1 changed the notion of how war was fought, but the end goal was still to inflict as much damage as possible to force the enemy to surrender. Team Deathmatch hones in on the brutal simplicity of infantry warfare: kill or be killed.
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New Game Mode: Operations
Operations is a new and novel mode in Battlefield 1 and here, thanks to YouTuber Major Meteor, we present to you a detailed overview of what to expect along with what class loadout is optimal for Battlefield 1 Operations.
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Multiplayer Footage
Continuing to spotlight the shooter's multiplayer component, the PSLS YouTube channel has two videos for your viewing pleasure. The first is designed to showcase the new maps and modes to be featured in Battlefield 1; the second, meanwhile, introduces you to all the rare weapons.
There's more to come, too! Keep your peepers peeled on our YouTube channel on October 16th at 9am ET for another video dump.
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Roster of Launch Maps
Now that you have a better understanding of the game modes, here's an overview of the multiplayer maps that will ship with Battlefield 1:
BALLROOM BLITZ
Join the final offensives along the Meuse River in 1918. Here, fierce fighting in trench lines is quickly replaced by the untouched beauty beyond hell. A massive French chateau, previously home to officers beyond the rear lines, is now the scene for a battle with both tanks and flamethrowers. The chandeliers are shaking from the barrage as the American forces push for the final railway hub at the edge of this map.
ARGONNE FOREST
The shadowy depths of the Argonne forest is the scene for some of the most brutal close quarter combat in Battlefield 1. The world inside this forest features devious defensive setups combined with a labyrinth of bunkers and machine gun nests. Camouflaged field guns firing at point blank range, Stormtroopers clearing out bunkers with gas, and the best use of sharpened spades will determine who owns the depths of this forest. Heroes are forged surviving the intensity of this infantry focused map.
FAO FORTRESS
Join one of the earliest amphibious landings of the Great War as the British Empire struggles to secure the oil on the Al-Faw Peninsula. The majestic Ottoman fortress of Fao guards the entrance and is not falling uncontested. Here you will fight through marshlands and dunes, over bridges and shallow coves. The assault finally enters the ancient fortress itself. The quest for oil begins here. The Dreadnought needs to feed.
SUEZ
A struggle for the most vital supply line of World War I. Even though it was considered impossible, the Ottomans crossed the desert of Sinai and threatened the canal. Join the fight by the banks of the grand canal and make tactical use of the dunes. Fight through shallow defences, with field guns or mortars, through the outskirts of Kantara and into the deep desert beyond.
THE ST. QUENTIN SCAR
A massive attack on the scarred battlefields of northern France. As part of the Kaiser’s battle, the German army throws everything they have to try to break through the British lines. Prepare for truly cataclysmic assaults as you push through the trenches of the St. Quentin Scar. Be the first soldier to break through the fortified lines and assault the pristine village of Travecy, untouched by the war… until now.
SINAI DESERT
Engage in all-out war in Sinai Desert, a scorching hot battlefield located just East of El-Jifar. From infantry skirmishes in the narrow streets of the village of Bir el Mazar to dogfights above the majestic cliffs, you’ll need to make tactical use of the dunes as you engage in explosive battles. When all hope is lost, reinforcements will arrive in the shape of a powerful Behemoth: a deadly Armoured Train charging through the desert sands.
AMIENS
A destructive clash in a majestic city. Fight on the streets and squares in French city of Amiens during the German spring offensive. A struggle in crumbling alleys, a courthouse, around bridges and railways where the British and the Germans desperately seek to control the depths of the city.
MONTE GRAPPA
Take part in one of the final battles among the peaks of kings in the Venetian Alps. High up above the clouds a desperate fight for control of mountain forts are challenging even the toughest soldiers. Utilise the massive fort cannons to stop the advancing enemies as they scale the mountainside. Up here, in this furious struggle, the Austro Hungarian Empire holds the upper hand, but the Italian Army won’t stop until they’ve taken back what’s theirs.
EMPIRE’S EDGE
Along the Adriatic coast a fierce struggle for land and life is taking place. A rugged but fortified shore becomes the battlefield for an empire under siege. What was once a beautiful Mediterranean village by the coast is now transformed by mechanised war, where waves and dreadnought battleships pound the remains of Italy’s Great War.
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Spectator Mode
It's official: A spectator mode is coming to Battlefield 1 soon after launch, lending players the ability to capture, cut and edit cinematic moments on the fly.
"I’m very excited to see the Spectator Mode being implemented in Battlefield 1 for all users. For the first time in franchise history, console players can join in on the PC fun and create cool cinematic videos and screenshots.
"To start capturing your own cinematic shots, just join a match as Spectator. Once in-game, you can follow individual soldiers and vehicles using the Director Camera. In this mode, the camera will be locked on to the player’s movement, but you still have total control over its positioning. Explore the camera options to change its behaviour."
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Rent-a-Server & Daily Livestreams
From October 12 right up to launch day, DICE plans to stream new footage from Battlefield 1 daily, starting at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) to 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET).
There's also mention of the novel Rent-a-Server feature, all of which will be handled through EA directly as opposed to third parties.
"Starting close after launch, you will be able to rent a server through the in-game store of Battlefield 1. In the past, servers were handled by third-party companies – now, EA is providing them directly. We think this will benefit you in several ways. First off, we will be able to secure the quality of the actual hardware. Since the servers come from the same provider, it will give everyone the same uniform experience."
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Expansion Plans
Priced at $50, the Battlefield 1 Premium Pass will open up four expansion packs — the first of which, They Shall Not Pass, will land in March of 2017 — along with scores of in-game bonuses.
- 16 new multiplayer maps
- New Operations and game modes
- New Elite classes
- 20 new weapons
- New vehicles
- 14 Battlefield 1 Battlepacks containing stand-out weapon skins, delivered monthly from November 2016
- 14 unique dog tags distributed over the course of the Battlefield 1 Premium Pass period
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Trophy List
Curious as to what you'll need to earn the coveted Battlefield 1 platinum? Look no further than the official list of trophies.
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Strong Competition
EA may have allayed fears of “cannibalization and mistiming,” but the fact remains: Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 are launching within seven days of each other. Which will triumph? Time will tell, but we did pit the two tentpole shooters against one another in an early episode of Versus. Albeit their beta builds.
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Early Enlister & File Size
By purchasing the Early Enlister Deluxe Edition ($79.99 USD), early adopters will gain three days of early access to Battlefield 1 and scores of other bonuses. Expect the file size to weigh in around 40GB on PlayStation 4.
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Collector's Edition
As for the $219.99 Amazon exclusive Collector’s Edition, here’s what’s included:
- Battlefield 1 Deluxe Edition Base Game
- Collector’s Edition Statue (14″ Tall)
- Exclusive Steel book
- Exclusive cloth poster
- Deck of playing cards
- Messenger pigeon tube with exclusive** DLC content (DLC is exclusive for at least one year)
- Exclusive patch
- Premium packaging
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Beta Impressions
Our resident FPS nut Alex wrangled with the Battlefield 1 beta, and left largely impressed.
"After playing an unhealthy amount of hours of the BF1 beta and reaching rank 41 (at the time of this writing), it’s safe to say that Battlefield fans will find a lot to love in BF1 (and maybe a few things to not like as much)."
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Improvements to Be Made
Coming out of that open beta, our recent edition of Top 5 listed a handful of improvements we want to see in the final build.
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Giant's Shadow Coming in December
For those of you that aren't planning on picking up Battlefield Premium at launch, there's still a free content pack to look forward to.
It's called "Giant's Shadow," and introduces one new multiplayer map in December.
"Prepare to take part in the Battle of the Selle in the cold autumn of 1918. Here, the fighting moves out of the trenches and into open country where a massive crashed airship casts its shadow onto the battlefield. The British forces have broken through the Hindenburg line and are now in pursuit towards an important railway center. Fierce infantry and tank engagements ensue on the open ground and river banks alongside the Cateu-Wassigny railway where an armored train can still turn the tide. Giant’s Shadow will be coming to Battlefield 1 as part of a free update in December."
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Rated M for Mature
The official ESRB decision deems Battlefield 1 to be M for Mature, writing that:
"This is a first-person shooter set in various locations during World War I. As players progress through the storyline, they assume the roles of fighter pilot, armor crewman, rebel fighter, and message runner in order to complete missions. Characters use rifles, pistols, machine guns, and grenades to kill enemy soldiers in frenetic, realistic combat. Battles are highlighted by frequent gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions. Some sequences depict enemies wielding flamethrowers; soldiers can be heard screaming while engulfed in flames. Players can also use knives or bayonets to stab enemies in stealth attacks. Splashes of blood can be seen when enemies are hit; one sequence depicts blood and corpses on a beach after a battle. The word “f**k” appears in the dialogue."
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Our Review
Our Managing Editor Mack has taken point for the PSLS review of Battlefield 1. October 17 is reportedly the date for your diaries, just before the shooter goes live for those Early Enlisters.