(Note this was written before the server maintenance that was preformed on the 3rd.)
(Reactions and thoughts are about the PC build.)
Well the Battlefield 3 beta has arrived and I have had some time to play it, and well, it’s in a not so good shape. There are huge problems with the title that I thought would have been addressed before they let everyone get their hands on it. Now the game is playable, and I know that it is still in beta phase, (I know the difference between a beta and a demo) but still lets get started.
1)
First problem I found with the game is the issue with the servers. Now, when they announced that there was going to be an open beta I originally thought that is was going to test the server strengths, and work out some kinks. I feel I was correct in assuming that, which makes the horrible connections forgivable. But in terms of not being able to play for most of the first day, it was frustrating. Now that isn’t the only problem with the servers. For some reason it is extremely hard to join a server with friends, let alone change who’s in your squad. Now for a game that prides itself on being different that modern warfare, because you have to work as a team and not be a lone wolf, I would think that it would be extremely easy to join with friends. Every time three friends and myself tried to join as a group, (Four being the proper size of a squad) it would only place the party leader and one other person in the game leaving the other two people looking puzzled with nothing to do. To add to the problem my other two friends couldn’t join the server after we entered. They would receive an error message that claimed they already have a reserved slot in the game, but there was no way other way to enter the server. So after that, one person entered a server and we all followed them individually, but again this just created more problems. Now we weren’t just in different squads, but some friends were now on the other team. (Note: this was still fun because we then got to shoot, and blind each other with the power of the heavens.) But like I said betas test server problems, so all of this I can deal with. On to problem 2.
2)
Now the video above is from alpha, But I can show this because even thought the game is now in beta this glitch is still present. There are a whole lot more where this came from. For example there is a problem with the map, you can fall through it. Now that is a huge problem. Now I’m not a programmer, but if I was, I would worry about moving around on a map properly before I worked on anything else. (Note: it is really hard to defib a partner when he has just been flung across the map or he had just been consumed by the earth.) Now there is also another problem with the map. For some people the screen flashes green, and for others some of the textures flash. Now unlike the previous glitches these don’t ruin the game for you.
3)
For some odd reason the battle log doesn’t work with opera. Needless to say, I use opera, and hate the fact I can’t use my favorite browser. Now don’t get me wrong, this may not be EA/DICE fault, but why do we have to launch the game through the browser in the first place. They made me download and install Origin, why not just run the game from there and have an in game menu. They had to make an in game menu for Xbox and PS3 why not use one for PC. Unfortunately there is an answer for that, They make you use the “battle log”, AKA facebook for Battlefield. So, now because opera wont work I am using IE because I don’t want to install another browser just to play a beta. Even if I wanted to use another browser, Firefox is a memory hog. So I’m stuck with IE and now I don’t have to just worry about Battlefield.exe crashing I also have to worry about IE crashing.
There are also tons of small bugs that are just really annoying, and ill just rush through these.
- The flashlight is like looking into the sun, does it really need to be that bright.
- Not saving crashed data (if the game crashes you lose all of your data and progression)
- Can’t cook grenades.
- Sometimes the gun doesn’t want you to look down the sights (it has a mind of its own)
- Can’t skip kill cams (I don’t really want to see the dude who killed me for 10 seconds, I’d rather customize my class)
- Please make an in game menu.
- Ability to choose my squad please (playing with uncoordinated randys is really annoying)
- Ability to invite friends to game mid-game.
- Ability to shoot through rocks….really why even have cover.
- My weapon is showing my attachments but not my gun.
- Please shorten the knife animation (there is no use to knifing if you are a sitting duck)
Lastly what the hell is this!
Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good qualities to the game, and I will be posting that on Wednesday. For now I’m more disappointed than thrilled. I’m sorry for thinking that the game would look more polished seeing as it is going to be released in about four weeks. I’m also disappointed with the whole idea of this beta in general. If you are going to put out a video saying “going above and beyond the call” (a clear shot at call of duty), have the beta show off your good qualities. Ya know, huge maps, 32 vs. 32, tanks , jets, and other vehicles. You don’t put out a camp fest that is nothing new and isn’t going to wow the players you are trying to win over.
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