Battlefield 3

During our review period the servers for online matchmaking crashed twice and locked out all players. The singleplayer also has its limitations in terms of storytelling but none of this detracts from the AAA multiplayer experience offered. For any other game these hiccups may have affected the overall score but even those who have only played BF3 for a few hours should be able to tell the game will have a bright future.

To put it bluntly, Battlefield 3 has one of the best online multiplayer components out there, blending some of the most interesting maps and intense combat moments with one another to create the best full-scale war simulator out there, and it's one that promotes tactical gameplay. Stunning stuff… And the campaign and co-op ain't bad either.

Battlefield fans hoping for the most polished entry in the series won't be disappointed by this massive sequel.

Although the campaign mode is flatter than an anorexic stingray, the multiplayer is easily worth the price of admission alone. It's also one of the most phenomenal looking games you'll have the pleasure of playing this year.

If you're looking for a great single player campaign you're out of luck, rent BF3 or pick it up in the bargain bin. If you're looking for the best online multiplayer action then BF3 is your game hands down.

Battlefield 3's multiplayer earns top marks because it is almost exactly what any fan of that series would want-a new edition of a classic game that brings forward its best assets while introducing meaningful new elements. If the single player game were at least competent, this would easily be a no-brainer solid "A" game and one that I would recommend to any shooter fan.

Maybe Battlefield 3's off-line side is a little bit irregular, but the multiplayer mode is outright stunning. Those players looking for a game full of innovation will be disenchanted, however if you're looking for an amazing competitive on-line experience this is it.

Taken as individual pieces, only Battlefield 3's regular multiplayer is really strong. The co-op and story are both perfectly well executed, but lack true greatness. So, that third elephant: is Battlefield 3 really better than Call of Duty? It's a matter of personal taste, but for us Battlefield 3's incredible multiplayer edges this ahead of it's accomplished rival.

Technically unparalleled. The single player campaign isn't quite as great as Black Ops's story, but the multiplayer mode is outright stunning. That said, Battlefield 3 is the cosole shooter to get this year.

While Battlefield 3 was aiming to be the biggest name this holiday season, and while it has made strides towards knocking off Modern Warfare 3, it misses the mark. That's not to say it is a bad game, it's a very good one, but the polish and excitement that is found on the Call of Duty series feels missing here. Still, there are much worse games you could end up with this holiday season, and the competition between the two series should heat up significantly in the next few years.

This experience alone sums up what Battlefield 3 is about. It isn't a John Rambo run and gun shooter and it shouldn't really be compared to MW3 in terms of how you play it. For players to truly understand the Battlefield experience you need to embrace the teamwork by joining a squad and calling out your spotted enemies, as after all, sometimes you also need your back covered too.

The appeal of Battlefield 3 ultimately lies where it has for the entire series, which is some of the best multiplayer in existence. EA will probably be disappointed by poor reception to the single-player campaign, but the game as a whole is guaranteed to be popular so long as enough people can sink their teeth into Conquest or Rush.

Graphics-wise, Battlefield 3 rocks. But not only are the visuals stunning. With a nice campaign and one of the best multiplayer modes out there, Battlefield 3 makes Call of Duty look old.

All in all, Battlefield 3 is one of the best multiplayer experiences around.

As a solo game, Battlefield 3 on consoles is even less the sum of its parts than the PC version, due to compromised visuals and a legion of technical issues, some of which might stand in the way of actually finishing the game. When Battlefield 3 does its damnedest to go toe-to-toe with Call of Duty are the times it stumbles the hardest. But when DICE is doing what it's always done best, Battlefield 3 is a uniquely mesmerizing multiplayer game with a seemingly endless number of ways to feel like a success.

Battlefield 3's multiplayer is brilliant, which is really no surprise for this series. It perfectly combines the absolute chaos of open warfare with the methodical, calculating play that makes modern military shooters so satisfying.

We're not saying that multiplayer's rippling muscle excuses the solo campaign's disappointing flab. But as long as you're not dead-set against venturing online, Battlefield 3 is a tremendously satisfying way to go to war.

DICE's adoration of and expertise with the online experience permeates every aspect of its multiplayer. Regardless of the narrative missteps or the occasional glitches, Battlefield 3 offers an unforgettable, world-class multiplayer suite so fun that it more than makes up for the package's shortcomings.

On consoles, DICE's work comes without the two things that made it great on PC: scale and over the top graphics. It's still an incredibly solid and compelling online shooter, but it definitely feels too close to Bad Company 2. This year, Battlefield should be a PC only matter.

That said, if you enjoy online, vehicle- and objective-based warfare, it has quite a bit of staying power. Just don't expect to get your money's worth from the campaign.

With a powerful new engine, amazing graphics, and gameplay Battlefield 3 lives up to its much hyped anticipation. Boasting hours-and-hours of unlockables, you can be sure that you will be playing this game from sunset to sunrise without notice.

Despite some annoying bugs, especially in the campaign, Battlefield 3 offers some amazing gameplay. A breathtaking singleplayer campaign alongside an epic multiplayer experience makes Battlefield 3 a must-buy.

The single player campaign is blessed by stunning visuals but falls with a dull story and a too short experience: where the game really shines is the multiplayer area, with very entertaining gameplay and modes, even if it lacks some polish that could have made it even better.

Battlefield 3 may not be the absolute powerhouse I desired; as it still suffers from some irritating glitches and a mediocre campaign. If you're not going online, there really isn't enough to recommend this game. The multiplayer stands as a game on its own and is the absolute reason to pick up Battlefield 3 ASAP. If it isn't all the unlockables that keeps you playing month after month, it will certainly be the exposure to a massive online shooter that creates a different experience with every match.

While this game does deliver some amazing gameplay experiences, there are multiple times when you sit there thinking that this game could have been better. That doesn't mean however that Battlefield 3 doesn't deliver at all; it means that gamers will just have to be patient as DICE and everyone work out all the details to deliver the Battlefield 3 experience we all know is out there.

Battlefield 3 is a fine objective-based multiplayer shooter, but that's it. In all other respects, it comes up short.

Battlefield 3 is clearly a winner when it comes to the online first person shooter experience. The depth of unlocks and vehicles is astounding and you just can't find it anywhere else. Although the game suffers from a bland single player experience, fans of the series will be spending countless hours online trying to unlock their next weapon attachment or vehicle upgrade.

Sadly, Battlefield 3 is only capable of being the game it should be on a decent PC. As good as it is on the console (looks pretty good for a console game, and is technically pretty stable) - it is still a shadow of it's true self. We don't know if DICE actually favoured the PC as a platform over the consoles, but we feel they did try their best. Sadly, the ageing console hardware naturally limits what is possible.

As you might expect, the PC version of Battlefield 3 still boasts better visuals and larger matches than its console counterparts, but competitive multiplayer on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 is incredibly addictive, immersive, and exciting.

Battlefield 3 is a great multiplayer game, despite the problems with the console version. However, if you are interested in the game for its single-player mode, we can't hardly recommend it. But if you are looking for a multiplayer game different from the others on consoles, this is a sure bet with many hours of fun.

Battlefield 3 for Xbox 360 is a fine game in its own right, it's just tough to enjoy it after getting used to PC's larger scale, sharper controls and higher visual fidelity. [Dec 2011]

To use the word amazing would be an understatement when describing how engaging, fun, and addicting the online game is, but it is a shame the same can't be said about the single player game, which leaves Battlefield 3 feeling like a mixed bag that focused heavily on one aspect more than the other.

The game's issues are outweighed by the fact that no other game on the market plays like this.

Battlefield 3 has a near-perfect multiplayer experience. Unfortunately, it also has a sad single-player campaign with a mess of a story (even for a first-person shooter), and the co-op is just barely above adequate.

All the other components are in place and Battlefield 3 is a good game, but the x-factor of the players is holding it back right now.

What's most surprising about Battlefield 3 is that even the things that are assumed to be poor are at least tolerable, if not conflicting with the scope of the multiplayer.

Battlefield 3 was supposed to bring down CoD, and without a campaign – which seems to be DICE's approximation of a CoD experience – this wouldn't have been possible. This is unfortunate, because the instances in which DICE seem to have tried to beat their rivals at their own game have resulted in Battlefield 3's weakest content.

Battlefield 3 ships an unbelievable mutliplayer with a short, unoriginal campaign.

Battlefield 3's multiplayer continues to excel at providing a FPS experience beyond just shooting each other with handguns. The single-player barely holds up.

The highly awaited Battlefield 3 gives a twofold impression. There's a single player campaign that looks and sounds great but is extremely linear and scripted and provides no room for thinking outside the box. On the other hand there's a simply fantastic multiplayer mode, that may well be the best multiplayer experience that this year has to offer. If you're interested in multiplayer warfare, then Battlefield 3 is the game for you.

The single player game feels as if it has been specifically crafted to 'beat' another franchise. And, while it enjoys a number of memorable set-pieces and some incredible sound design, in tracing over the template laid down by Infinity Ward's series, it inherits all of the weaknesses as well as strengths of that game.

Your enjoyment of Battlefield 3 will be dependent on what you want out of it. If you are the type of gamer who only wants to play the game for its story then I would highly suggest you rent this game first so that you know what you are getting in to. The multiplayer is really where the fun is here and if you have been a fan of the franchise in the past then you should have a great time here.

This is an online game to the core, built for the long-term enjoyment of millions of fans looking to keep one game in their console for months to come. In that respect, Battlefield 3 is a resounding success, it's just a shame that it didn't deliver where I hoped it would.

Battlefield 3 for the consoles is a big step down from the PC version. Still, it is almost two games in one. We get a six hour outright mediocre campaign without any surprises, but we also get the really unique and totally awesome multiplayer that only the Battlefield series delivers.

You should interpret this final score based on what you really want from a shooter. If you're a resolute campaign player who avoids multiplayer like a shark with a gun, BF3's single-player is simply not up to scratch in a year that has already given us Resistance 3 and Deus Ex. But if online is where it's at for you, Battlefield 3 is going to be one of your games of the year.

It's very much one of the year's best shooters, but for all Frostbite 2's volcanic achievements, it's more a triumph of consolidation, blending elements from past games and popular competitors, than a triumph in its own right.

Battlefield 3 isn't quite the Call of Duty killer many were wanting, then, and it's especially jarring to view EA's 'above and beyond the call' marketing brouhaha in light of the fact Battlefield 3 falls to its most damning lows when it's trying hardest to compete with the latter.

Battlefield didn't need to be more like Call of Duty to succeed, it just had to double down on what it was already good at.

The campaign was completely disposable and most gamers can probably skip unless they are questing for achievements – there are some fun mission-specific challenges to earn those. But for gamers looking for a solid multiplayer offering with a heavy focus on cooperative team play, look no further than the expansive gameplay that Battlefield 3 has to offer.

The glitches are once again at the forefront of my complaints against the game. From disappearing squad mates, to events not triggering; there are parts of this game that feel unfinished.

Battlefield 3 is still good at what Battlefield has always done best, but the rest of the package is more disappointing than anything else.

Of course, all nitpicks around Battlefield 3's single-player content are just that. Online, where it counts for games of this ilk, Battlefield 3 is big, taut, and hard to walk away from. Unless, that is, you prefer the slightly different flavor of Modern Warfare.

While BF3's multiplayer will speak for itself, very rough scripting and level design mean its single-player campaign is good, but far from great. [Issue#79, p.74]

An excellent multiplayer and the best version of Battlefield ever on a console, but a lesser game than on the PC and with a very poor single-player mode.

A sloppy single-player campaign met with matchless multiplayer makes for an unbalanced first-person shooter experience.