Review: Battlefield 1943

Battlefield 1943 is World War II's Pacific Theater, for the gamer on a budget.

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It's totally worth it for Air Superiority. So much time is wasted fighting over who gets to fly the planes in 1942, and even the Conquest maps, that often the battle is directly won or lost by who fights over it the longest.

Very good review and you actually convinced me to buy this game. Looks like Call of Duty: United Offensive which is a good thing. Way more reliable than many other review sites.

Wow looks awesome with the updated graphics, though I'll wait for the PC version.
Also in Air Superiority, do you automatically start off in the air or do you spawn on a aicraftcarier?

Sporadic chaos:
Wow looks awesome with the updated graphics, though I'll wait for the PC version.
Also in Air Superiority, do you automatically start off in the air or do you spawn on a aicraftcarier?

Aircraft carrier!

CantFaketheFunk:

Sporadic chaos:
Wow looks awesome with the updated graphics, though I'll wait for the PC version.
Also in Air Superiority, do you automatically start off in the air or do you spawn on a aicraftcarier?

Aircraft carrier!

Ah, I'm glad they didn't change that. In 1942 occasionally you would get shot down near a aircraft carrier, then you would board it and proceed to harass the other team as they would get into their planes.. One of my favorite parts about 1942. /memories

Can't wait for it to come out for PC. :)

I loved these maps and played them for what if I probably added my /played time was over 2 weeks in real life...

:x

"I still haven't figured out why some enemy soldiers are tagged with a red arrow and others are not."
not 'sure' about this mr.funk, but on Bad Company enemies are only lit up with an arrow (or a red dot in that situation) when they have been spotted and engagued by allied forces, this usually means if they have been shot. i'm guessing it pushes the game forward while allowing hidden players to remain so untill they participate in combat. assuming the arrow is similar to the dot from bad company that is :)

Only enemies that have been spotted by your teammates (or you) and stayed in sight for a few seconds do carry a red arrow above their heads. It's quite well done (the indicator fades away if the enemy is out of sight) but might be a little bit distracting for new players and should have been explained in the tutorial.

HippySecond:
"I still haven't figured out why some enemy soldiers are tagged with a red arrow and others are not."
not 'sure' about this mr.funk, but on Bad Company enemies are only lit up with an arrow (or a red dot in that situation) when they have been spotted and engagued by allied forces, this usually means if they have been shot. i'm guessing it pushes the game forward while allowing hidden players to remain so untill they participate in combat. assuming the arrow is similar to the dot from bad company that is :)

From what I observed it seems as if damage to any opponent (be it infantry or in a vehicle) will mark it for all other friendly units within a certain vicinity.
However, the name of an enemy also appears when you are getting really close which might also expose them to your team.
Aiming from a plane through first-person view at another plane might also have the same effect.

HippySecond:
"I still haven't figured out why some enemy soldiers are tagged with a red arrow and others are not."
not 'sure' about this mr.funk, but on Bad Company enemies are only lit up with an arrow (or a red dot in that situation) when they have been spotted and engagued by allied forces, this usually means if they have been shot. i'm guessing it pushes the game forward while allowing hidden players to remain so untill they participate in combat. assuming the arrow is similar to the dot from bad company that is :)

Spucktier:
Only enemies that have been spotted by your teammates (or you) and stayed in sight for a few seconds do carry a red arrow above their heads. It's quite well done (the indicator fades away if the enemy is out of sight) but might be a little bit distracting for new players and should have been explained in the tutorial.

Huh. Well there you go.

I don't recall it being in the tutorial, either. It's possible that I simply missed it.

CantFaketheFunk:
I don't recall it being in the tutorial, either. It's possible that I simply missed it.

Actually I meant DICE should have put it into the tutorial instead of letting people figure it out for themselves :) It's definitely not mentioned during the tutorial

I bought this last night. Overall pretty decent. However if you don't have a HDTV the game is pretty blurry making it almost impossible to see mid-long distances.

You have a hard time flying in BF: 1943 John? *shrugs* I've never had that problem.
Any who nice review, etc. BF: 1943 really needs a map pack soon, because it feels too much like a BF: BC Mod with most of the classes ripped out.

Frank_Sinatra_:
You have a hard time flying in BF: 1943 John? *shrugs* I've never had that problem.
Any who nice review, etc. BF: 1943 really needs a map pack soon, because it feels too much like a BF: BC Mod with most of the classes ripped out.

I have no problem flying. I have a problem attacking targets on the ground.

popdafoo:
Very good review and you actually convinced me to buy this game. Looks like Call of Duty: United Offensive which is a good thing. Way more reliable than many other review sites.

Oh man, UO had the most epic multiplayer ever, I played for over a year.

As for this, if they add more maps, I'll get it.

my one complaint is the inconsistent damage to enemies: I shot an enemy in the cheek (I was sniper) he didn't die, a plane's bomb literally exploded right in front of me and I didn't die plus I hate the spawns in this game. I mean if we're fighting over a base, at least spawn me on the road so I don't get shot by campers everytime I spawn. Oh and I shouldn't have to "get the hang of" dropping bombs, if my machine gun has crosshairs, there should be an indicator telling me where the hell my bomb's are going. I like the game but it's these small things that aggravate me

I really like it...the only reason I'm 1st LT is because of Air Sup.
come fly with me sometime
(THE REAPER MECH)

Sincerely, I don't think this games has many reasons to exists. It's BF:BC but with less content and set in WW2: if you have BF:BC you don't have any real reason to buy this game except for the novelty and the setting, and if you don't have it you can buy it for probably little more than BF 1943.

I bought it the day it came out and I haven't stopped playing, its definitely worth the money.

Is there any news on when the PC version will come out? Or if they are even doing a PC version?

CantFaketheFunk:
I have no problem flying. I have a problem attacking targets on the ground.

So doing bombing runs? I have some trouble with that (only made 5 kills that way) just don't go down so steep, pull-up earlier, drop before you think you should, and use the "chase cam" to check if the bomb hit.
That's my recipe for success.

Sporadic chaos:
Wow looks awesome with the updated graphics, though I'll wait for the PC version.
Also in Air Superiority, do you automatically start off in the air or do you spawn on a aicraftcarier?

You start in a carrier.

Also, Great review, And Fantastic game. You shouldve mentioned its great sound effects as well...Also, I reviewed it first, so HA. xD

I think criticizing it for being too close to Bad Company is being a bit unfair. While it runs off the same engine, its simplicity makes it so much easier to balance. It also showcases the new destruction physics that have been added. And, finally, we can fly planes again. I really do think this is a way to give original Battlefield fans a nod while also stress testing their new engine.

Also, think of the price of a three map add-on nowadays. It's 10 dollars. For 15, you get almost a completely different four-map game. Yes, it's a little lacking in features but it's 15 dollars. Seriously, who can complain about that?

CantFaketheFunk:
and I still haven't figured out why some enemy soldiers are tagged with a red arrow and others are not.

I have a suspicion that the arrow appears when a teammate sights an enemy, or fires upon them. However I still find it curious that afaik the game doesn't even bother to explain this to you.

I get confused with who is my team and who is the other because the light on my Tv is crap and I don't want to stand up and play the game, I will get used to it I guess.

I bought it the day I got back from Germany, as a welcome back gift. Best gift I've gotten in a long while.

You have me tempted Escapist. I may need to check this out.

No European theatre?

For shame.

I loved '42 and i loved Desert Combat even more for '42.

Seriously, even after World of Warcraft, Desert Combat holds more hours of play time i'm certain... though of the maps in '43, only Wake was popular amongst Desert Combat players.

I look forward to the PC release of '43, even though i felt horrible assaulted by every Battlefield release since '42.

I'm sort of hoping there are some expansions that focus on adding maps and armies, though i don't know if i'd pay more than £30 total for Battlefield 1942-2. You know, £15 for African WW2 and £15 for Europe, especially since i've got it already!

oh and another thing: are people that desperate for kills that they will land on the other carrier and basically camp? come on.

Did anyone else get a 'pirates of the carribean feel' from the music. Anyways this might stem the thirst of the summer gaming drought, good review

I like the game but I can't figure out the air raids. Like when they;re available or how to call them. Overall well worth the 15 bucks.

Iv hit 5 hours of game play, passed all achievement's and the game still pulls me in. Its even took me off Halo 3 for a week, DLC maybe for some extra maps and I would be happy all round with this purchase.

I can't believe you use the 3rd person view of the plane. First person for the win.