Battlefield 1943 provides fun multiplayer battles at a good price.
Battlefield 1943 features 3 maps, all from the original 1942. A small problem I discovered with the way that they're designed is that they don't necessarily vary from each other. Two of them feature aircraft carriers, and all three of them have narrow battlefields on high ground, surrounded by beach. It becomes a slight redundant after awhile, but there are a few tweaks to each that it doesn't feel too similar. At least, not for a few hours.
Regardless of the aforementioned lack of variation with the maps, the overall design of these warzones is pretty great. Of course, the only game mode here is conquest, and these maps seem designed with that in mind. Every fight is just as dynamic and exciting as the last because of that. Each of the capture points on each map are placed strategically so that there are small pockets of action occuring every moment. Because of the Pacific Isles setting, there's tons of high ground vs. low ground scenarios. To counterbalance this, powerful tanks are often scattered at each base, and there are plenty of back door entrances to the more advantaged areas. It's a blast to coordinate attack plans with your team to try and overtake bases. Battlefield isn't simply a kill/death type of shooter.
There are three classes available to choose from at the start of each battle, and before each spawn. There's the Scout who's more focused on sniping and infiltrating bases, Infantry which is best for dealing the most damage, and Rifleman which is a bit of a hybrid of the others. Odds are you're going to find a class that fits your play style. It's also not a bad idea to switch things up if the match isn't going your way.
Again, there's a small problem I've discovered here. The lack of any kind of support class means that players have regenerative health as well as unlimited ammunition, which is fine by me, but it takes a lot of the realism out of the Battlefield formula. Anyways, the three classes featured in the game more than get the job done in keeping the game balanced and fun.
Another problem is the way you rank up. Everything is unlocked from the start, so ranking up is really only rewarding with the sense that you're getting more experience. There's no real other sense of progression available.
Aside from intense on firefights, there's the previously mentioned tanks, as well as jeeps, boats, and planes. The latter of which is nearly impossible to control, but anybody who can figure it out will really have a great time driving any of the vehicles in Battlefield 1943. The placement of said vehicles is very well done as well. It encourages improvisation in terms of battle plans, which is something Battlefield always does at the top of its class. You've got a ton of options here regarding how you wish to carry on the fight.
As the third Battlefield game on Xbox 360, and the second on Playstation 3, Digital Illusions has seriously polished their stuff. Not only does Battlefield 1943 control near perfectly on a controller, but the game really does look fantastic, especially for a downloadable title. Utilizing the Frostbite engine, the lighting is pretty much spot on and beautiful. Character models look fine as do their animations, gun models look great, and the water has a pretty light blue tint and transparency effects honestly giving the sense of the setting. The destructible environments aren't as well done as in Bad Company, perhaps due to strategic decisions on DICE's part, but there are some flimsy objects that simply can't be destroyed, and that's unfortunate. Even so, the destructibility really flips the textbook just as Bad Company did. Hiding in a building isn't always the best idea.
The sound design has also been improved on since Bad Company. The HDR sound is just as effective as ever, and it really does feel like you're on a battlefield. Running up a hill, hearing bombs off in the distance is very authentic. The soundtrack doesn't fare as well as I'd hoped, but it's easier to forgive due to the lack of any sort of narrative.
Battlefield 1943 is priced at fifteen dollars, providing an online-only multiplayer experience. You get three maps, three classes, all wrapped in very intense and dynamic gameplay. If you think that appeals to you (and it should), then you absolutely should download it. Just be accepting that it probably won't keep your attention into the final months of the year.