This is something I didn't think I'd be playing anytime soon. While I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of "Battlefield," I have played a few of the games, and I did enjoy "Battlefield 1" quite a bit. That said, that game felt more like the exception than the rule, and I haven't enjoyed the direction they've taken the series in as of late: I spent about an hour in "Battlefield V" before getting a migraine, and I wasn't too excited by what the upcoming "Battlefield 2042" was doing with the whole "no campaign" thing. However, while scrolling through Xbox Game Pass, I noticed that "Battlefield: Bad Company" was on there, and I thought I'd give it a try to see if I was missing anything, or if these games could scratch the itch the rest of the series hadn't offered. And after beating the campaign, I have to say...I think modern "Battlefield" games could learn a thing or two from this.
"Battlefield: Bad Company" is a great example of the classic FPS formula applied nicely to a sandbox style. The campaign as a whole feels fleshed out from start to finish, and the story, while not entirely deep, has solid moments with characters that have enough charm and banter to keep them interesting. From a gameplay perspective, the shooting controls are as smooth as ever with a weapon selection that is varied and awesome. Also, despite largely using one environment, the open world is enjoyable to explore, with destructible environments that make the shooting even better. And of course, as is key with "Battlefield," there's plenty of fun to be had in multiplayer.
I will say, though, that some of the occasional lock-ups and glitches can be frustrating. I played this on the Xbox Series X, and while it wasn't an "enhanced" version, it still sucks to see the game still struggling with some unpolished qualities. Also, I often found that aiming at enemies could feel very awkward at many points.
Overall, "Battlefield: Bad Company" is a very enjoyable FPS game that still feels as strong as modern titles in the genre. The campaign is still a smooth, enjoyable adventure that stands out even after over a decade. It's the type of game that I wish the modern "Battlefield" developers would try to make. Eh, live services were gonna do this sooner or later. Either way, if you're like me and have been itching to see a "Battlefield" campaign done right, give "Bad Company" a shot.
Final rating: 8 out of 10 "Great"