Battlefield Hardline Review Roundup

Originally slated to launch five months ago in October 2014, Dead Space creator Visceral Games' first-person shooter Battlefield Hardline is now available across consoles and PC.

Unlike the core Battlefield series, Hardline takes a cops-and-robbers approach. Its single-player campaign plays out across ten TV-style episodes, while the multiplayer component switches up the formula with new modes such as Hotwire and Heist, among others.

The game's release on Tuesday appears to be going smoothly, unlike 2013's Battlefield 4, which faced widespread server woes at launch. This is not too surprising, however, as Visceral previously outlined the numerous steps it was taking to ensure an uninterrupted rollout.

But how is Hardline holding up with critics? Check out a sampling of review scores and editor opinions below. And be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic for even more on the game's critical reception.

• Game: Battlefield Hardline
• Developer: Visceral Games
• Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC
• Release Date: March 17
• Price: $60

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GameSpot -- 7/10

"You can spawn in a chopper, do your part as a gunner to take out valued targets on that ground, and then jump out with a parachute so you can capture a marked car. This isn't Iwo Jima or an Arabian oil field--but it's still pure Battlefield." - Miguel Concepcion [Full review]

The Sixth Axis -- 8/10

"It's easy to dismiss Hardline out of hands as being too far removed from Battlefield's typical setting to be worthy of the name, but even as Visceral ride on the brands coattails, they've had the confidence to adapt that core gameplay to suit a new setting. That's not just true of the multiplayer, but also the single player story and its compelling tale of drugs and police corruption." - Stefan L [Full review]

USGamer -- 3.5/5

"The single-player mode starts out promisingly, but bogs down into a rather weak stealth game whose action feels hit-and-miss. Multiplayer is where the game works best, especially on its smaller maps, which can deliver truly thrilling and intense action." - Kat Bailey and Jaz Rignall [Full review]

Destructoid -- 6/10

"While Hardline is tone deaf at times, mostly it is just deafening. Explosions and bombast are used not to distract from a troubling narrative as much as a stale one perfunctorily paced and reminiscent of network television emptiness." - Steven Hansen [Full review]

Polygon -- 7/10 (Provisional)

"Battlefield Hardline can be both more and less than its predecessors. In areas where Battlefield has always excelled and pushed forward, Hardline presents experiments, rather than refinements or fixes. The result is multiplayer that feels very familiar, very quickly. But its campaign, while feeling not completely sure about what it wants to be, is more interesting and certainly all-around better than the last few years' worth of Battlefield games. The result is something that's both less and more than its predecessors." - Arthur Gies [Full review]

TrustedReviews -- 8/10

"Battlefield: Hardline can be ridiculous, with stealth and arrest mechanics that stretch the very limits of credulity. All the same, the single-player campaign works brilliantly as the video game version of a big, dumb action thriller. Cracking set-piece firefights are mixed with stealth, escape and exploration, and there's scope to play some sequences your way, not just follow the objective marker. Multiplayer, meanwhile, is fiercely enjoyable, and in Hotwire boasts one of Battlefield's finest hours. Look past Hardline's minor faults, and you'll find the best all-round Battlefield since the great Bad Company 2." - Stuart Andrews [Full review]