Possibly The Best Online FPS To Date
There is a massive number of maps and servers to play on and any given time. The maps are huge, up to 64 players on one map. You don't really have a set objective, it all depends on how you want to play. Of course the main goal of each game is to take and hold all your enemy's flags, or to inflict more casualties on their team, then they do onto you. There are no missions or campaigns in BF2, so if you are not into online playing then you might as well pass on this game. The single player game is pathetic. You only get to play against mindless bots on the smallest of maps sizes, 16 players.
You will be able to play as a number of different kits, including, Special Forces, Assault, Medic, Anti-Tank, Engineer, and Sniper. All the kits have unique features that you will use to contribute to your team. For instance, as a medic, you will be able to revive and heal players on your team. As an engineer you will be able to fix vehicles and put down mines.
One of the best features of this game is that you are rewarded for your work. Not only are you playing and having fun with up to 63 other live people, but for every kill you make, every person you heal, you will receive points toward your global score. These points will allow you to unlock new and more powerful weapons, they will advance you through a military rank system, and you will get badges and medals for special achievements. If you want to take command of your entire team, the higher you are in rank, the better chance you will have of winning a commander election.
There are many different way to play in BF2. You can go off on your own as a 'lone wolf' and never talk to anyone and do what and go where you wish. Or you can create or join a squad and work as a small team with in your team. When you are in a squad you have the ability to spawn where ever your squad leaders is, making it easy to keep together. The squad leader can receive orders from the commander and can also give separate orders to his squad members.
The action in BF2 is non stop, this is helped by the way you re-enter the game after dying. In mission style games, you will start back where you last saved, or all the way back at the beginning of the game. In BF2, after you die, you will have to option of spawning at any of your teams flags, or if you are in a squad, you will be able to spawn on your squad leaders location. You have about 15 seconds between your death and your new spawn. In this time you will have the opportunity to select a spawn location, and the ability to change your kit. So you don't have to go through the whole game as the same thing.
Battlefield 2 does have some downfalls though. It's creator EA Games has horrible support. And the last patch for the game was released years ago. This game is notoriously picky about hardware, though at this point and time it should be less of a problem than it was when the game first released. When the game first released the game only worked on select video cards. And even if you met the system requirements, some times the game still just would not work. But with the release of the last patch in 2006 the game is pretty well fixed. You will still see a glitch here and there, but the major problem from years ago have been fixed for the most part.
If you are into the FPS series of game you must pick this up. You can get it for $10 at Wal-Mart. Or for about $30 you can get the main game and all 3 expansion packs. I would recommend getting the set for $30. You get more maps and more rewards. See you on the Battlefield!