Battlefield 4 is a shadow of what it could have been. That's not to take anything away from what it is. It is in my opinion the most realistic first person shooter available. That being said, what made previous versions great is lacking in this version.
It's is difficult to put a finger on the problems with BF4, the overall experience is lacking, and it is a variety of issues that contribute to this assessment.
First online environments are smaller, making for faster random encounters. Smaller maps mean long range weapons are not necessary unless you absolutely want to play with them. You also find enemies behind you far more frequently. Add these two factors together along with the aim assist, and killing an opponent is not nearly as difficult as it was in previous versions. This results in a arcade feel which I attribute to COD not BF which is suppose to be authentic experience.
In addition the environments are not nearly as destructible as they should be, and you are not able to kill enemies with falling debris like you could in other versions... this means you can't drop a chunk of a building on someone hiding behind cover. There are also many buildings that you cannot destroy and bring down killing everyone in it or on the roof. This is a tragic development considering BF made it's name on destructible environments, and clever kill tactics.
The graphics are not a noticeable step up from previous versions leaving players wondering if they could have accomplished the same things by releasing updates and additional map packs for BF3... In my opinion they could have, a disappointment conclusion, which I blame on EA for rushing this version out and turning this franchise into an annual event to complete with COD.
I believe the BF franchise benefited from their two year release cycle allowing them to develop the next installment into something truly original and revolutionary. Instead the tuned down a great franchise resulting in arcade mediocrity.
This installment will not be the death of the battlefield series but it does feel like a nail in its coffin leaving me to wonder who will pick up the title in terms of best most realistic first person shooter. In my mind the undisputed champion that was has fallen off its pedestal leaving the window wide open for a new franchise to step up and into the role BF once fulfilled.
Having put significant hours into this new version online, I'm left feeling like BF has sacrificed its roots to try and appease a COD populace. The result is small environments, easy kills, and linear gameplay. A let down for anyone that appreciated what BF once was.
EA missed a real opportunity with this game resulting in not just a mediocre game but a compromised future franchise. Too bad.