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It’s been awhile since DICE has given us a true Battlefield title. With their most recent departure into a more single-player-driven game with Battlefield: Bad Company and the MMO space with Battlefield Heroes, it seemed that consoles would never see a game in the vein of Battlefield 1942. However, DICE was not about to let their history go to waste. With the announcement of Battlefield 1943, DICE planed on taking us all back to WWII for one last fight. So is this blast from the past worth it, or should you hold out on enlisting?

Battlefield 1943 is an interesting game to tackle. Technically you have played this game before. Every map has been taken right from Battlefield 1942 or one of its expansions, with little to no changes made. However the big change to game play comes through DICE’s Frostbite engine, which “allows for practically total destruction of all environments.” What that means is there is almost no where to hide. Trying to capture a base by hiding in the corner of a building that just happens to be in the capture zone won’t cut it anymore. Players will know that you are hiding there and will launch a rocket right into the building. Buildings do not put themselves back together over time in the map, so the player must make the hard decision of destroying all the buildings at a base during a capture, or leaving them up as a line of defense during an enemy attack.

Graphically this game is rather good. For being a XBLA and PSN title (with a PC release later this fall), they really fit a large game in a small package. Graphics are right on par with Battlefield: Bad Company, just a little brighter and with WWII weapons and vehicles instead of modern ones.

Gameplay has changed slightly to allow for more people to jump in the fray and have a quicker understanding. The six or so classes that were in past games have been taken down to three. Infantry, which is your assault class, packs a SMG, a Anti-Tank rocket, and a wrench for fixing vehicles. Rifleman, your medium range class, spawn with a rifle and rifle grenades. Lastly the Scout is the ranged class with a sniper rifle, pistol, and explosives. New players won’t mind this system but veterans may find themselves without their favorite class. Once you have played for awhile you start to find your favorite class and use them almost exclusively, but the game type almost forces you at times to change if your team really needs it.

Vehicles are back and have stayed mostly the same. You have the basic tank, jeep, boat, and plane. You don’t want to go guns blazing into a base with a tank unless you have more people aboard or support following behind. Team communication is important when it comes to vehicle attacks. It only takes one bad bombing raid to make you start shouting at your television screen. Planes are constantly dog fighting in the air and bombing players bellow. Players who master flight can rack up kills with no problem and are often the top players in a match.

With all the great things that the Frostbite engine brings to the table in this game, it also brings a number of problems. The world feels heavy, which will throw a lot of old Battlefield 1942 players off. Guns don’t seem to move as fast and recoil really effects how a player shoots. Coming from a game like Call Of Duty or Halo, players will just need time to grasp how a character moves and the different button layout. It does not take away from the game, but it does take a few matches to make it click. Plane controls have a very steep learning curve to the point where some players avoid ever getting in one. Luckily there is a tutorial mode where players can fly for as long as they want.

The game has a ranking system, but other than bragging rights, it really does not mean much. Being a XBLA and PSN title, there are only three maps in the package with a forth one coming for free once the community gets to 43 million kills. Sadly the game has no LAN support or split-screen, this is a purely online affair.

Overall, Battlefield 1943 is a great deal and could be the feel good hit of the summer. At just $15, the game gives you more than most full-release budget titles and will certainly hold your interest for longer. So if your looking for a game to spend some time with, push your way to the front lines and give Battlefield 1943 a chance.