‘Battlefield Hardline’
Grade: C+
Best known for its work on the “Dead Space” trilogy, Visceral Games has made a competent attempt at a “Battlefield” game with some new ideas that distinguish it from “Battlefield IV.”
In spite of the cops and criminals style gameplay and themes, the advertising slogan “fastest Battlefield ever” cannot really distinguish this game in a market full of twitch shooters.
That being said, the game itself does look fairly decent. The frame rate is fairly steady, but as in “Battlefield IV,” it is not perfectly steady. High player counts in small maps can strain the games more, so be aware when playing large team deathmatch or conquest.
For most, “Battlefield Hardline” is all about the multiplayer, and it is ultimately a solid experience that proves easier to get into than that of “Battlefield IV.” Teamwork is rewarded greatly here, with points accruing for helping teammates and squadmates that can compound to more than traditional kills.
Apart from conquest and team deathmatch, new modes have been added to this iteration of “Battlefield” that befits the more domestic theme.
Heist and blood money both involve stealing a centrally located item, then racing back to drop it off, which can lead to some wild shenanigans that would not look out of place in “Grand Theft Auto Online.” Hotwire involves trying to capture vehicles spread across the map and driving them quickly to earn part points.
The overall campaign provides a somewhat novel twist from other recent first-person-shooter campaigns. It is built to resemble a police serial with 10 episodes comprising the length of the game.
Nick Mendoza is a straight-shooting cop in the Miami Police Department, and he struggles to get to the bottom of a new drug war that has erupted over yet another form of cheap cocaine.
Somewhat unusually for “Battlefield,” the campaign rewards stealth along with a hilariously overpowered police badge flash. However, this allows the players to break the new campaign leveling system, which awards points at a ridiculous rate.
“Battlefield Hardline” is by no means a bad game, but is one that does not warrant a $60 purchase.
Though longtime purists might not be particularly enthused by the relatively minor tweaks to the proven formula, it is an easier point of entry for newcomers to the franchise.
This game is competent but not a standout title of 2015.
