Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

By Sam Coare

The fine balance between realism and playability is one that’s rarely mastered. Take, for instance, the seemingly endless debate between Fifa and Pro Evo’; it’s a war between style and substance. It’s the focal point, somewhat ironically, with Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, with ever-developing game engines and good old fashioned accessibility kicking the fuck out of each other.

This sadly boils down to little more than an after-school fight. You know the kind that was systematically organised for a designated time, at a designated place (just out the view of the teachers), and with strict rules over friend interference and blows to the face. And the kind that ultimately ends up with the school jock beating up the small fat kid. Here, the graphics fill the role of bully; playability, the unfortunate fat kid.

Controls are over complicated; the patented system of controlling any member on the battlefield merely leads to confusion, as you flick endlessly through the manual while the computer, who always seems to have more men and more guns, systematically picks you off.

Maybe it’s just me; maybe I’m too much of a romantic, who likes his games simple and easy to pick up. Or maybe I’m just frustrated that I’m crap at this. Either way, one for those who like their challenges tough, and their games squeaky clean.