{"id":9099,"date":"2010-12-21T15:16:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-21T13:16:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T22:00:00","slug":"battlefield-bad-company-2-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/reviews\/9099-battlefield-bad-company-2-vietnam","title":{"rendered":"Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed on PC, also available on PS3 and Xbox 360
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It’s worth mentioning at the outset of this review that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was my favourite shooter of 2010, if not my favourite game of 2010. It is one of the most engaging, dynamic and deep online shooters ever released, and EA has done a superb job of supporting the game’s community by periodically updating and releasing new maps.<\/p>\n

While there have been numerous new map packs released for Bad Company 2, Vietnam is the first content pack which comes with its own price tag of R100 at the EA store<\/a>. Of course, I’m excluding the fancy outfit kit.<\/p>\n

The Vietnam expansion does not require its own download. Instead, when you purchase it you will receive an unlock key. The most recent Bad Company 2 update (2.4GBs) sneakily installed the Vietnam content alongside a bunch of new maps. This means that you can purchase the game with your Master\/Visa card, enter the unlock key and get playing immediately.<\/p>\n

There are already a number of local servers up and running. We have to commend iGame and Wage for having their servers live on Saturday as the expansion was released. SGS arrived to the party a little later, but have set up a heap of Vietnam servers. At the time of writing, there was actually far more server capacity than required. At any given time there is a maximum of 30 players playing the Vietnam expansion. These are usually spread out between 2 of the numerous servers, which means that while most of the servers are empty, there is a fair amount of action on the table.<\/p>\n

Until now, the iGame and Wage servers have had a sufficient number of players online most of the time, meaning it has been easy to find a good game. However, with the introduction of the SGS servers, we may see some players move away from the iGame and Wage servers. This is a potential problem for MWEB users, who will not be able to achieve low latencies on the SGS servers due to local peering issues. If the iGame and Wage servers do not remain active, then MWEB subscribers will have to purchase additional bandwidth from IS or SAIX (or one of their resellers) in order to play the game.<\/p>\n

But technical details aside, and on to the game itself.<\/p>\n

It is probably best to think of Bad Company 2: Vietnam as a fully fledged expansion pack, as opposed to DLC. The primary gameplay component which remains in tact, is the mode selection. Rush and Conquest return as favourites, and Rush in particular continues to be one of the greatest things in existence.You will also continue to level up your same soldier in Vietnam, and all weapons and items will be available from the outset.<\/p>\n

What Vietnam adds<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, it introduces an entire new era to the Bad Company 2 experience.<\/p>\n

Five maps<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dice has given us five unique new maps to play on, all of which, of course, reflect the landscape of the Vietnamese warzones. So, expect rice paddies, reed huts, fox holes, and the Mordor-like, napalm blasted Hill 137. The maps might just be the star of the show, and are all dynamic, interesting, and well balanced.<\/p>\n

Six vehicles<\/strong><\/p>\n

No game set in Vietnam would be complete without the iconic American Huey gunship\/transport helicopter. The Russian T54 tank also makes an appearance in all its lumbering, groaning glory, along with a light jeep, patrol boat, Tuk-tuk<\/a>,  and M48 Patton tank, which uses a flame thrower as its secondary armament.<\/p>\n

In true Battlefield style, all the vehicles are fully drivable, and are an integral part of the game. The first time I fired from the Huey’s side mounted machine gun while circling Phu Bai Valley – Creedance Clearwater Revival blasting in the background – remains one of my most memorable gaming moments ever.<\/p>\n

15 weapons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Naturally, none of the weapons available in vanilla Bad Company 2 are present in Vietnam. Instead, they are replaced by era appropriate ones, including icons such as the American M16 assault rifle, the AK-47 and M60 light machine gun. There are a wide variety of sub machine guns, light machine guns, sniper rifles, handguns and shotguns to play with. Then of course, there is the flamethrower which despite its short range, can be a devastatingly destructive force.<\/p>\n

Gadgets<\/strong><\/p>\n

They didn’t have fancy contraptions like motion sensors, defibrillators, guided missiles and repair tools in Vietnam, so these are replaced by more basic devices; a syringe (revive), The Torch (repair), TNT and the RPG-7. Ammo boxes and medkits return, and many of the standard perks are the same as vanilla Bad Company 2.<\/p>\n

The biggest fundamental difference here, is that propelled missiles cannot lock onto targets, and the lack of tracer darts makes taking out armour more difficult. The Huey gunship in particular, can be a total nightmare for defenders as its moves fast, is well armoured, and with a good gunner, lethal.<\/p>\n

Character<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of BC2: Vietnam’s best features is its newfound personality. Dice licensed some classic 60’s rock music for the occasion, and any game which greats you with Creedance Clearwater Revival’s iconic Fortunate Son<\/a> in its startup menu is by default off to a good start.<\/p>\n

Every time you hop in a vehicle there will be similar era appropriate music playing, which really gives the game a sense of historical context. Also, at the end of each map, you will be treated to dialogue detailing the outcome of the battle. Each map is given meaning in this way, instead of being just another generic battle. Utmost effort has been made to make sure that the Vietnam expansion has its own feel, and communicates a real sense of the Vietnam war, and the era in which it took place. This is what makes the game really shine in the end.<\/p>\n

For R100, it’s pretty much a no brainer for Bad Company 2 fans.<\/p>\n

Discuss Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam <\/a>in the forums<\/p>\n\n\t\t