There are 2 very important reasons you should buy this game:

1. It's an exceptional WWII FPS

Jaw dropping graphics (that don't crush the average players system), the ability to be infantry of various unique types, then jump in any one of numerous vehicles, then jump into any number of different aircraft. Totally flexible, insanely fun, very popular too (good for multiplayer gaming).

2. It's an even better modern-day-warfare FPS!

What you say! Yep, Battlefield 1942 has the most popular "mod" (game modification, meaning the game has been redesigned around a new theme, etc..) of 2003; Desert Combat. Desert Combat uses the same fantastic engine as 1942 but is set in modern time. Helicopter Gunships, SCUD missile launchers, A-10 Tank Killers dropping naughty explosive goodness!!!! Why am I writing this review, I should be playing!

Ok, once you own the game, you can go to www.desertcombat.com to download the free mod for it.

Hope this review was helpful.

Enjoy...!


A well done 'combined arms' game   September 4, 2002
Greg Donahue (Alexandria, VA)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

This review is just based upon the demos (single and multiplayer).

Battlefield 1942 offers you the ability to run wild on the battlefield. The multiplayer demo offers a taste of each of the types of combat: Infantry, air, armor, sea. Infantry has several basic classes, and the other three categories offer a variety of vehicles to steal...er...use.

First off: The game looks and runs fantastic. I have a PIII-800 and it runs well. I know people with better machines, and they report it runs fantastic.

The first person shooter aspect runs fine. It isn't groundbreaking when compared to other contemperary FPSs, but it performs well.

The 'flight sim' aspect also runs fine. It seems geared more towards close air support, as high altitude winding air battles ain't happening...but I still feel like I'm 'flying' an aircraft. Strafing and bombing can't be described easily in words...dropping a bomb on an unsuspecting enemy ground troop was a priceless first in my gaming experience :)

The tank/armor/vehicle portion is STRONG. It isn't fancy, but it is fast and furious action, and provided (for me) the most nerve wracking and exciting moments of the game.

The sea aspect of the game scores a little lower than the rest. It just feels a little 'cheesy.' It is hardly a surface warfare game, but then again, it never claimed to be. There is ample opportunity to put sea power to use. The destroyer in the demo MP game made for an excellent bombardment platform. Once you get over the fact that a single man can control a destroyer/carrier, it is rather fun. However, most players tend to ditch the ships for tanks/planes, as they offer more exciting ways to smite your opponents :)

For sheer gameplay, BF1942 scores all 5 stars easily. I have wasted many hours online, every moment of which was exciting and fun. The gameplay is fast, balanced, and easy to jump right into. It also runs great online, and I played in games with a server ping up to about 170, and it was hardly noticable.

My *ONLY* negative comment on the game is the 'realism' claim. In order to make it a fast, furious and easy game to get into, EA had to (understandably) simplify things quite a bit. Clearly, and engineer can't repair a destroyer in 20 seconds (as I was able to do in the Demo). Aircraft in real life can't buzz airfields and pickup teammates on the fly. There are several other examples, none of which take away from the game at all, but are hardly realistic.
The other realism complaint is the weapons and vehicles inventory they are advertising on the webpage. There was a missed opportunity to provide more historically accurate weaponry...specifically, the Russians had plenty of potential weapons that aren't reflected in the game (i.e. the PPsH40, a superb SMG). The final game isn't out yet, so they may very well have added more specific weapons/vehicles (or do a patch later).

Overall, my minor complaints have nothing to do with the actual gameplay. Grab hold and hang on for a gameplaying experience you'll not soon forget!


Very Nice   September 7, 2004
Tiberius
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've owned Battlfield 1942 for over a year now, so I've had a lot of experience with it and can say it truely is a good game. It has it's shortfalls, but usually you won't even notice them compared to this game's strengths. I'll list some of the shortfalls first, just to get them out of the way.

First of all, the original lack of variety in weapons was annoying. Being Japanese with an STG44 was rather unrealistic, especially at Wake Island (since the Japanese invasion of Wake took place roughly 2 years before the STG44 was created.) When I'm Japanese, I want to use Japanese equipment. Same with Russians. Eventually patches brought some variety which helped a lot. Either way, it really has very little impact on the game if any, it's just annoying.

The infantry combat also needs work. It's really awkward, I don't really know how to explain it. The bolt-action rifles are terrible. I was also displeased with the fact that it took them forever to add the M1 Garand, and even after they did only on Pacific maps and it sucks. However it's tolerable.

Connecting to multiplayer games needs work too. Navigating the menu is cumbersome and irritating at times. However once you get into a game you'll soon forget.

The things I like about this game surpass what I don't by far. Just the sheer possibilities of what you can do makes this game so adaptable. The possibility of opening up an attack on an enemy point by bombarding them with artillery and fighter bombers followed by an armored attack supported by infantry is just something you just can't get in most games (even though it never happens because players rarely want to act as a team.) It's fun to deflate the egos of arrogant players in tanks by crashing your jeep into them, killing them and yourself if you fail to bail out. Of course there are players who do the typical multiplayer behavior, like just take off in tanks, apcs or jeeps without offering anyone a ride (even if you ask for them to stop) park vehicles on runways, drive right into their own infantry, killing them without appologizing and those who contribute nothing to their team, just waiting for planes to respawn and kill any of their own teammates who might get the plane before them. Make no mistake, multiplayer games are usually full of immature, arrogant, self absorbed bigots who tell you how to play, yell at you for no reason, whine about any little thing and spew forth homophobic remarks. Even so, Battlefield 1942 is still a fun game even with these annoyances. Very few things are more rewarding than blowing up an enemy tank with your own panzerscreck or bazooka. Spectating skilled pilots can also be a great show.

My conclusion is Battlefield 1942 is an excellent game despite minor issues and the other players. It's very adaptable and is full of options, opportunities and fun. As a gamer I highly recommend it.


Battlefield 1942 is simply the best   June 5, 2003
Brian D. Johnson (Pensacola, Florida United States)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

My brother and I bought this one day after playing it at a friends house. Let me tell you this, it is well worth your money.

Ok, let's get started!

Pros:

1) Awesome vehicles and weapons
2) Very detailed
3) Great A.I. skills- Easy is easy and hard is hard
4) Awesome choices-(Medic, Engineer, Anti-Tank, Assault, Sniper)
5) Great Music
6) You can play online for free!

Cons:

1) Play is sluggish on old computers
2) Could use a varied assorment of music
3) Map loading time is very slow
4) Needs more maps (Problen solved with "Road to Rome Expansion Pack")

As you can see, there are many pros and cons. But don't let the cons make it seem bad. It is the opposite. In the Battlefield 1942 game, i belive there are 16 maps (could be 12). The "Road to Rome" expansion pack gives you 8 more maps and 2 new armies. (Although I have not bought it yet.)

Overall, don't let all the bad reviews give you second thoughts. This game is well worth your money. I guarentee that. It has been rated #1 in many aspects of the game by a myriad of magazines and gamers like myself.

If you do decide to get this game, you won't regret it.


An excellent 'combined arms' game   September 4, 2002
Gregory A Donahue (Alexandria, VA United States)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This review is just based upon the demos (single and multiplayer).
Battlefield 1942 offers you the ability to run wild on the battlefield. The multiplayer demo offers a taste of each of the types of combat: Infantry, air, armor, sea. Infantry has several basic classes, and the other three categories offer a variety of vehicles to steal...er...use.

First off: The game looks and runs fantastic. I have a PIII-800 and it runs well. I know people with better machines, and they report it runs fantastic.

The first person shooter aspect runs fine. It isn't groundbreaking when compared to other contemperary FPSs, but it performs well.

The 'flight sim' aspect also runs fine. It seems geared more towards close air support, as high altitude winding air battles ain't happening...but I still feel like I'm 'flying' an aircraft. Strafing and bombing can't be described easily in words...dropping a bomb on an unsuspecting enemy ground troop was a priceless first in my gaming experience :)

The tank/armor/vehicle portion is STRONG. It isn't fancy, but it is fast and furious action, and provided (for me) the most nerve wracking and exciting moments of the game.

The sea aspect of the game scores a little lower than the rest. It just feels a little 'cheesy.' It is hardly a surface warfare game, but then again, it never claimed to be. There is ample opportunity to put sea power to use. The destroyer in the demo MP game made for an excellent bombardment platform. Once you get over the fact that a single man can control a destroyer/carrier, it is rather fun. However, most players tend to ditch the ships for tanks/planes, as they offer more exciting ways to smite your opponents :)

For sheer gameplay, BF1942 scores all 5 stars easily. I have wasted many hours online, every moment of which was exciting and fun. The gameplay is fast, balanced, and easy to jump right into. It also runs great online, and I played in games with a server ping up to about 170, and it was hardly noticable.

My *ONLY* negative comment on the game is the 'realism' claim. In order to make it a fast, furious and easy game to get into, EA had to (understandably) simplify things quite a bit. Clearly, and engineer can't repair a destroyer in 20 seconds (as I was able to do in the Demo). Aircraft in real life can't buzz airfields and pickup teammates on the fly. There are several other examples, none of which take away from the game at all, but are hardly realistic.
The other realism complaint is the weapons and vehicles inventory they are advertising on the webpage. There was a missed opportunity to provide more historically accurate weaponry...specifically, the Russians had plenty of potential weapons that aren't reflected in the game (i.e. the PPsH40, a superb SMG). The final game isn't out yet, so they may very well have added more specific weapons/vehicles (or do a patch later).

Overall, my minor complaints have nothing to do with the actual gameplay. Grab hold and hang on for a gameplaying experience you'll not soon forget!