Kry Previews: Battlefield Heroes

Battlefield: Heroes is the latest iteration of the acclaimed Battlefield series by EA DICE, and the first to utilize the ‘Play 4 Free’ mechanic. The game has just hit open beta as of this writing, and with that, the NDA is lifted and I can give you guys my thoughts. All in all, BF: Heroes is definitely worth a looksie. To me, it is the best free game I’ve played since the original Gunbound.

BFH uses simple, but effective graphics, notably the use of cel-shading, for its World War 2 aesthetic. The thought process is that an extremely wide range of computers should be able to play, and I have no problem with that. Nor do the graphics give me a feel that the game looks dated; they sacrifice realism for style. There is a large amount of purchasable clothing, most of which are done with micropayments, which offers a good degree of customization for players’ avatars, and the main draw of income for the developers. My only complaint is that with these simple, unvarying graphics, they should be able to pump out new maps faster; right now the game is limited to only four.

BFH offers solid gameplay for a free title, featuring three distinct classes, with unique, varying abilities and playstyles. Each game is fun and frantic, assuming the sides are even, which is generally the case. Characters level up through playing to gain access to these powers. Micropayments do not affect the gameplay in any direct way, a smart design decision. Players have a lot of health in BFH; you will rarely die before being able to react.

The game is not without flaws. The menu, where you purchase items, change game settings, and customize your arsenal is inaccessible while playing, creating an unnecessary disconnect. Planes are poorly implemented, a recurring error of the BF series. You must use a joystick to effectively fly one. But, thankfully, in BFH planes are noticeably less lethal than in prior iterations of the series, so it’s not as big a problem. And lastly, it irks me that the capturable flags on maps serve no gameplay purpose except a personal score boost. I’d rather there be a little strategy involved there.

All in all, BFH is fun. For a free game, it has a good amount of depth. But, it does not have enough to compare with full-game offerings over the long term like Team Fortress 2 or the Call of Duty franchise. What Battlefield Heroes is though, is a nice distraction for a couple weeks. There is no reason not to check it out. Perhaps you can even get it running at school or work.