Following in the footsteps of the mighty Medal of Honor was never going to be an easy task. The game, now synonymous with WWII-based first-person shooters, has created a benchmark for the genre, leaving subsequent imitators with a hard act to follow. Digital Illusions seem to have taken this into account and, rather than simply creating another WWII pastiche, have expanded on one of Medal of Honor's finest moments, the multiplayer game.

With support for up to 64 players, via a LAN or th ... more >>

Following in the footsteps of the mighty Medal of Honor was never going to be an easy task. The game, now synonymous with WWII-based first-person shooters, has created a benchmark for the genre, leaving subsequent imitators with a hard act to follow. Digital Illusions seem to have taken this into account and, rather than simply creating another WWII pastiche, have expanded on one of Medal of Honor's finest moments, the multiplayer game.

With support for up to 64 players, via a LAN or the Internet, Battlefield 1942 presents players with a multiplayer-focused World War II experience. With all the power and tools to affect the outcomes of certain key battles, players are given control of over 35 authentic Axis and Allied vehicles, the choice of five player classes, as well as a great many options in carrying out their plan of action.

As expected, the storming of the beaches of Normandy is one of the scenarios present, along with other missions, such as commanding a tank at Kursk, piloting fighters or shore battery at the battle of Midway, and commanding an aircraft carrier or a jeep at Guadalcanal.

The game also features large and detailed maps that allow players to strategize a variety of battle plans, the fighting taking place in the most famous and pivotal battles of the Second World War, from Europe, Pacific, Eastern Europe and North Africa. Over 16 maps from these four locations are included.

Though the multiplayer aspect is the key focus of Battlefield 1942, a single player game is featured too. Featuring advanced AI and no scripting, the single player missions present the player with an entirely different experience each time.

With the snowballing uptake of broadband and the evident maturing of the on-line game, it seems developers are now taking the platform seriously and delivering titles with a multiplayer priority. If this is a taste of things to come, then we like it!

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