Battlefield Vietnam

If you have the PC hardware to spare, this is your war. Go get ?em, soldier!

Not only does Battlefield Vietnam improve on its acclaimed predecessor, but it also sets a lofty new standard for online PC warfare. PC

Battlefield 1942 blew away jaded PC gamers with its realistic World War II arsenal, authentic combat scenarios, and hard-boiled online gameplay. Against all odds, Battlefield Vietnam successfully rejuvenates this battle-hardened formula to create the best PC shooter in ages.

The Thunder Years
Fans of Battlefield 1942 won?t be surprised to see that Battlefield Vietnam?s core premise is basically unchanged. Two teams?the U.S. allies and the North Vietnamese?wage war for control of several strategic points across 14 scenarios ranging from the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Cambodia. One key improvement comes in the form of the single-player mode, which benefits from enhanced (yet still uneven) soldier A.I. and nifty new troop commands. While the single-player game is great for practice, you?ll quickly want to find some real action online.

As Battlefield veterans know, killing isn?t only a ground-based affair. Battlefield Vietnam features more than 20 diverse vehicles, including massive Patton tanks, napalm-bombing Phantom jets, and teeny-tiny NVA scooters. Whether you?re on foot or piloting a riverboat, Battlefield Vietnam?s controls are sensitive and sensible.

Cool Metal Jacket
Graphically, Battlefield Vietnam takes a big step over its WWII-era predecessor. The overgrown jungle environments do more than just look spectacular?they also enable devastating surprise assaults. Though the game?s character models have a few visual blemishes like jittery animation and bodies that poke through walls, there are plenty of Hollywood-grade special effects to make up for it. Also, be aware that Battlefield Vietnam demands serious hardware horsepower?Grandma?s dusty old Gateway ain?t gonna cut it. Prepare yourself for lengthy load times and occasional slowdown, even with a potent PC.

As for the gore factor, Battlefield Vietnam is refreshingly modest; you can forget about decapitation and gushing blood-geysers. Rather than performing UT2004-style twirls and pirouettes after being shot, soldiers just slump to the ground without fanfare?all in the name of realism.

Speaking of realism, Battlefield Vietnam sidesteps Medal of Honor?s shrill, hyperactive soundtrack in favor of a grim, oppressive silence. Aside from the occasional 1960s pop tune (including classics like The Guess Who?s ?American Woman?), Battlefield Vietnam?s audio keeps a low profile: Chittering insects, squawking radios, and the snap-crackle-pop of enemy gunfire are your only sonic signposts. It?s an eerily immersive audio design that will hopefully inspire the soundtracks of future combat titles.

Apocalypse Wow
But that?s not all. The developers have thoughtfully included a full suite of game-design tools like Battlecraft (a powerful 3D environment tool that?s perfect for novices) and the Mod Development Toolkit (the framework for creating your dream game). One gripe: In the review copy, the Battlecraft level editor suffered from mysterious crashes. Enemy sabotage, perhaps?

With all these features, it?s hardly surprising that Battlefield Vietnam is the superior force in online warfare and a real candidate for PC Game of the Year. If you?re fed up with Flak Cannons and Rail Guns, enlist with this platoon. Posthaste, soldier!

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