Game of the Week: Battlefield 3 Multiplayer

By Oli Welsh Published 28 October, 2011

A half of two games.

And that's your first week on the new Eurogamer. Eventful, wasn't it? We hope you're settling in OK.

It's not the first time, when asked to pick a game of the week, that I've faced a choice between lovingly restored nostalgia and flawed but compelling novelty. It's never an easy choice - and in the week we ourselves left five years' worth of familiarity and comfort behind in favour of our vision of the future, I guess it's an apposite one.

It's also a clash between what we grew up with and the reality of where things are today. It's always tempting to vote with your heart in these situations - especially when hype fatigue has been compounded by last-minute frustration - but a glance at the new Popular Now section of the homepage, at any point this week, would tell you where gamers' heads are currently at.

So, sorry, Daytona USA. We will always love you and you will always have a place in our hearts and on our site. As a brilliant version of a genuine milestone in racing game history, you deserve every decimal of the score Martin slapped on the end of his review.

"It's throwaway stuff that nevertheless inspires the widest of smiles," he wrote. "Daytona USA's... a sing-a-long classic - you know the words just as well as you know each swerve in the road."

Eurogamer has always been about celebrating what we love, and that will never change. But our new site is also about reflecting what you care about. We know what you'll all be doing this weekend, and we love it too - well, half of it.

Battlefield 3 Multiplayer

After the fight between new and old, here's conundrum number two: as games increasingly fragment into single and multiplayer components, how do you respond when half of a major release thrills you, and the other half leaves you cold?

For better or worse, one box and one price means one review, and Dan steered a steady course with his verdict on Battlefield 3. At the end of the day, you can't argue with a fantastic new version of one of our very favourite multiplayer games, and quite possibly the best multiplayer shooter on the market.

"If Battlefield was a superlative multiplayer game in previous incarnations, it's never been better than this," he wrote. "It's here where Battlefield's brutal and bloodied heart beats loudest, and it's here that players will inevitably spend most of their time. Shame, then, that the overall package is marred by a me-too campaign, filled with hollow bombast, and a co-op mode that feels undercooked."

Does that matter? Yes and no. We'd love to see Battlefield be truer to itself across every component, rather than chase Call of Duty's tail so nakedly. But it's still Battlefield where it matters, and where we'll spend by far the majority of our time with it. See you online.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 7 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bdc #1 7 months ago

    Battlefield 3 is probably the best PC game I've ever played - and I've gone through a lot over the years. I haven't touched singleplayer, but you cannot beat Battlefield for raw online gameplay.

  • chalkyQUAKER #2 7 months ago

    Game of the week? i can't get a bloody game, fucked up launch of the week more like.

  • artibeus #3 7 months ago

    @chalkyQUAKER Quite a lot of the big named games have teething problems, it's not just BF3. No problems so far on PC though :)

  • weebl #4 7 months ago

    It's just as well that Zumba Fitness didn't release a sequel this week or it would have been oh-so different.

  • chalkyQUAKER #5 7 months ago

    @artibeus I'm playing on the PC (or trying to) been trying since noon yesterday, played for about 40mins in total. Worst PC launch since Bad Company 2. There are thousands having problems trying to get a game on the PC. From what I've seen it is stunning, but 40 mins play in hours of trying is weak.

  • arcam #6 7 months ago

    I was also trying from about 2pm yesterday, but couldn't even play single player because the activation servers were down. But at 11pm it activated, and I proceeded to play about 6 hours without a single crash (except sometimes at the end of a rotation) and on servers that were lag free.

    My experience has been surprisingly good so far - I am making sure to choose a good low ping server from the list instead of using quick match.

    Eurogamer platoon here btw: http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/platoon/2832655391300869590/

  • patchbox360 #7 7 months ago

    don't understand how a game can be put down for being like MW in SP but MW will be commended for being itself. they are both the same experiences

  • aphex187 #8 7 months ago

    Been playing since monday via VPN and i'm not sure why you can't get a game what with the numerous servers and the copious amounts of different modes to play it's been spot on to get a game!? PC here btw ;)

  • Al_Swearengen #9 7 months ago

    I was so excited for BF3 but after 2 days and not being able to play one single multiplayer game I'm pretty much done with it.
    Getting a refund tomorrow.

  • DrStrangelove #10 7 months ago

    Accidentally, I just read on German news site Spiegel Online (spiegel.de) that authorities are investigating because Origin seems to seriously violate data privacy laws. It's already called commercial spyware. Curious how this will turn out.

  • apoc_reg #11 7 months ago

    I'm looking forward to playing the multi tonight.... really hope despite the wasted hours of development on chasing a linear corridor set piece fest like cod which I could not care less about that the multi remains true to Battlefield.
    Edited by apoc_reg at 28/10/11 @ 21:23

  • hulkamania78 #12 7 months ago

    I don't use the quick match to find a game. I go into the SERVER BROWSER and go from there some you can't connect but u can find a game really easy(xbox360).

  • metalangel #13 7 months ago

    And that's your first week on the new Eurogamer. Eventful, wasn't it? We hope you're settling in OK.
    It runs so slowly and badly on my iPhone, is almost unbearable on my computer due to the bad new layout and ill thought out organization of articles into that "popular now" nonsense... harrowing and unpleasant rather than eventful. I don't feel like settling in so much as being pushed out of somewhere I was already comfy.

  • chalkyQUAKER #14 7 months ago

    @aphex187 I managed to play for an hour last night and now I cannot get a game. The official forums are full of people who cannot play. I have tried 100's of servers and no luck, all different game modes and maps and also co op. Game has been re-installed twice now, updated Punkbuster and still no luck. Everything EA suggest I do I have done. The hour I had last night was stunning though, just wish I could play now as I have some free time.

  • Daeltaja #15 7 months ago

    Have to agree for once, Battlefield 3's online component is simply outstanding. Yes there are some kinks to iron out, but it's plain to see that DICE have done a mighty job here. It feels like war, the visuals are unmatched, sound is frightingly realistic and the gunplay is impeccibly solid.

    You'd have to pay me to stick in the Single Player disc, I might even sell it on for a tenner.

    Otherwise, well deserved DICE, I can see more people holding onto their copies once MW3 gets released, than I originally predicted.

    Now, to find out how to get onto Battlelog! :<

  • Nephirion #16 7 months ago

    What we now is the patch of the week ...

  • Billybob21 #17 7 months ago

    Wait a minute. Surely you mean "A game of two halves?"

  • handsonhips101 #18 7 months ago

    What's instore for next week regarding battlefield eurogamer?

  • MattEdWithCheese #19 7 months ago

    Heard it was crap on consoles and my pc won't run it so I'll be avoiding like the plague...

  • steviepunk #20 7 months ago

    "but a glance at the new Popular Now section of the homepage, at any point this week, would tell you where gamers' heads are currently at."

    Would a factor in that be that there have been around a dozen (or more) BF3 articles published, but only 1 for Daytona?

    As for game of the week, I haven't played anything from this week (unless you count Daytona in the arcades years ago), so can't really comment on the choice.

  • uk-kob #21 7 months ago

    "as games increasingly fragment into single and multiplayer components, how do you respond when half of a major release thrills you, and the other half leaves you cold?"
    i wouldn't call the campaign of BF3 half of the game, its just an added bonus, most people like myself will play and finish the campaign in 5 hours, and spend 10s or even hundreds of hours on line.
    Edited by uk-kob at 29/10/11 @ 17:54

  • Drygore #22 7 months ago

    I still find it funny that, like someone said, Eurogamer don't give the CLEARLY superior PC version a review. . . I own the PC version and have spent about 2 hours with the game on the 360. In MP they are SERIOUSLY like two different games. The pure 64 player awesomness in the PC version is like whole different game with huge maps. Plus, DICE themselves said that the PC version on low is comparable to the console version (still looking great though).

    The console version is great, but it annoys me that they don't review the PC version as well. As it's clearly better.

    For the first time in a long while we get a game developed for the PC from ground up, a game that is, without a doubt, better on PC (especially in mp), then we get a review of the 360 version?

    Dont get me wrong, im not complaining about the score (8 is nice), but since the PC version for once is clearly better not only in graphics department, but also gameplay-wise, it deserves a review.

    Im a bit disapointed.

    The game is truly fantastic in mp on PC, one of a kind really.

  • xero521 #23 7 months ago

    best multiplayer game ive played and honestly cant see anything getting near anytime soon! excellent online!!!

  • Cobalt_Jackal #24 7 months ago

    @MattEdWithCheese Same here. I had my doubts for a long time with reguards to BF3 on console, I was very skeptical of what DICE/EA were saying/claiming. To me it all seemed like marketing BS right from the boarding and leaving from the station of the BF3 hype train.

    And after playing the BETA and seeing whats happening post launch it seems my doubts, my skeptism and my worries have been proven right. So i guess im in the same boat as you. ^_^
    Edited by Cobalt_Jackal at 29/10/11 @ 19:21

  • riz23 #25 7 months ago

    @Cobalt_Jackal It's not crap on consoles at all. The beta was in no way representative of the real game. The hi-res textures in the full game means it looks very different from what was in the beta. The game has been out for one day, and although it's not as easy to jump into any game mode when you want, it is possible and when you do it is bloody fantastic. PC is superior no doubt, but you are not shortchanged on 360/PS3

    EDIT: oh and the maps that are not operation metro are simply stunning. the vehicles.. the upgrades.. lovely..
    Edited by riz23 at 29/10/11 @ 22:57

  • metallicorphan #26 7 months ago

    EA's excuse that the servers are shit is that they didn't not anticipate so many players(which coincidentally is the same excuse they had for the past 3 BF games when the servers didn't work for the first 3 weeks)

    however EA are quick to tell us that near to 3 million copies were pre-ordered and 10 million copies have been shipped

    just sort the damn servers out EA,i have already finished your 6 hr single player game,and now want to play online!!

  • balloonman #27 7 months ago

    Post deleted at 19:41:17 13-12-2011

  • chessboxer #28 7 months ago

    Been playing on PS3 since early yesterday and I've not had a problem finding a game. I'm glad this has a server browser, the last console FPS that I remember having one was Killzone 2.

    I've dipped in and out of the campaign, it's ok so far but I'm not impressed with infinitely spawning enemies. Will try and finish it before Uncharted 3 arrives.

  • king26 #29 7 months ago

    Certainly can't wait to have this, but with limited funds and Uncharted 3 out in next few days Battlefield 3 will be my tastey Xmas pressie

  • ballshock #30 7 months ago

    Seriously how can anyone be complaining about servers, there's always problems on every major release for the first few days , COD has and will have the same problems too.

  • metallicorphan #31 7 months ago

    @ballshock except Call of duty doesn't use servers,and i can't remember having any problems as bad as every BF release

  • theirongiant #32 7 months ago

    EA do seems to be improving, you couldn't get a game of 1943 for 3 days, BC2 for 2 days, at least with BF3 you could get a game here and there on launch. I reckon by the time we see BF4/BC3 EA might have cottoned on the the fact that being cheap bastards and not having enough servers on day 0 is only hurting their games.

  • CFacto #33 7 months ago

    Hugely disappointed that I couldn't reliably get into a game with a friend on launch day on xbox. I can get into games on my own no problem but this game is team-based. They had the same problems with BC2 (some still exist) and the BF3 beta so they were aware and should have ironed this crap out before launch.

    I'm away for a week. If I come back and it's still not working, BF3 is getting traded in for MW3. I don't want to buy it - it will be far less interesting and have nothing new, but at least party matchmaking will work at launch.

  • username84 #34 7 months ago

    I'm enjoying the single player so far. Obviously it's mainly about MP but think they've done a good job.

  • username84 #35 7 months ago

    @CFacto I expect it wont take them long to sort it out. Your right though it is annoying.