Battlefield Vietnam Preview

Online gaming goes rock and roll.

Now we've got the business of shooting Nazis in the face out of the way, it's only logical that gamers should want to spend hours online working out where the Yanks went wrong in South East Asia. Whatever Napalm smells like first thing in the morning, EA wants to make sure we breathe it deep into our lungs.

In what is tantamount to the first rock and roll online game, Battlefield Vietnam was shown off for the fist time to slavering journalists at 'Camp' EA and the game has surely, along with Half Life 2, already secured the future of PC gaming as we know it.

BF on acid

'Battlefield Vietnam' Screenshot 1

Despite being acknowledged as one of the greatest multiplayer experiences in the history of humanity, never mind gaming, BF 1942 wasn't much more than 'quite good' in the visual stakes. Let's just say that Digital Illusions' Canadian studio has made up for that in the sequel with a whole new engine that depicts the Vietnam jungle as the kind of claustrophobic hellhole that every Lysergic Acid Diethylamide soaked Hollywood movie nightmare threatened it would be.

For the (in)sane of brain, and the geek of speak, think sweat sodden dense tropical foliage rendered in jaw dropping detail, specular lighting falling dynamically on every intricately crafted weapon, the bump-mapped surfaces on the tread of your Jeep's tyres, and even the perilously thin straps of your inhumanly heavy pack. It's terrifying trench warfare played out to the backdrop of late 60s rock music, the jarring rattle of automatic weapons, the roar of Hueys walloping overhead, and the desperate screams of the unfortunate many. So Hollywood.

Like it or not, the misery of a generation is now being trivialised for your entertainment, people. But that's OK, The Man says, because death sells, and anyway, it was ages ago, so it's fair game to resell human misery for our kicks. Harsh, ethically questionable, but essentially true.

We're pure evil

'Battlefield Vietnam' Screenshot 2

Anyway, being morally bankrupt has allowed us gamers to enjoy just about anything without so much as a flicker of conscience, and with that in mind, Battlefield Vietnam is a quite sensational example of the potential of warfare as entertainment.

It's wise to admit that no-one outside of DI's Canadian studio and EA has actually played BF Vietnam yet, but the physical evidence is pretty compelling so far, but you'd have to be the worst kind of Daily Mail bigot to not be able to admire the craft, passion and potential once you see this in motion.

Based on the stunning achievement that was BF1942 (admittedly woefully under-rated in EG's 2002 poll) , the gameplay once again consists of a series of team based combat duels across vast maps, with each team hoping to grind down the other by means of carefully co-ordinated sorties into the heart of each other's territories.

Conflict is a concept as old as life itself, but - as ever - the key is context, and Vietnam's a setting that's not really been used to its full potential yet. Sure, there have been a couple of jungle-based FPSs, notably Soldier of Fortune II and, more appropriately, Vietcong, but both merely teased us with pointers of the tension and drama of leafy frolics.

Hollllllywoooooooood

'Battlefield Vietnam' Screenshot 3

But like we said, EA's positioning this as a "Hollywood experience", so any hint of real human misery, excreta-tipped booby traps and the like are sidelined in favour of more conventional, or more sanitised at least. Think Hueys roaring across the skies showering Napalm on the NVA, think Vespas with armed passengers unloading lead off the back as they roar past shocked victims, think huge piles of booby trapped logs raining down a hill onto a trenchful of hapless soldiers.

Even at this relatively early stage, the ideas that DI showed off are already looking uniformly impressive. How about mobile Landing Zone points that you can dig up and airlift via your chopper wherever you please? Or the ability to airlift tanks to their destination, which can still fire while in midair and crush their victims on landing? Or cruising upside down, barely feet away from the jungle canopy, in a Mig 21 like some psycho fighter pilot?

Come on baby, light my fire

'Battlefield Vietnam' Screenshot 4

What absolutely takes the piss - for me personally at least - as such a music spod, is EA's plan to license 20 plus 'Vietnam inspired' tracks from the late '60s era to use in the game. But rather than lamely pipe the music around randomly, players will be able to blast out an as yet unknown play list as they're flying around the maps in their Hueys. And it gets better. Other players within earshot will be able to hear the strains of "Light My Fire" or whatever (here's hoping) as the chopper rains Napalm down onto its fleeing victims. Speechless.

Those expecting a tunnel-based affair will be in for a surprise, however. Given the need to accommodate vehicle based combat, DI has instead created trench-based environments that "create a highly claustrophobic world", which is obviously still wide enough in parts for you to drive through it. Not always claustrophobic, then.

In the more leafy bits, though, it's a superbly realised environment with an undergrowth rendering system that does a splendid job of allowing players to go prone and remain largely hidden. Occasionally, DI kicks back and goes all Platoon on us with abandoned temples and the like. If you're keen fans of Vietnam movies, you can bet they’ve pinched certain bits of them, however obscure.

Apparently the maps are more varied than you might imagine, with the Ho-Chi Minh trails contrasting with the city streets of Hue. We didn’t get to see these first hand, but if they're anywhere near the standard of those knocked up for the demo, they’ll be a worthy contrast.

More bragging rights for PC owners

In terms of the number of maps and weapons in the final game, DI has yet to "lock down" how many it will be supporting, but revealed the game will be demoed via a free multiplayer map prior to its Spring 2004 release. 64 players will, again, be supported, but the game will be strictly PC only, so Xbox owners can stop crossing their fingers.

Despite some obvious compromises and typically flagrant rewriting of history, Battlefield Vietnam has enough potential to go straight into your most wanted list. In the meantime, get ready for another superb add on pack for Battlefield 1942, entitled The Secret Weapons Of World War II. We played it for ages; it’s out in September, it's ace, we'll tell you about it next week.

Comments (34) Latest comment 8 years ago

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  • binky #1 9 years ago

  • Killerbee #2 9 years ago

    Based on the stunning achievement that was BF1942 (admittedly woefully under-rated in EG's 2002 poll)

    Errol's lobbying finally worked then did it? :)
  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #3 9 years ago

    It was more to do with my falling desperately in love with it earlier this year. Who's Errol? :)
  • ekko #4 9 years ago

    Get any idea of what weapons/vechicles the Vietnamese get? Any rat holes to crawl around in? The abilty to camoflage themselves with the local population? I only wonder if they can get the balance between the two sides correct due to the very different nature of this war than WWII. Good luck too them as this looks like it could be class.
  • pjmaybe #5 9 years ago

    Hmmmm....I wonder what the machine specs will be. Looks a bit too "shiny" to be proper Vietnam (where's the mud????)

    2 things I'm waiting to see if they'll do well..

    1) Punjii Stake Traps
    2) A helicopter that doesn't flip the minute you get the thing off the ground...

    Peej
  • Errol #6 9 years ago

    I told you all at the time of the EG 2002 poll - BF1942 should have been in the top 10 games. No sweat.
  • ssuellid #7 9 years ago

    Peej it says above: -
    "But like we said, EA's positioning this as a "Hollywood experience", so any hint of real human misery, excreta-tipped booby traps and the like are sidelined in favour of more conventional, or more sanitised at least"
  • Slim #8 9 years ago

    "Any rat holes to crawl around in"

    Did you actually read the text, or can you only manage to look at the purdy pictures?
  • FWB #9 9 years ago

    So its good, is it? Personally I thought it'd be, as Adam and Joe might say, carp.

    Secret Weapons is good too? Yaysus.

    And it gets better. Other players within earshot will be able to hear the strains of "Light My Fire" or whatever (here's hoping) as the chopper rains Napalm down onto its fleeing victims. Speechless.

    Sigh.
  • Errol #10 9 years ago

    Is it Will Young's version of 'Light my Fire' ?
    Edited by 1 at 11/07/03 @ 15:44
  • FWB #11 9 years ago

    Errol, be quiet before I stab you in the face with a chocolate pudding (yes, it can be done). I hate, hate, that blasphemous track. The Doors are one of the greatest bands of all time and for that cross-between-Robbie-Williams-and-the-Joker to bastardise the song.... arggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm going insane.
  • Nemesis #12 9 years ago

    Bloody Krudster, livin' it up overseas playing games and stuff. Jammy git.

    \o/ yay to BF42. I dread the system specs though. /hides wallet
    Edited by 1 at 11/07/03 @ 15:59
  • Errol #13 9 years ago

    for that cross-between-Robbie-Williams-and-the-Joker

    lol. I was only joking anyway.
  • FWB #14 9 years ago

    Ok, good.

    /Deep breath
    /Stops stirring coco powder into milk
  • pjmaybe #15 9 years ago

    "Peej it says above: -
    "But like we said, EA's positioning this as a "Hollywood experience", so any hint of real human misery, excreta-tipped booby traps and the like are sidelined in favour of more conventional, or more sanitised at least" "

    Whoah whoah, hold on there buddy - you mean you expect me to READ the articles as well as comment on them? Sheesh! Maybe in your universe, not in mine....;)

    Peej
  • SanktePer #16 9 years ago

    Yup, interesting indeed. So... Which Vietnam movie is the best?
  • FWB #17 9 years ago

    EoD is cool. Be quiet Nik before I go all Rumsfeld on you. :)

    Yup, interesting indeed. So... Which Vietnam movie is the best?

    Apocalypse Now. More than just a Vietnam film. But, TBH, there are so many that are great.... The Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam....
  • Khab #18 9 years ago

    Er, I think they lost because they couldn't secure the support of the locals, the politics made it impossible to escalate the war and invade North Vietnam, and becuase US morale turned lower and lower as the war went on?
  • Botox #19 9 years ago

    How is a Battlefield Vietnam game "Rock 'n Roll" compared to say, Battlefield 1942?

    I didn't find the massacre of Vietnamese and film remakes featuring a screeching Robin Williams rock or roll.

    And, being that journalism is part of your role, what about reference to the FREE Battlefield 1942 mod that is Eve of Destruction?
  • krudster #20 9 years ago

    Er, sorry to be a dumb schmuck journo, but I don't remember rock n roll exisitng in 1942. Does the 20 licensed music tracks give it away?
  • Botox #21 9 years ago

    "Let's kill some Asians!"
    "Rawk on!"
  • FWB #22 9 years ago

    this would be the same France that the US bailed their sorry asses out of Veitnam after Dien Bien Phu would it?

    Nice American view there. The French withdrew. They admitted defeat. They had no interest in staying (shouldn't have been there in the first place). The Americans jumped in of their own accord (hysteria of Communism) while Paris watched on and laughed (although horrifically ~1.5m people had to die).

    BTW, you do know the states lost, right? Cos you're use of the term "bail out" seems to suggest otherwise.

    The same France that'll sell fighter planes to anyone with a PayPal account?

    At least its not gas weapons they're offloading, all ready to be used on Kurds.

    The French aren't innocent, far from it, but putting the US actions in any form of light is, quite frankly, laughable.
    Edited by 1 at 14/07/03 @ 12:40
  • krudster #23 9 years ago

    Yawn. Is there a war forum for this kind of thing?
  • FWB #24 9 years ago

    Yawn. Is there a war forum for this kind of thing?

    Yeah, but you get kicked out my the American mods. If you want to be disturbed just visit a few of them or any forum linked to a wargame (the Vietcong one is a fun). Watch how people call you gypsies and comment on how they should've nuked the whole of Asia. :)
  • krudster #25 9 years ago

    Where next for the Battlefield series? Ancient history perhaps?
  • FWB #26 9 years ago

    There's a pirates (a very early version is already out) and medieval mod in the works. :) Plus, an addon map pack for DC will feature camels.
  • pjmaybe #27 9 years ago

    Moderately surprised that none of the "future battlefield" stuff came to fruition (there are a couple of mods out there that are nothing more than a few renders some suckface has done and stuck up on a website)

    Sky's the limit on what could be done if you got past the whole "tanks bullets planes" thing and started pissing around with flying saucers, ray guns and large breasted women with war axes*

    *essential to any "future war" game, in fact essential to any game full stop.


    Peej
  • Botox #28 9 years ago

    Game's publishers really are some of the most despicable people in the world outside of the Whitehouse. Then games journalists.

  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #29 9 years ago

  • Botox #30 9 years ago

    No mouse, you've lovely you are.
  • FWB #31 9 years ago

    Are you, ike989, by any chance a flag waving, nationalistic, gun loving American?
  • FWB #32 9 years ago

    Now, if the British people had really cared about the war, say if the colonies had invaded England or something like that, I assure you some serious shit would have been laid down. Same with Vietnam.

    True. V.true. But regardless of that, both powers, Britain and America, did give up and did call it quits. Still sounds like "losing" to me. The US could've nuked N.Vietnam, but the politicial fallout would've been too great.
  • Steve88 #33 8 years ago

    After many problem free hours of playing BF1942,I decided to buy BFV only to find that the video option to set from LOWEST graphics quality to HIGEST will not save out,for some strange reason it just resets to LOWEST,the other two option will save, however the quality is poor and my system can handle much more than its giving,has anyone else had this? and can anything be done?.I have all the latest drivers and have patched the game to v1.02.
  • Errol #34 8 years ago

    A bit more info on your system specs might be useful.