Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome Review

Review - EA's quick sharp expansion for BF1942 arrives on our desks, and Martin promptly steals it

Version tested: PC

In the four months or so since our review of Battlefield 1942, the game has fast become one of the most popular multiplayer games in existence. Obviously seeing a prime opportunity to make a bit of extra cash on the back of this tremendous success, EA have seen fit to furnish fans with the Road to Rome expansion pack - can it successfully pick up where DiCE left off with the original BF1942, or is it more of a pathetic stumble in a vague forward kind of direction?

Did someone say this was an expansion?

r2r01

The original set of maps included with BF1942 haven't aged particularly - the experience is still just as exhilarating as it was on release, perhaps even more so with the tweaks introduced by the recent patch. The single player game has become a legitimate and worthwhile feature with the introduction of some semblance of intelligence in the AI controlled soldiers, small arms have an actual use these days, you can't be sniped with a machine gun from hundreds of feet away any more, and everybody is generally happy. So what are we getting with Road to Rome that makes it a worthwhile purchase, when we're quite happy with what we've got?

Well, EA's official feature list says it all: six new maps from the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. Eight new vehicles including the German BF-110 and British Mosquito fighter bombers, British and Italian tanks, and anti-tank guns. Two new fighting forces: the French legionnaires and Italian forces. Three new weapons including a rifle grenade launcher, the British Sten SMG, and bayonets. And that's your lot, basically. Frankly, a compliment of six maps and some extra toys is pathetic, and does not constitute an "expansion" in my mind. Eight "new" vehicles may seem a significant boost, but to call them "new" is stretching the meaning of the word, as they don't particularly bolster the game with fresh new vehicles, they're effectively new models for existing ones with tweaked off-ence and defence statistics.

This isn't to say the content here is by any means bad; the maps that have been included are fantastic for the most part. Monte Cassino in particular warrants a special mention for creating such a frenetic and tense battle, as French forces attempt to storm Germans entrenched within a monastery, all the while the crack of thunder mixes with the booming of anti-tank shells. With a relentless assault on the part of the Allies, and strong defensive positions for the Germans, it's a battle that could swing either way very easily. It's this type of map that reminds us why we loved BF1942 in the first place; it really feels like you're part of a war. This is easily the strongest map in the pack, although hardly worth the admission price alone, and some of the other maps pale in comparison, with the Anzio and Salerno missions coming across as particularly weak.

Milky milky

r2r02

So we have a curious problem here. The content is actually really very good; the new models are great, the new forces have, er... pretty uniforms and funny accents, most of the six (six!) maps are excellent, and of course there are the bayonets - cool. The single player game, with the addition of the extra missions, feels a little fuller than before, but is it worth the money for an expansion that doesn't particularly, well, expand?

With the mod community still in its infancy and a noticeable lack of extra missions available on the internet, it seems wise for hardcore Battlefield addicts to grab a copy if only to satiate their cravings for a while, and that's who it seems sensible to recommend this patch - sorry - pack to. Then again, you're not going to pass up the opportunity to play it even if I tell you to. For the rest of you casual players, unless you've really got £18 burning a hole in your wallet, it would probably be wise to steer clear if only to show EA that this kind of blatant cash-in is pretty unacceptable.

This is the sort of content that should be made available to faithful customers absolutely gratis, and it's a shame EA feel the need to charge their swelling community for the privilege of getting their hands on a smattering of new missions and models which should have been in the game in the first place. Meanwhile, Digital Extremes today releases a six map pack for UT2003 - for free. Then again, if you're prepared to fork out your hard earned for a patch, be my guest.

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy

Comments (92) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Tiitiz #1 9 years ago

    Don't care, ill still buy it :p
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #2 9 years ago

  • ssuellid #3 9 years ago

    Its £18? Bit of a rip as its only $20 in the states.
  • Nemesis #4 9 years ago

    It's EA as in Eternal Add-ons.

    But if you're a fan, well it's a no-brainer. You got more with the MOHAA expansion so it's a little mean.

    I'll wait; still trying to suss out the main game.
  • Tiitiz #5 9 years ago

    Got hooked on this game again since upgrading my PC. Runs sooo sweet and looks amazing :D
  • Merefield #6 9 years ago

    I agree with the review score.

    It's all a bit tight. 6 maps!?!?!?

    Once the mod community gets into the swing of things this expansion will look really bad value.

    I, however, am also a complete sucker for this game and to be honest, this will cost me less than one visit to the bar near work...
  • pjmaybe #7 9 years ago

    Heh...

    Expected a review of this ilk...

    Laugh about it is that some of the mods around are A) amazing and B) totally free. So as long as there's a modding community like Desert Storm chucking out good product we still get a good deal as BF1942 players.

    EA have always been like this though. Always will too.

    Peej
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #8 9 years ago

    Yeah, but Errol's going to have my ass! And I don't mean that in a good way.
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #9 9 years ago

    "expecting them to work for free after the game is realesed?"

    Who says they're working for free?
  • Mr_Sleep #10 9 years ago

    "And I don't mean that in a good way."

    Could that ever be in a good way? ;)
  • Merefield #11 9 years ago

    Good point Dotty.

    But perhaps the pricing could have been slightly more competitive...

    However, let's support 1942 and the quality game that it is.
    Edited by Merefield at 31/01/03 @ 14:03
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #12 9 years ago

    Of course they're getting paid, that's why they sell the game in shops. Don't be absurd.
  • Errol #13 9 years ago

    I presume the review score has more to do with the percieved 'value' of the expansion pack, then the actual gameplay ?

    However, to me, any addition such as this is a worthy one, and £18 is not a lot to pay for beautifully hand crafted maps, which have also been playtested a lot to ensure balance etc.

    The inclusion of tanks with protected machinegun turrets will make a BIG difference to the game as well. Bayonets are, as you rightfully say, cool; as are the new nations (france/italy).

    This pack, together with the imminent release of patch 1.3 should ensure that bF1942 continues to grow.

    I look forward to the next expansion pack, and also the release of a level editor !
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #14 9 years ago

    "I presume the review score has more to do with the percieved 'value' of the expansion pack, then the actual gameplay ?"

    I stated as much in the review.
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #15 9 years ago

    "Well their orgininal game pays of their original work."

    No. Developing games is their job. They earn royalties for games until the games stop selling. They don't stop earning money because they have moved onto developing expansion packs. Think about it.
  • Dirtbox #16 9 years ago

    Good review, Mouse. EA are stinking rotten scoundrals etc etc. Oddly there's no sign of Errol to make any noise about that well average score.

    Still think it deserved a 7...
  • Errol #17 9 years ago

    Your review was excellent, by the way. And I agree with the points you made. However, I think the cheapness of the pack, outweighs the problems with its size.

    Think of the hours of fun that will come from just these 6 maps. If you get only 18hrs of enjoyment from it, it will have been £1 an hour well spent !
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #18 9 years ago

    Think about how much the original game cost you Errol, then think about how much you get with this expansion pack. It just doesn't add up.
  • pjmaybe #19 9 years ago

    "Yeah, but Errol's going to have my ass! And I don't mean that in a good way."

    Er, I don't think there *IS* a good way...!

    Peej

  • FWB #20 9 years ago

    This is the sort of content that should be made available to faithful customers absolutely gratis

    Entirely. Why do you think the map editor isn't out yet?

    I'll be buying it anyway, although I won't be happy. Changing the freakin' French at Casino. They didn't take it.

    /Goes to sulk in a corner
  • Errol #21 9 years ago

    Mouse - maybe not. Still, for the fun I will get from it, the price seems fair.
  • Merefield #22 9 years ago

    Yep and the really great thing about playing 1942 is that it means you are too busy to play (and pay for) some of the rubbish that is being released at the mo
  • Dirtbox #23 9 years ago

    I agree with Mouse in that other games have far far more for free. Its a rip off on EA's part because they just don't seem to have a clue about how to relax their grip on their software.
  • Merefield #24 9 years ago

    Yeah, but on the plus side, if 1942 is a commercial success it will encourage EA to invest in more classics like this one.
  • ReGuRgIt8oR #25 9 years ago

    Well I'll be getting it asap.

    It didn't really matter what the review said or score was. It's the value I give to the original game which makes it this way for me.

    I enjoy the original game enough that I want such official maps etc to enable me to play across the widest range of BF servers.

    I'll probably even get it for Xbox (if it ever arrives) simply so I can have a fix in the living room.
  • Errol #26 9 years ago

    Happy, Happy

    Joy, Joy
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #27 9 years ago

    "how do you know that EA didn't 'underprice' BF1942 just because they had future add-ons in mind"

    Because it costs roughly the same price as most other PC games.

    "How do you know that thoose money spent on the original game actually was enough to cover 4-5 years of development?"

    Please, this is EA we're talking about.

    "you gotta look at the value of the pack, of the content - instead of just comparing it to the original game."

    The score is based on value, the review is based on fact. End of story.
  • Rusta #28 9 years ago

    Dotty is right on this one, however I'd prefer to have a free patch.

    When's it out?
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #29 9 years ago

  • Whizzo #30 9 years ago

    Oh no I'll not bother now! Er hold on no I will, it's probably overpriced but considering how much entertainment BF1942 continues to provide I don't think I'll be able to resist. That and I've wanted to pilot a Mossie for years in a battle (even if it wrongly only has one seat).

    UT2003 having a bunch of maps today given away free doesn't bother me, I don't like the game.
    Edited by Whizzo at 31/01/03 @ 14:51
  • Errol #31 9 years ago

    I love BF1942, and I love UT2003. The extra UT2003 maps are not a 'bonus' as far as I am concerned. They are necessary. The maps that shipped with the original game were crap (except Antalus, asbestos etc). Compare this to the amazing BF1942 maps !

  • Errol #32 9 years ago

    Oh, and Mouse - can I have your ass now ?
  • pjmaybe #33 9 years ago

    "Yeah, but on the plus side, if 1942 is a commercial success it will encourage EA to invest in more classics like this one."

    Oh you can bet your ASS that they will be churning out BF1942 game after BF1942 game. They've even supposedly canned the console versions just to concentrate on the development of more PC versions. So it'll be like the FIFA / Sims series all over again methinks.

    Not a bad thing if they do something about tidying up the engine and sorting the shitty single player experience out.

    peej
  • Merefield #34 9 years ago

    Yeah, Peej, any bets on the title?!

    "Battlefield 1943"?

    i.e. the new marketing formula:

    "Battlefield " & PresentYear - 60

    Man, those EA marketing guys are creative! LOL
    Edited by Merefield at 31/01/03 @ 16:36
  • UncleLou #35 9 years ago

    They'll have a problem from 2006 on then though.
  • Errol #36 9 years ago

    Are you a moron ? UK, germany, russian, japan and USA all feature. And TRTR expansion adds france and italy.
  • UncleLou #37 9 years ago

  • Whizzo #38 9 years ago

    And TRTR expansion adds france and italy.

    But not the Poles who took Monte Cassino not the French, who were too busy drinking wine and smoking Gitanes at the time. Probably.

    I thought I'd save FWB the typing this time! :-)
  • Errol #39 9 years ago

    The only pole around here is my enormous one.
  • Whizzo #40 9 years ago

    I really regret not using "Polish" in my previous comment now! ;-)
  • Errol #41 9 years ago

    I polish my pole often ...
  • FWB #42 9 years ago

    I thought I'd save FWB the typing this time! :-)

    Thank-you, Whizzo. I'm training you well. :)

  • Doogle #43 9 years ago

    "But not the Poles who took Monte Cassino not the French"

    What all six of them?
  • Errol #44 9 years ago

    I'll bet that Mr.Monte Cassino had severe internal injuries after being taken by that many Poles !

  • cyber_nicco #45 9 years ago

    Jeez,

    I forgot how cheap some of you are.

    Most of you complaining are probably going to pirate it anyway, so what's the difference.

    btw, Mouse, I bet you get to play most of your games for free, don't you, maybe that's why you're so out of touch.

  • Whizzo #46 9 years ago

    Most of you complaining are probably going to pirate it anyway, so what's the difference.
    It'll probably have it's own executable with another CD key so the warez route won't work.
    Edited by Whizzo at 31/01/03 @ 21:05
  • Tyronne #47 9 years ago

    the 7th is going to be a very busy day what with this ,unreal 2 and igi2 coming out on the very same day....pricey tooo.
  • Errol #48 9 years ago

  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #49 9 years ago

    "Show some damn respect"

    Sorry, did you even read the review?
  • Errol #50 9 years ago

    You'd be better off spending the money on an English grammar/spelling book.
  • FWB #51 9 years ago

    Come on Errol, let's see your comeback to that. :)
  • Royal Fool #52 9 years ago

    Of cource EPIC;s expansion is for free, the game sucks? BF1942 is at least funny enough to keep me comming back for more, each and every night - although its been out there for 6 months...

    That is purely a matter of opinion, and you know it. The thing is, Epic cares for it's fans. UT2K3's map community is starting to explode with all sorts of maps. EA decide to cash in on BF1942's fans by depriving them of a map editor of any kind and making them wait for an official expansion that adds as little as possible for the highest price tag they could get it through with.

    See the differences? Just because you find that UT2K3 sucks does not in any way mean that EA is somehow friendlier to their customers. It's the exact opposite.
  • Errol #53 9 years ago

    Why would it get deleted ?
  • Khab #54 9 years ago

    Ok, I will if u write comment's i Swedish next time.

    I'll take you up on that, I will.

    Så: Gräv fram din engelskabok från mellanstadiet och börja läs. I am, You are, he/she/it is...
  • Errol #55 9 years ago

    Got any swedish bints going spare ?
  • Errol #56 9 years ago

    You're not a beautiful blonde swedish girl are you ?
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #57 9 years ago

    *shoots a glance at Errol*
  • Errol #58 9 years ago

    Sorry, I just have a 'thing' about Swedish women ...
  • FWB #59 9 years ago

    Sorry, I just have a 'thing' about Swedish women ...

    We all know you don't need the word "Swedish" in there.

  • Errol #60 9 years ago

    And Australian ones ...
  • Royal Fool #61 9 years ago

    Is it really that Much??? Seems worth it if helps keep servers going longer and gets more people to buy the game....Hope this post doesn't get deleted...


    1. EA doesn't run the servers, methinks.
    2. Addons are meant for the current userbase, although they do have a tendency to sell some original games too.
    3. Of course it will get deleted, you know the rules here, no?
  • pjmaybe #62 9 years ago

    Just watched a multiplayer game...

    15+ guys sitting there on the airfield on Wake Island, all waiting for planes.

    Gee, really great use of a multiplayer game there, arseholes!!!! (great target for the big ship gun though! HEHE!)

    Plane campers are just that - plain camp!

    Peej
  • Whizzo #63 9 years ago

    EA doesn't run the servers, methinks.
    It's got their name plastered over lots of them so it is a least responsible for them.
  • Whizzo #64 9 years ago

    Plane campers are just that - plain camp!
    What's almost is bad is plane campers who then get a plane and can't actually fly very well.

    More servers should have Coral Sea in the rotation, everyone gets a chance to fly if they want, others can protect the carrier either with AA or stoping downed enemy pilots getting on board and commando types can sneak their way to islands near the carriers and snipe.
  • pjmaybe #65 9 years ago

    Actually, worse than Plane / Tank campers are plane campers who take off then ditch the plane on purpose so no one else can use it! Yeah, great move cheesedick!

    Any one know how Road to Rome installs? Do you run it as a separate entity to BF1942? Or will there be dedicated road to rome servers?

    Peej
  • FWB #66 9 years ago

    What's almost is bad is plane campers who then get a plane and can't actually fly very well.

    Yep. A huge pain in the ass. Esepcially as they run you over trying to take off. Or even more annoying, they grab a tank or car at the start just to get to the plane. It means I have to tramp across the base to pick up the transport.

    Any one know how Road to Rome installs? Do you run it as a separate entity to BF1942? Or will there be dedicated road to rome servers?

    No idea, but I would imagine it'll be exactly the same for multiplayer (no additional *.exe). Patch 1.3 is going to allow non-R2R owners to play with those who have the addon, just not on the new maps. If that's the case I can't see there being a seperate loading up system.



  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #67 9 years ago

    It basically functions as a mod, much like Half-Life mods work in that you can either launch it from a shortcut or you run BF1942 and select it from the "custom games" menu. Servers running the mod specifically have little round symbols next to them.
  • Whizzo #68 9 years ago

    I thought the patch was the other way around, allowing RtR owners play on non-RtR servers? If so that would point to a new executable, something that would be needed if it's got another CD key, otherwise people could just copy the new map and unit files too easily. I could be wrong though, it does happen! A bit too often for my liking too... ;-)
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #69 9 years ago

    There isn't a seperate executable.
  • FWB #70 9 years ago

    The next question, I assume the EG shop is not going to stock it, so where is a good place to order and be assured of getting it on the day (I think this Fri is going to be my only "free" night this weekend) other than the stores?
  • Whizzo #71 9 years ago

    There isn't a seperate executable.

    Wahey I'm wrong! :-P

    Is there a seperate CD key though? If not what's going to stop thing being pirated a lot?
  • pjmaybe #72 9 years ago

    The CD key will probably come into play when the thing's being installed...ie you shove the CD in and the first thing it'll ask for is a serial number.

    Peej
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #73 9 years ago

    you shove the CD in and the first thing it'll ask for is a serial number

    Yep.
  • Errol #74 9 years ago

    I ordered from gameplay. Should get it on release day hopefully.
  • gizmo #75 9 years ago

    me too - sometimes a day or so early from them :)
  • Royal Fool #76 9 years ago

    Everyone in my clan and every clan I know will be buying RtR. I've also found most of the free content for bf42 to be extremely amateurish and buggy

    Which is exactly why the community needs a real map editor.

    For extra credit, here's the conspiracy theory: EA is holding back the map editor until it sells off RtR enough to recoup dev costs. Imagine those dirty bastards wanting to get paid for their work. Bastards.

    With all the success that BF1942 has had since release, you'd think EA would find it financially plausible to just release the editor. Lord knows I'd buy an official expansion pack rather than download a mod made by fans, but EA is not even presenting fans with the oppurtunity to create mods. They just want to suck people dry.
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #77 9 years ago

    "I just want to know if it's a quality product."

    Sigh. Read the review again. I SAID that the content included is good, I DID review what is included in the pack. The reason it's rated low is because there isn't enough of it. If you were to go out and pay £20 for a standalone game with the same amount of content, you'd be pissed off, no matter how good that content might be.
  • Whizzo #78 9 years ago

    EA is holding back the map editor until it sells off RtR enough to recoup dev costs.

    I don't know about map editors being available or not but there are 3rd party maps out there for BF1942, I downloaded some yesterday.
  • Khab #79 9 years ago

    A review should cover the software at hand with as little of the reviewer's opinions as possible. Just because you think it should be free doesn't mean jack squat to me, I just want to know if it's a quality product.

    You, sir, are a tosser.

    If the reviewer of the product says, that IN HIS OPINION, it isn't worth the rather hefty amount asked, then OBVIOUSLY he doesn't feel it to be quality enough.

    And a review is always an opinion. In fact, EVERYTHING'S an opinion - nothing can be completely objective. So go ¤"&%"¤% yourself.

  • gizmo #80 9 years ago

    Hey, Don't forget the Coral Sea map was free content.
  • Errol #81 9 years ago

  • Errol #82 9 years ago

    I agree completely.
  • pjmaybe #83 9 years ago

    "Which is exactly why the community needs a real map editor."

    I disagree that the BF1942 community needs a map editor. If a game is really easily editable, you find the whole community gets absolutely flooded with badly put together poorly finished maps. Same goes for mods. I'd rather wait for good official content and I don't really mind paying for it as it will be widely supported, rather than just take my chances with a bunch of substandard maps and mods that a bunch of idiots put together.

    Peej
  • mouse Verified Graphic designer, Eurogamer Network #84 9 years ago

    "And if you expect professional programmers to work for free"

    When did I say this? Why do people seem to think I did? And, once again, they aren't working for free, they're earning money from BF1942 already, and that money isn't going to spontaneously stop coming in any time soon.
  • Errol #85 9 years ago

    A map editor would lead to a lot of '2 forts' style symetrical maps. Only about 5% of user maps would be anywhere near the standard of the pro maps.
  • t0sh #86 9 years ago

    I'll probably be getting this when it comes out - i've played the other maps so much, and I could do with a change! :-)

    It does seem that they've just rushed the recent patch out to coincide with this release. In the main its ok, except my housemates computer crashes to desktop if someone joins his LAN game :-/ My main gripe is STILL the complete lack of a Linux server. If EA/Dice want people to buy the game and expand the community they should learn to properly support online gaming. The Windows server has improved slightly, but that doesn't mean anything to the many Linux server ops who have the potential to run online servers. They blamed the delay of 1.2 partially on developing the Linux server, but even after 1.3 and the upcoming release of a mission pack there is nothing to be seen.

    As I said, i'll buy the expansion, but I don't expect anything than half-hearted support for the product line. Sigh.
  • Whizzo #87 9 years ago

    A beta Linux server has been around for quite a while, it's still being worked on though, you can download the latest version from places like 3DGamers.
  • pjmaybe #88 9 years ago

    Dude, he said linux...! Hahahahahahahhahahaha!


    Peej
  • Errol #89 9 years ago

    Got my copy of TRTR this am..

    Will play test it tonight !!
  • Errol #90 9 years ago

    My review - (see forum for thread)

    I managed to install and play this game for about 1/2 and hour at lunchtime. Below are my thoughts.


    The installation process was totally painless, and I loaded the game using my original BF1942 shortcut (with TRTR cd in the drive).

    I played a few maps (anzio, salerno I think), and I have to say, I am staggered. The quality of the maps is awesome - far more impressive than anything seen in the original game, in my opinion. There seems to be far more detail; in terms of the number of buildings, trees, barricades, canals etc etc. It might just be my imagination, but the graphics also seem clearer.

    Now to the vehicles. The new tanks are excellent. The protected machine-gun positions really do make a massive diference. The twin engined bombers are aso very good - being very powerful but yet still fairly manouverable (from my brief experience of them). The fixed anti-tank guns, are a welcome addition. Providing mayhem on a large scale.

    The Italian and French forces have excellent sounds (voices), and their weapons (ie the new italian assault rifle) is a masterpiece. I love it (especially the wonderful sound that eminates from its death spitting barrel).

    Rather oddly, the installation of the TRTR seems to have cured any sound bugs etc that I had with 1.3 as well ! Also the internet play seems even smoother than before.

    In conclusion, I would say this - If you own BF1942 buy The Road to Rome. If you don't own BF1942 (and you have broadband), buy the original game and the expansion; it will provide you with probably the most addictive, complete and compelling onlin play since Counter-strike/Tribes 2 etc.

    In response to Mouse's review of this title, I would say this - If this pack cost £30.00, I would buy it. If this pack (with only 6 maps) was a complete game (ie. pretend BF1942 never existed) I would buy it. The quality is that good. It is nothing short of sensational.

    It is my opinion, that in the years to come, people will look back on the BF1942 series (for this is what it will surely become) as being a landmark title in the evolution of online multiplayer games.

    - Errol 6/2/2003
  • Errol #91 9 years ago

    Official statement from EA/Dice re. the 1.3 patch -

    2/6/03

    Update: Battlefield 1942 v1.3 Patch

    Since releasing the v1.3 patch two days ago we've kept our ears open, our browsers pointed to several key community sites, and clipboards at our side taking notes. We understand there are a few issues with the current patch and we're working hard to resolve them. Naturally this process takes time so we ask that you bear with us while we work on the next update. We are committed to releasing this update in short order. Details to follow soon.

    EAComMike and the rest of the Battlefield 1942 team!
  • Dorag_kid #92 7 years ago

    well its great haha ill get it for sure!!!!!!!!