Battlefield V has seen some fierce competition this year. First-person shooters in their traditional form just aren’t as popular as they used to be. Battle Royale has ridden the wave and changed a lot regarding the appeal of shooters in general. Even Call of Duty decided to follow the trend and brought forth a new formula for the series in regards to Black Ops 4.

As a result, Battlefield V entered the ring as somewhat of a double-edged sword. EA’s rather odd approach to content and access shows how the company has a lot to learn from the debacle of its previous titles. For example, those willing to cough up the cash for the Deluxe Edition get access to Battlefield V almost a week in advance.

In contrast, Battlefield V is by far the most enjoyable multiplayer experience of the year. From the intense chaos, to the way the that every instance is further emphasised by the impactful combat, Battlefield V further continues the unique legacy created by Battlefield 1 when it comes to virtual war.

DICE has stuck to their guns when it comes to story-driven content and has included a new set of War Stories. The story consists of a four-part anthology that takes you across various journeys throughout World War II that hasn’t been shown in video games yet. I have to commend DICE for their ability to highlight events that haven’t been explored, considering just how many games have touched on the subject.



The War Stories themselves are amazing but I feel like the introduction featuring a performance by Mark Strong was the highlight. It left me with goosebumps even after going through it for the third time. You feel the overwhelming sensation of two sides trying to overcome the odds, the tug of war that decides the fate of their nation, and a relentless ambition to make it through the war alive. DICE’s idea to have you feel what both parties were going through was really welcomed.

What wasn’t welcomed, however, was the fact that the game lacks consistency in content. For example, you have access to three of the four-story chapters, with the fourth one locked until an update comes out in December. It wouldn’t be an issue if the game didn’t consistently remind you that Battlefield V has so much more to offer.

The heart-warming narration paired with the power of the Frostbite’s ability to create breathtaking worlds forms an even greater sense of immersion.

That being said, the missions themselves don’t feel boring. AI will rush at you any chance they get, so it provides somewhat of a challenge for those out to learn the mechanics. Voice-over performances felt down-to-Earth, with a sprinkle of cheesiness added in-between. The heart-warming narration paired with the power of the Frostbite’s ability to create breathtaking worlds forms an even greater sense of immersion. Everything from the usage of volumetric lighting to the particle effects forms an experience that remained constant throughout my playtime.

I tested Battlefield V on a PlayStation 4 and PC, which led me to believe there would be issues regarding the performance of the game. Despite many people complaining on the internet about graphical bugs, and other issues, I found next-to-no issues through my entire playthrough. Of course, any issues that do plague the game will be patched out in an update closer to launch, but it has been a mostly smooth experience.



Battlefield 1 offered a refreshing take on the franchise with its slower pace and chaotic World War I multiplayer experience. Battlefield V offers a similar feeling but removes the slower pace offered in the previous iteration.

Higher sprint speeds and smoother animations have been implemented, allowing you to traverse the map and get into the fight a lot quicker. You can use almost all artillery or vehicles littered across the map (aside from the clearly broken props) and respawn almost instantaneously on your squadmate. The gun’s recoil has been reduced, along with the fact that enemies die much faster than before. Almost everything gives you a sense that it is supposed to be a lot faster than before. That is where the rather useless healing comes into play.

Almost everything gives you a sense that it is supposed to be a lot faster than before.

Unless you’re a medic, you are limited to one healing pouch where you have to heal yourself manually. Not only does this detract from the faster gameplay, but it also makes the multiplayer feel a bit unbalanced. Healing manually is quite a tactical mechanic that forces a player to consciously pick the fights they get into. That would be a good mechanic to implement, if Battlefield V didn’t have 64 players on a single map.

That being said, they have made improvements thanks to the feedback from the beta. Ammo pickups are now plentiful, and there are even tiny drops that offer health and ammunition every time you complete an objective. It really was a smart move to add that sense of urgency. I never went into a single match where my teammates weren’t playing the objectives.



The eight maps that launch with the game are largely diverse. They offer a lot of destructible assets thanks to the Frostbite engine being put to use. I’ve encountered many buildings being completely levelled by tanks and explosives. It’s almost mesmerising to watch. Walls can be blown up completely, which creates a new alley for teammates to ambush opponents. There is never really a reason to sit still and wait for the action to come to you. The maps, along with the spawn points, allow players to always get themselves back into the action.

There are copious multiplayer modes to choose from. Starting from the 64-player Conquest mode going all the way to Battlefield V’s party piece - Grand Operations. This mode was present in Battlefield 1 as "Operations", but has since been revamped for Battlefield V. This is a narrative-driven multiplayer mode that takes you on a journey across four in-game days. Depending on how well you do in a day, it will affect the way the following day with play out.



It’s easily Battlefield V’s most ambitious mode, offering a sense of urgency that no other shooter can offer in that scale. Well, at least not in 2018. In one instance you’re sneaking behind enemy lines to destroy their anti-aircraft artillery, and the next, you’re in a bombed cathedral having to defend against your opponents. The last phase of Grand Operations shrinks the map and has the final lines on either side battling it out for victory. This does give you an idea of what Firestorm is going to feel like when it rolls out in March.



Battlefield V serves as a sonnet to the long-standing fans of the first-person shooter genre. It’s beautiful scenery and immersive gameplay is a reminder of DICE’s pedigree and proves that the company has evolved on a winning formula. While it lacks all its promised content on launch, it does have a lot of potential built around a strong foundation. It may serve as an evolution of Battlefield 1, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.