Battlefield 6 Open beta impression

[FakeSympathy]

Well, it has been too long since Battlefield was set in modern era.

EA/DICE (now called Battlefield Studios) experimented with BF Hardline, and failed. They did really well with BF1, then dropped the major balls with BFV and BF2042. Fans understandably had a cautious excitement when it was announced, including me. Open beta is here, and it has left me with a lot of thoughts

First, you will be hit with a super long queue; I was at 201,960th place. It took me about 15 min to even get to the main menu.

Annnndddd I was hit with one of the worst UIs I've ever seen. I mean just take a look at this.



With the big ass computer screen in the back, the menu screen was sometimes really hard to tell what I was looking at. It feels like it was designed to draw non-BF shooter games players.

But what about the actual gameplay? To answer the question everyone has, Yes, this is truly the return to the formula. A large-scale, open space battle with shit blowing left and right and buildings coming down. Every gun feels really fun to use.

They did remove the specialists, and returned to the class system.... in the name only. You see, in beta you are stuck with the guns and gadgets that seem class-specific. However, the devs stated that all classes can use all weapons and gadgets, except for very small number of signature abilities and gadgets. For example, Assault class as a gadget called weapon sling, which let's them carry two primary weapons. Recon is the only class with the ability to hold breath when aiming down with sniper rifle. Everyone can revive teammates, but only support class can use defibrillators to do it instantly. All classes have some way to damage a vehicle, but Engineers are the only ones who can really give it a punch and repair them.

While I would've loved it if more stuff were restricted to each class, I feel the intention was to create a loadout that fits your playstyle. They can be customized in-game, which makes trying out new stuff easy and fun.

As for the technical side, The game indeed looks impressive, especially when a side of a building collapses. And while there are definitely bugs and glitches, it's nowhere near as bad as BF2042 or BF4 was.

NGL, after the beta I am kinda hyped to play this game. Maybe I can re-connect with the guys I played BF3/4 with.

 

[Worgen]

While I would've loved it if more stuff were restricted to each class, I feel the intention was to create a loadout that fits your playstyle. They can be customized in-game, which makes trying out new stuff easy and fun.

There is one game mode that class restricts weapons.

I'm enjoying the beta also, grabbed the game. Really reminds me of a larger Bad Company 2, which was the last battlefield game I played because of EA bullshit.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

Right when I decided I wasn't going to bring my PC along when I move, this game drops and looks like it will be good. Sigh.

I could technically still play the beta, but I'm genuinely scared I'll enjoy it too much and just get sad once I move. Oh well! I played BF4 like 2 years after it came out, if this game is any good I can wait just as long again.

I will say though, definitely think the open weapon system is just silly. Even if there are game modes with the closed system, they clearly have the open weapons as the default and will develop the game with that in mind. I genuinely do not see what benefit the open weapon system brings.

 

[Worgen]

Right when I decided I wasn't going to bring my PC along when I move, this game drops and looks like it will be good. Sigh.

I could technically still play the beta, but I'm genuinely scared I'll enjoy it too much and just get sad once I move. Oh well! I played BF4 like 2 years after it came out, if this game is any good I can wait just as long again.

I will say though, definitely think the open weapon system is just silly. Even if there are game modes with the closed system, they clearly have the open weapons as the default and will develop the game with that in mind. I genuinely do not see what benefit the open weapon system brings.

So far in the beta, the open weapon system is fine, doesn't hurt anything.

 

[hanselthecaretaker2]

 

[Gergar12]

I love the CV-90s they showed off. Finally, some love for one of the best IFVs ever, even if I wish it had the Bradley's survivability.

 

[Worgen]

Whew, got to rank 20 and all the beta rewards I want. That was fun, wonder what will be available with the next beta and I really wonder what customization options and new weapons will be around for the full release

Really impressed by how few bugs I encountered, there were some graphical bugs but that was it, servers were solid, no crashes, hit detection looked really good, and no cheaters that I could see.

 

[FakeSympathy]

I finished beta at like rank 8. I was too focused on doing class challenges, and didn't really play to rank up.

And that's another thing I love about this series; No need to be on a killing frenzy to be at the top. Just by capturing points on conquest, repairing vehicles, reviving teammates, dropping ammo supplies, or spotting enemies gives you points for progression. I think in one of the matches my team won w/ be at like 4th place, and my KDA wasn't that even high. I did however revived so many teammates and dropped ammos for them.

I did get to control a tank once, and it was kinda hard to do. Something about camera angle, the FOV of where you are looking at, and the direction of the body of the tank?

 

[Worgen]

I did get to control a tank once, and it was kinda hard to do. Something about camera angle, the FOV of where you are looking at, and the direction of the body of the tank?

I found I really had to adjust the aim sensitivity for the tanks and its still not perfect, works well in 3rd person, but when I aim (which is already kinda disorienting) its not sensitive enough. I also need to adjust the flying, more sensitive and turn off reverse mouse movement. I really hope when it launches it has a test range for vehicles, that would really help get these settings set right and help figure out how to fly better.

 

[FakeSympathy]

Alright, beta weekend 2 is here. There are some additional challenges.

The game is still fun. But I've begun to notice some issues. Most notably, there are no real access to the rooftops of buildings. I saw a clip on reddit where someone did get to roof via glitch, where he was flung into the air. Granted those rooftop campters were a pain to deal with, but it was a strategy regardless, and there were lots of ways to take them down. Not having much rooftop access feels restrictive. IDK how people are getting up there in Cairo without glitch, but my god it's annoying.

Also, they currently have a mode called "All-out warfare", which promises to have closed weapon for each class, on large scale battle. I don't know if this is a bug, but the only game type I am getting is breakthrough or rush, none of which are large scale; both game modes are set in a closed space.

I also find suppression/spread of the guns to be really inconsistent; I got kills w/ LMG from a sniper distance, and all I had to do was fire in burst rounds. The animation clearly shows bullets spreading all over the place, yet I got a headshot kill.

The sniper rifle scope glint is still there. This was flagged by so many people in weekend 1. They are still obnoxiously bright, which not only gives away the sniper's position, but it's super annoying to anyone looking at the sniper. And because how big and bright it is, it can be hard to find the exact point of where they are. I.E. Where in the bright circle, is the enemy?

We will need to see the actual full game, but after playing a few more hours, I think BF6 FEELS like it's going back to its roots, but it's a facade. Scripted events is not just destruction, but the general flow of each match feels pre-deteremined.

IDK, the initial excitement seems to wear off quick. I mean I already wasn't going to shill $70 for this, but the beta has convinced me to move on

 

[Worgen]

Alright, beta weekend 2 is here. There are some additional challenges.

The game is still fun. But I've begun to notice some issues. Most notably, there are no real access to the rooftops of buildings. I saw a clip on reddit where someone did get to roof via glitch, where he was flung into the air. Granted those rooftop campters were a pain to deal with, but it was a strategy regardless, and there were lots of ways to take them down. Not having much rooftop access feels restrictive. IDK how people are getting up there in Cairo without glitch, but my god it's annoying.

Also, they currently have a mode called "All-out warfare", which promises to have closed weapon for each class, on large scale battle. I don't know if this is a bug, but the only game type I am getting is breakthrough or rush, none of which are large scale; both game modes are set in a closed space.

I also find suppression/spread of the guns to be really inconsistent; I got kills w/ LMG from a sniper distance, and all I had to do was fire in burst rounds. The animation clearly shows bullets spreading all over the place, yet I got a headshot kill.

The sniper rifle scope glint is still there. This was flagged by so many people in weekend 1. They are still obnoxiously bright, which not only gives away the sniper's position, but it's super annoying to anyone looking at the sniper. And because how big and bright it is, it can be hard to find the exact point of where they are. I.E. Where in the bright circle, is the enemy?

We will need to see the actual full game, but after playing a few more hours, I think BF6 FEELS like it's going back to its roots, but it's a facade. Scripted events is not just destruction, but the general flow of each match feels pre-deteremined.

IDK, the initial excitement seems to wear off quick. I mean I already wasn't going to shill $70 for this, but the beta has convinced me to move on

To me the destruction feels like it did in Bad Company 2.

 

[Worgen]

Welp, I finished unlocked all the unlocks you can earn in the beta. I do think that I would prefer weapon locked classes, or at least a limited pool of weapon types you can choose for classes. But, when we finally get the full roster in the release it might make more sense and I get the feeling each class will have more ways to individualize themselves away from others, even with unlocked weapons. So while I think I would prefer the locked weapons, I do want to see what the actual release is like before saying its bad that its unlocked.

 

[FakeSympathy]

There also aren't enough big open maps IMO.

• Empire State: Okay, the high-detailed NYC Brooklyn is cool to see. But because how tight everything is, I sometimes can't take five steps before being filled w/ lead. Poeple have figured out where the enemy team is spawning, and mows down w/ spawn kills!
• Siege of Cairo: It's alright, w/ just enough rooms for tanks and jeeps. But the narrow space once again makes me feel like I'm playing COD
• Iberian Offensive: Same comment as Cairo
• Liberation Peak: Actually open map, w/ aircraft and ground vehicles. Probably the only map that feels like a BF game.

Those are the maps in beta. But check out the description for the rest of the maps at the full release:

• Operation Firestorm: The classic Battlefield 3 map returns. Fight for control of a burning oil field with infantry, tanks, helicopters, and jets.
• Saints Quarter: A close-quarters combat map designed for fast-paced infantry-only fights, set around a fountain flanked by destructible buildings in Gibraltar’s Old Town.
• New Sobek City: Brave the heat as infantry, advance the frontline in a tank, or take to the skies in an attack helicopter. Set in a construction yard on the outskirts of Cairo’s suburbs, New Sobek City wages all-out war across construction sites and massive sand dunes.
• Mirak Valley: A prime destination for all-out warfare, Mirak Valley is the largest map at launch–a massive war-torn landscape filled with every type of vehicle.
• Manhattan Bridge: Engage in close-quarters gunplay on the streets, take to the skies in an attack helicopter, or change the flow of combat with large scale destruction.

From the description, my hunch is we will have 4 open field maps, 3 semi-open, and 2 closed quarter. I personally think Empire State and Brooklyn Bridge should've been together. For the semi-open maps, I prefer Cairo because there are streets big enough for vehicles to pass through between buildings. Iberian seems to have all the open space pushed to one side, and cram buildings to the other side of the map.

Also, NO OPEN WATER MAP! Where are the attack boats, the transport boat, and jetskies?!

To compare, BF4 had 10 maps at launch, 6 of them featuring vehicles in all fronts, 2 had open grass field for tank battles, 5 had a great balance between infantry and vehicle combat, and only 1 was truly close quarter.

To clarify, I am not bashing on CQC (no relation to Metal Gear Solid). But it really shoudln't be the focus of a BF game.

 

[Worgen]

From the description, my hunch is we will have 4 open field maps, 3 semi-open, and 2 closed quarter. I personally think Empire State and Brooklyn Bridge should've been together. For the semi-open maps, I prefer Cairo because there are streets big enough for vehicles to pass through between buildings. Iberian seems to have all the open space pushed to one side, and cram buildings to the other side of the map.

Also, NO OPEN WATER MAP! Where are the attack boats, the transport boat, and jetskies?!

To compare, BF4 had 10 maps at launch, 6 of them featuring vehicles in all fronts, 2 had open grass field for tank battles, 5 had a great balance between infantry and vehicle combat, and only 1 was truly close quarter.

To clarify, I am not bashing on CQC (no relation to Metal Gear Solid). But it really shoudln't be the focus of a BF game.

I wonder if they should have called this Bad Company 3 instead of just Battlefield. Cause to me this feels a lot like Bad Company 2, with its tighter focus and not huge maps where you can run for 5 min, not see anyone then get sniped.

 

[FakeSympathy]

So many great points made. Particularly w/ the concerns for yearly BF AND COD saturating market. Yeah, it would be great to see BF be successful again, but EA might use that has an excuse for yearly slop.

EA, you guys don't have to be A/B.

 

[BrawlMan]

So many great points made. Particularly w/ the concerns for yearly BF AND COD saturating market. Yeah, it would be great to see BF be successful again, but EA might use that has an excuse for yearly slop.

EA, you guys don't have to be A/B.

Don't trust a guy like that. I know him. He's part of the alt-right grift and he is really sexist. Whatever "points" Endy has, you don't need him to figure out nor tell you. Don't trust anything that man says.

 

[BrawlMan]

Here, Pat can give you better reasons to get this game or not. @FakeSympathy and @Worgen.

​

 

[FakeSympathy]

So.... Despite all the shit I've given the game, despite reaching max rank and not having much reasons to keep playing, and despite not having friends to play with, I keep coming back for more.

Probably is going to be my last comment regarding beta; Overall, this is a very promising entry to BF franchise. However, I geniuenly think the game is trying to attract fans of other competitive FPS shooters, particularly from COD. Particularly on the gunplay, in the insanely fast TTK and need to twitch reflexes. Past BF games had fast TTK, but not to this extent.

Yet, the game also encourages you to play objectively. Getting kills is only one way to earn points, and capturing objectives, reviving teammates, repairing/destroying vehicle, and simply letting people spawn on you gives you more. I think this kinda goes against the twitchy gameplay of COD, aka the gunplay that I have been talking about.

As such, the "Battlefield" Moments feels like killcams in COD; In BF4, my favorite moment was dropping from skyscraper in Shanghai, stole a tank, got some kills, got out to pick up a recon kit w/ c4, placed them on the tank that I was just driving, then blew it up once an enemy tried to drive away. THAT'S the sort of BF moment I was expected.

Here? Mowed down enemy team and got 14 kills, then I died, came back to the spot I was just at, fired a rocket to get a single kill.

And that's just...kinda sad. Why is BF trying to appeal to COD community? Not that COD community is gonna give a shit about BF6. FFS, EA is even announcing F2P battle royale mode

https://insider-gaming.com/battlefield-6-battle-royale-confirmed

Will I be paying full $70 at launch? Fuck no!
Will I be paying full $70 after first few waves of patches/updates? Fuck no!
Will I be paying discounted price after a few months?..... Maybe.

 

[Worgen]

Here? Mowed down enemy team and got 14 kills, then I died, came back to the spot I was just at, fired a rocket to get a single kill.

Thats it? My fav moment from this beta was being in the light tank in the villa level and driving around with a couple engineers on top and one or two following me and capturing point after point and utterly destroying any enemy player who managed to come close. This continued for most of the match till they finally worked together better and managed to not only do multiple rockets but also hit me with 2 of those anti-tank missile mines. That ended my rampage.. till another tank spawned.

And that's just...kinda sad. Why is BF trying to appeal to COD community? Not that COD community is gonna give a shit about BF6. FFS, EA is even announcing F2P battle royale mode

I really don't get this statement, it doesn't feel like cod, it feels like Bad Company 2.

 

[FakeSympathy]

I really don't get this statement, it doesn't feel like cod, it feels like Bad Company 2.

IDK, I just watched some gameplay from BC2 to job my memor

None of the maps looks as closely-knit as the likes of Cairo or Iberian. Builds can also be razed faster and more complete compared to what I saw in BF6.

Speaking of Cairo, Dear BF Studio; Either make the rooftops more accessible, make them a Killzone, make the rooftops collapsable, or give us weapons/gadgets that drops from sky, like the Mortal from BF3. I saw a ladder in one of the trailers, and I hope it can extend to rooftop. Because once again, snipers up there are nearly impossible to kill.

Recoils and fire rates also need to be corrected, because I swear I couldn't tell the difference between ARs, LMGs, and SMGs other than their sound effects and mag size. I think the TTK might feel fast because the spread in these guns are similarly small.

Grenades and Rockets could use a buff; Those used to be super fun to clear out traps and ambushes. Grenades especially, had reason for being hard to resupply once you used them in BF4. And RPGs.... IDK, if they are so good at taking out vehicles, why does it suck at blowing up a side of building, or cause splash damage to infantry?