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Battlefield 3: End Game










The dirt bike will be a staple of any encounter. Able to carry two people (the driver and one passenger), the bikes are very quick and surprisingly agile. They are without doubt the quickest mode of transport in End Game and are essential in Capture The Flag, one of the two new play modes introduced in the expansion. The aforementioned jumps liberally stretch the laws of physics, and allow for plenty of opportunity to fly through the air. The other vehicles introduced are the HMMVW and Vodnic anti-aircraft jeeps (for the US and Russian forces respectively), both suitable to take on air and ground based weaponry but susceptible to mines and propelled rockets.

Of the two returning modes introduced in End Game, Capture The Flag (last seen in Battlefield 2: Modern Combat) will be where the majority of time is spent. As the name suggests, the objective is to capture the opposing force’s flag whilst at the same time preventing your own from being taken. Yet Battlefield 3 offers its own take on the mode’s standard tropes. A flag capture cannot be scored while the enemy has your flag, meaning that offense can often be the best form of defense. This can lead to some tense stand-offs where both flags have been taken, and teams must weigh up the risks of attempting to recapture their own flag versus leaving the flag carrier undefended. Yet even killing the flag carrier isn’t enough. When dropped, a captured flag has a timer (similar to Conquest) which must fill before the flag is returned. These twists on an already intense mode keep things fresh and entertaining.


Air Superiority is the other mode returning in End Game, having last been included in downloadable title Battlefield 1943. The enjoyment to be gained from it is directly proportional to how proficient one is with jet combat. Playing out much like Conquest, players will vie for control of blimps in much the same way as its sister mode. Put directly into the jet, with no form of ground or other vehicle combat, Air Superiority has the potential to excite and frustrate in equal measure. Those with little skill in aviation combat might want to steer clear, as dying is an all too regular occurrence for inexperienced pilots.

End Game provides a more than fitting conclusion to Battlefield 3. The fifth expansion is on par with, if not surpassing, the other offerings. The four maps each bring the core Battlefield experience to the fore, and the expansion is the better for it. While Air Superiority can be hit or miss, Capture The Flag more than makes the price of admission worthwhile and should continue to keep battle hardened veterans busy for many months to come.

8 out of 10

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