It’s safe to say the highly anticipatedBattlefield 2042hasn’t got off to the best of starts. Released in November of last year, DICE and Electronic Arts' latest installment in the popularBattlefieldfranchise was meant to be an ambitious massive-scale shooter with a purely multiplayer focus, unlike the previousBattlefieldgames. The game is set in the near-future with an array of futuristic weaponry, vehicles, and gadgets aimed to give players the most creative approach to combat the series had seen. Unfortunately, thanks to technical issues and a lack of content at launch,Battlefield 2042had a very lackluster response from fans and a mixed reception with critics.
Despite some controversies surroundingBattlefield 2042’s launch, including a rapidly growing petition to getEA to refund dissatisfiedBattlefieldplayers, the game does have some good elements. In a departure from the previous installment’s setting, the futuristic focus ofBattlefield 2042offered plenty of opportunities for DICE to push the boat out in terms of design. New environmental aspects and a focus on player-led mechanics were risky, but they can makeBattlefield 2042a fun and experimental game. The new Specialist system may appear restrictive at first, but it offers some interesting gameplay opportunities once players get to grips with it. Specialists like assault expert Webster Mackay serve as a great example of the game’s flexible approach to combat, despite its other faults.
RELATED:It Might Be Time for DICE to Take a Step Back From the Battlefield Franchise
Battlefield 2042has many elements that signal a departurefrom the series' previous formula, like the choice to not include a single-player campaign mode at all. Instead, the game’s story and background to the setting are revealed through environmental aspects during multiplayer gameplay. Due to the collapse of the European Union, natural disasters, rising sea levels, a global blackout after 70% of orbiting satellites were lost, and growing international tensions, war broke out between Russia and the United States in 2042. This global crisis created a large number of refugees known in-game as Non-Patriated, or No-Pats.
Webster Mackay is a Canadian-born soldierwho joined the military as a teenager to follow in the footsteps of his father. After a successful career which included becoming a member of a counter-terrorism unit called Joint Task Force 2, Mackay retired to live off the grid. It was always a dream of his to explore and pursue a more nomadic life — one that he was finally able to achieve once he’d slung up his gun. But after the global plunge into war, Mackay joined the fray once again to fight for No-Pats as a way to atone for some of his regrets during his military career.
The outdoorsman specializes in assault and focuses on getting around the battlefield quickly and efficiently to cause as much damage as possible. With the unique Nimble ability, Mackay increases his speed while still aiming down sights, meaning that his accuracy is not sacrificed while his mobility improves, giving him a significant speed-related advantage over other combatants. Along with his boosted speed, Mackay fires out a Grappling Hook that attaches to various surfaces and pulls the player quickly towards the attach point once the rope is retraced. Being able to move about the map quickly and improve the verticality of his combat makes Mackay a formidable opponent, andarguablyBattlefield 2042’s best Specialist.
RELATED:Battlefield 2042: The Case for Making Portal Free to Play
Comparing Mackay To The Other Specialists
In previousBattlefieldgames, the player’s choice of weapon was restricted to their chosen class. Thanks toBattlefield 2042’s new Specialist system, gamers can utilize any weapon they choose and take advantage of their chosen playable character’s abilities and traits at the same time. Specialists fall into four recognizable groups — Assault, Support, Recon, and Engineer. With ten Specialists to choose from at launch, DICE has confirmed that more will be on the way and rolled out at thebeginning of each ofBattlefield 2042’s content seasonsto help shake things up and keep things fresh.
Even though the specialties and traits are locked to each character, the ability to completely choose a loadout gives players flexibility in their approach to combat. But this doesn’t mean that the choice of Specialist doesn’t have an impact, and players should decide carefully in order to create the most effective squad. While Mackay was apopular character duringBattlefield 2042’s betaand proved a versatile choice, there are plenty of other characters for gamers to pick.
Constantin “Angel” Anghel is a Support Specialist who can resupply other players with armor and ammunition using Loadout Crate, or heal allies back to full health. This valuable character provides much-needed support while also giving squads the ability tochange their combat approach inBattlefield 2042on the flywith a brand-new loadout. While not as combat-orientated as Mackay, Angel is the type of character that offers invaluable options and backup to their squad members and can be just as fun to play as more offensive options.
WhileBattlefield 2042certainly has its drawbacks and issues to fix, the combat does have moments that shine through the controversy. With the addition of new Specialists and some much-needed patches and updates asBattlefield 2042continues its post-launch life, the game will hopefully improve to a point where it realizes its promised potential. A move tomakeBattlefield 2042free-to-playmay be the game’s saving grace and could bring players back onboard to fill servers and help to deliver on the player-led aspects of gameplay. Although only time will tell ifBattlefield 2042will be able to overturn its initial misfortunes, launch issues, and player disappointment, its Specialist system is one of the areas that the game gets right.
Battlefield 2042is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
