“Can We Just Bury Battlefield 1?” Uh, Not a Chance

by

2025 finds us with Battlefield 1 continuing its impressive run. In fact, it’s not just surviving but flourishing in unexpected ways.

2016 saw an unprecedented impact when this FPS game arrived, resembling a forceful blow from a sledgehammer. Given that World War I isn’t commonly associated with popular first-person shooter games and considering the predominance of futuristic battles in the genre, it was indeed a bold move to set the game in such a historical context.

If I started Battlefield 1 today without knowing when it was first released, I’d likely think it’s a new game. The level of immersion this game provides is exceptional; very few games manage to achieve such immersive experiences, let alone excel beyond them.

I vividly recall the initial launch of Battlefield 1 in 2017. It felt like stepping into a whole new epoch. The trench warfare was muddy and raw, the tanks were rickety yet robust, and the weapons, despite their flaws, were irresistible to me. I’m still captivated by them.

From the very beginning, there was a captivating blend of chaos and immersion that kept me engaged, and to this day, in 2025, I continue to play it as if it were my first day.

Initially, I jumped into the game without a hint of what to expect – my goal was simply to witness how Battlefield would portray World War I. The instant I was plunged into the prologue, titled “Storm of Steel“, I realized this wasn’t going to be like any other game. This one didn’t pamper me or cast me as a hero. Instead, I became just another soldier amidst countless others, struggling to survive. Over and over again, I perished only to respawn into new lives, equipped with varying weapons and facing diverse destinies. It was harsh. It was gripping. And I cherished every moment of it.

The campaign had a subdued, almost melancholic charm to it. It didn’t rely on grandiose displays of heroism or a solitary figure defeating adversaries like in an action movie. Instead, I found myself slogging through the trenches as a reluctant tank driver in Through Mud and Blood. In Friends in High Places, I was tossed into the skies, facing death much like a gust of wind. With Nothing is Written, I journeyed across deserts, fighting alongside Lawrence of Arabia. Each war story left an indelible impression on me, capturing moments of camaraderie, desperation, and the unflinching truth that war strips everything away, regardless.

I absolutely enjoy the multiplayer aspect just as much. I can’t pinpoint the specific instance, but I believe it was during Operations mode when I found myself completely immersed. There isn’t anything quite like charging through a battlefield, bullets whizzing overhead, mortar shells kicking up dust, and a burning blimp hovering above – it was as if I was part of an action movie scene. Nothing scripted could ever compare to that level of realism.

As a devoted enthusiast, I’ve encountered an array of bizarre weapon designs, from the sturdy yet quirky ones that seemed to be held together by duct tape and wishful thinking, to the absurdly tiny Kolibri that felt like a joke when I carried it. I’ve cycled through countless loadouts, experimenting with legendary pieces like the Mauser C96, and the laughably small Kolibri, which was almost an insult to its carrier. The Villar-Perosa resembled a WWI turret more than a standard SMG. But if I had to choose my top pick, it would undeniably be the Pieper M1893. This oddball weapon took some getting used to, but once I mastered it, it became one of the most rewarding weapons I’ve ever wielded. It felt like using a revolver as a primary, and while it wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of efficiency, the thrill of pulling off a kill with it more than made up for any drawbacks.

To be truthful, some of my most cherished recollections aren’t due to victories but the wild episodes that Battlefield 1 uniquely provides. For instance, when I was propelled by a tank and miraculously landed on an enemy sniper, ending him with a melee attack. Or the game where my team decided to go for cavalry, and unexpectedly seized command of an entire area. Who can forget that operation where we were overpowered in the first three sectors, but managed to stage a remarkable last stand within a church? We defended against the enemy using gas grenades, bolt-action rifles, and quite a bit of improvisation.

I find myself utterly captivated by this game, yet it comes with its fair share of frustrations. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, really – the kind that makes me love it one moment and hate it the next. There are times when the auto-balance mechanism seems to intervene just as I’m about to clinch a victory. The long-range snipers perched 500 meters away, preying on anyone who dares to show themselves from cover, are another source of annoyance. And then there are instances where my teammates behave more like they’re playing Team Deathmatch, leaving me feeling isolated and shouting into the void.

Despite moving on numerous times, I found myself repeatedly drawn back. The greatest shooter games have never been able to replicate what Battlefield 1 offered at its peak. If you haven’t caught onto this yet, then you might be missing out. I’ve played nearly every Battlefield game available, and while all of them were enjoyable in their own right, none managed to make me forget about Battlefield 1 completely. Battlefield 3 was groundbreaking, Battlefield 4 refined modern combat, and Bad Company 2 had some of the best destruction in the series. However, even today, Battlefield 1 continues to stand tall among them.

Ultimately, it boils down to the type of Battlefield encounter you’re seeking.

For an authentic, film-like war sensation that remains compelling even after many years, Battlefield 1 outperforms the more recent games in this regard.

Read More

2025-02-21 08:42