In the realm of multiplayer "shoot the other guy" gaming, the Battlefield franchise has always been at the forefront; or to use a war-themed pun, on the frontlines. From humble WWII beginnings, Battlefield progressed through the acid-tripping 60s to end up in a more hectic modern warfare setting. Yet throughout all this change, the core mechanics of Battlefield remained relatively untouched; each iteration bringing with it new and exciting concepts to the fold. Distributed digitally on Xbox Live and PSN (with PC to follow suit), Battlefield 1943 sees a change in direction, with the franchise re-imagined as a simple pick-up-and-play shooter. It sees the series going back to its original WWII setting, and bringing along with it familiar maps, vehicles, and weaponry. Modestly priced and featuring an installation size smaller than some previous Battlefield patches (on the surface at least), 1943 looks and sounds like Battlefield-lite.



And the end result is precisely that, but at the same time serves as a perfect example of the strengths that the series is renowned for as well as serving as a poster boy for digital distribution done right. That is, of course, if you can look past the server and connection troubles players found on the first few days of release. Almost all aspects of the game have been trimmed and scaled back, map sizes are now 24-players, the number of classes and maps to choose from are both kept at three, all with unalterable settings. This is all wrapped in a single online-only game-mode featuring the series staple Conquest Mode, where teams and squads work together to capture and defend strategic points across each map. These are the obvious changes and based on the price-tag, mostly expected, however, what becomes apparent pretty quick is just how well 1943 is executed. It's clear the game is the result of years of experience with the franchise, as all changes made by developer DICE add to keep the game focused on the one thing people associate with Live Arcade, PSN, and digitally distributed titles. And that is, it has to be fun.

Without a doubt, Battlefield 1943 is a blast to play, mainly because it brings with it the great sandbox gameplay that many have come to expect with this series. Hoping into jeeps, tanks, and planes (after some practise of course), or even staying on foot; the variety of options help keep the action both hectic and intense. And although this is a leanest version of Battlefield released so far, it's a testament to how solid the core mechanics are when the action and gameplay itself still feels deeply rewarding. When you couple this with DICE's fantastic Frostbite engine (as seen in Battlefield: Bad Company), it won't take long for 1943 to feel like a lot more than the sum of its parts.

In the past, explosions and particle effects acted as a way to add little more than visual flair to an on-line shooter. 1943 integrates this into the core gameplay, as you find your surroundings literally disintegrating in front of your eyes. This brings a level of intensity to enemy encounters rarely seen, as one minute you find yourself running into a building to take cover from an incoming tank, only to seconds later find yourself running over a pile of rubble where a wall used to be. This makes re-playing classic maps like Wake Island and Iwo Jima feel both fresh as well as nostalgic. It makes hoping in a plane and going on a bombing run matter to the outcome of a round. It makes hoping into a plane and trying to stop an enemy bomber from bombing a friendly location feel like an act of heroism. It also makes blowing up a tower where your friend is perched hoping to snipe a few enemy troops, kind of hilarious. Although it's difficult to comment on whether the changes and omissions will keep the game still feeling fresh in the months to come, one thing is certainly clear, as of now, Battlefield 1943 is brilliant fun.