Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has a demo officially available to the public on Xbox LIVE. The demo is a multiplayer only segment of the game, giving players a chance to play the "Rush" gametype on a snowy map called Port Valdez. Servers are slated to operate from now until February 24th. Here's a video of the map featured in the demo.
We decided to spend the weekend with the demo and give it a little hands-on love as we acclimate ourselves to Bad Company 2's stylings. The game is fun, and I'll say that right off the bat. For all the moments when your frustrated over controls and misfires, you'll still be having a damn good time. In fact, I almost remember saying the same thing when I played and reviewed Battlefield: 1943 over the summer.
This game makes use of DICE's glorious Frostbite tech. Just about everything in the environment is destructible, which most players use to their advantage. The motion on screen is jarring and wobbly, but not to the extent that it leaves players feeling dizzy or disoriented. The best verbage to describe the motion in Bad Company 2's multiple is probably "rushed." The environment here makes the action more intense than it would be in a shooter with a more static host of surroundings.
One thing that I've always loved Battlefield games for is their sound design. Bad Company 2 continues to carry the torch and shell shock has never sounded this awesome. Just like in 1943, Bad Company 2 presents a series of in-game sound effects that will work towards heightening the realism and bringing in that sense of rushed combat that I mentioned earlier. Between the sound and the look, this game works well to make players enjoy a unique experience. This feels and sounds like a battlefield; which is, quite honestly, the best thing this game could do for itself... it owns up to its namesake.
