Including some extremely crisp textures the graphics are certainly one of the best features of game, certainly more impressive than any of the previous battlefield games on other formats (including PC). There are also some great uses of lighting evident in the game, as well as some great effects on snow and desert based maps.
The character models are also impressive, as well as looking distinct to their class. Vehicles are also visually notable; when exploding they even leave their parts behind for you to gaze at. Things like this show some great attention to detail, it’s even possible to see bullet holes in the ground, or view empty shells left over from firing.
There are times when the visuals are perhaps a little too dark (most notable in high definition); this can be a menace on night based maps (which is often in single player) especially with no night vision option.
The controls in Battlefield 2: Modern Combat can be problematic at times, occasionally feeling sluggish and unresponsive compared to other first person shooters available on the Xbox 360. In spite of this the controls do their job and are not so problematic that they would ruin the experience in any way.
The impressive hot-swapping aspect of the single player component is easy to pull off and works extremely well. Hot-swapping allows you to change from an Engineer to an Assault troop in the touch of a button. Generally the different weapon classes act similarly and don’t differ greatly from each other, although each has their advantages and disadvantages online.
Vehicle controls are not immensely accurate which can cause problems at times, although this could be a fault of the vehicular viewpoint. Generally the viewpoints in vehicles can be disappointing; most predominantly the 3rd person view which leaves much to be desired. Perhaps a free roaming camera would have been more suited.
The multiplayer aspect is the heart and soul of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. Featuring some perfectly sized maps (three exclusive to the Xbox 360) the online component is certainly where the most fun can be had. Allowing up to 24 players online (lag free) with full clan support, the game works extremely well with the various soldier types and there is a vast array of maps at your disposal.
Online Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is at its best when your team works, well, as a team. Unfortunately a lot of the time your online companions seem to think they are some sort of super soldier who can take on the entire enemy army, often quickly resulting in their demise. When you do get to work in a team Battlefield 2: Modern Combat really excels, giving you that feeling of being part of something much bigger.
It’s not just super soldiers you have to be aware of, there is also the problem of the players who like to take off in a helicopter by themselves, leaving 4 empty seats and you and others totally bemused to the pilots reasoning. Generally there is no reasoning, they’re just idiots!
Unfortunately there can be problems with voice communication online, at times it not being possible to hear your team-mates or friends, although this is something we believe EA are looking into for a future patch.
Final Word
So is the Xbox 360 version essentially the same game with nicer visuals? Is it worth purchasing the game if you already own a copy on another console?
If you never got the chance to play Battlefield 2: Modern Combat on current-gen consoles or any other format then you are in for a treat. For those who already have the game on current–gen consoles then unless you are desperate to join your friends online who got the game on Xbox 360, there isn’t a reason to get the game again, unless you’re extremely desperate for the nicer visuals.
There are some excessive loading times, some dodgy controls and a generally uninspired single player component. But let’s not finish on a bad note; overall the game is pretty solid with some impressive visuals and an excellent online mode in which the large scale battles can be extremely fun. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is definitely worth considering if you don’t already own a copy on another format.
