Battlefield Bad Company 2 has taken the world by storm. It’s an amazing game, with an extremely in-depth online experience; it’ll take you a little while to learn, and a hell of a lot longer to master.
If you’re moving to the Battlefield side of life from another FPS, like Modern Warfare 2, you’ll find the learning curve to be that little bit steeper. They’re two very different games, and in terms of gameplay not really in direct competition. Be prepared for a totally different experience. Check out some tips below to help you survive online, and share some more in the comments to help your fellow gamers.
Don’t Play it Like a Deathmatch
If you want to play a run and gun deathmatch Battlefield Bad Company 2 is not for you. It’s all about tactics, and working as a team to complete objectives. In a deathmatch your kill/death ratio is all that matters. Here it’s almost meaningless; playing your role in the team is far more important.
Master Multiple Classes
To truly be successful in Battlefield Bad Company 2 you need to learn more than one class, and preferably all of them. There’s no point becoming a jack of all trades, master of none, so by all means focus on one, but when push comes to shove you need to be more than a one trick pony.
At first rank up with the class you feel the most comfortable with. Initially it’s quite difficult to do so, but once you’re underway mix things up a little.
Be Team Player
Battlefield Bad Company 2 is highly reliant on teamwork. Unlike Modern Warfare 2, where you can excel with terrible teammates, if you’re on a bad team you’re going to lose. Even if you’re a Bad Company 2 superstar you’ll still probably lose if you don’t embrace your fellow gamer.
Don’t try and be a hero, Soldier. That’s an order! Unlike other run & gun FPSs Battlefield Bad Company 2 is not all about how many kills you get. Recon, for example, means more than just sniping. Scouting out opponents for your assault teammates is just as important.
Find a Good Squad
It’s no good being a team player if your so called teammates consider themselves to be a one-man show. Ultimately, you’ll want to play with your actual (online) friends, rather than a bunch of randoms. However, this is not always possibly and in the end will come down to luck. If you find you’ve joined a squad of pretentious egomaniacs it’s time to move on.
Leave the squad and join another until you eventually find some quality gamers willing to work with, not against, you. If they really compliment your tactics you might want to add them to your friends list.
Balance Your Squad
You’re now trained in the art of multiple classes, have a good squad, and are a team player; the final piece of the puzzle is ensuring your squad is balanced. There’s no point having a team full of recon when you’re on the offensive. As Battlefield Bad Company 2 is an objective based game, racking up kills on a hill somewhere is pointless if you don’t have men on the ground. Make sure you have enough assault folk to do the ground work, with at least one medic and engineer to help you out, as well as your spotting men.
A good medic can be the difference between winning and losing, so if this is you make sure you’re doing your job. The same goes for engineers. If you find your squad is too recon or assault heavy be the big man and change. It might just win you a match.
Communication
If you don’t have a headset consider getting one. It makes team work a hell of a lot easier. Most of you will have no problems with this if you’re playing with mates, or regular gaming buddies, but dealing with pre-pubescent screeching children is another story. If this happens to be you, you probably shouldn’t be playing Battlefield, but at the very least don’t use a headset.
Examine Locations Carefully
If you’re moving in to take an enemy flag or M-com station make sure you thoroughly search the location first. Chances are someone, or even half a team is there waiting to take you out the moment you let your guard down.
Only Take a Vehicle if You Know What You’re Doing
In other words if you suck, or are likely to be the target of gamer rage, don’t take a vehicle. They’re relatively scarce so only use them if you’re able to inflict some damage. Sure, practice makes perfect, but there’s no room for such selfish mentalities on the battlefield.
This is specifically referring to helicopters and tanks. Feel free to use the boats and bikes at your leisure. These are what you should use to hone your skills.
Being a Gunner is Extremely Important
Whether it be on a stationary gun or riding shotgun in a tank, your role as a gunner is extremely important. If you’re in a tank remember to cover the sides and the back. Noobs find themselves looking forwards, but more often than not the driver will have this area covered.
Take it Slow, Treasure Your Life
Finally, if there’s one piece of advice that’ll help you migrate from another FPS it’s take it slow. Bad Company 2’s ticketing system makes each life that little bit more important. Don’t run around everywhere getting yourself pointlessly killed. If you’re coming over from COD be aware that spawning takes a little longer. Battlefield veterans won’t notice it, but it’ll seem like a lifetime if you’re used to getting straight back into the action.
Share some more tips with your fellow MMGN gamers below!