Battlefield Portal’s Friendly Takeover of Its Past Redeems Battlefield 2042
Portal lets Battlefield try new ideas while preserving its legacy
Battlefield 2042 is in a tight spot. On one hand, DICE’s latest title promises 128-player action and disasters that give its sprawling maps an untidy haircut. Hazard Zone promises a tight-knit survival experience where teamwork is key. But Portal doesn’t move in either direction.
Instead, Battlefield 2042’s third offering dials back the clock.
And in doing so, it shows that players seem to prefer Battlefield’s old ideas over its new ones.
Battlefield 2042’s new modes need more polish to shine
I got to test out Battlefield 2042’s chops as a part of its Early Access program. Its 128-player All-Out Warfare mode was marketed heavily but its performance left players disappointed. While the game’s models and environments are gorgeous, it was far from smooth sailing.
Battlefield 2042 is currently a rough gem, buried under optimization woes.
Performance varied wildly not only between matches but firefights as well. I dialed my settings down only for my framerate to sink deeper. Go figure.
Unsurprisingly, 32-player Hazard Mode and Portal run well on most systems. While the former’s tense rounds reimagine specialists and test tactical decisions, that’s not what saves Battlefield 2042 from slipping.
Battlefield Portal redeems every ounce of goodwill I lost, and then some.
In Battlefield Portal, old tools meet new ideas
DICE describes Portal as a love letter to Battlefield fans and for once I can’t fault EA’s marketing. Few games feature modes that let players experience the best of a franchise’s heritage. Fewer let you rewrite it.
And Battlefield Portal does more than just remix old tracks.
DICE revives the glory days of titles like Battlefield 1942 (2002), Bad Company 2 (2010), and Battlefield 3 (2011). Portal features a selection of maps from Battlefield’s diverse history, complete with beloved weapons, vehicles, and a fresh coat of paint. You also get variants of existing maps, letting you cram 128 players into a tight hunting ground.
Assembling a dizzying array of modifiers is where Portal shines.
If you want a primer on the knobs you can fiddle with, DICE does a good job here. Bots tag along for the ride, letting players build their own XP farms of nonviolent AI. A belated Halloween idea led me to team up with the knife-toting bots.
I turned bewilderment into absolute chaos.
Portal lets Battlefield 2042 go bold while playing it safe
I got to test out several creations across Portal’s assortment of maps and modes. One gives players a rocket launcher that reloads only if the player jumps five times. Another pits four of 2042’s modern specialists against a larger team of 1942’s fan-favorite classes.
Battlefield even got a Zombies mode, courtesy of Portal’s versatile rules.
Modern defibrillators vs 1942’s knives, anyone?
Curated lists and a dedicated server browser mean that both newcomers and veterans will be able to find their way through Portal creations. With the help of creators, Battlefield Portal has the potential to churn out all sorts of engaging scenarios. While it’s not as flexible as Halo’s Forge, Battlefield Portal is a definitive step in preserving Battlefield’s legacy.
Battlefield 2042 tries new things but gives you the dusty toys too.
The game’s new specialist system is a good fit for Hazard Zone but seems like a shoehorned addition to All-Out Warfare. The class system employed by earlier Battlefield titles gels well with larger battles. But Battlefield 2042 wins that argument with Portal, a platform driven by “if it ain’t broke, let me fix it.”
Want the old classes, classic kits, and WW2 planes? Portal it is.
While DICE cleans up its new additions, Portal lets you go back home to 1942.
