Battlefield 3: Aftermath

The Swedish studio EA DICE, the creators of enjoying an enormous popularity first-person shooter, Battlefield 3, prepared a series of add-ons addressed mainly to the veterans of that production. The fourth of these, Battlefield 3: Aftermath, enriches the gameplay with new multiplayer game mode, maps, vehicles and weapons.

For the purposes of the expansion, the developers prepared four maps located in the areas devastated by earthquakes. Epicenter is a map located in the ruined district of Tehran. Its characteristic feature is the randomly occurring earthquake which not only makes it difficult to aim, but it often causes additional damage. In Markaz Monolith, the battle takes place inside a skyscraper cut in half. Saadi Palace takes place around the demolished parliament building, the ruins of which formed a sort of maze. Finally, Telemarket takes us to a village lying on the mountainside. Designing new maps, the creators referred to the campaign storyline in which the player is trying to get out of the earthquake-stricken Tehran. However, not all of the soldiers made it out. It is them that the players assume the role of in the multiplayer mode.

The Scavenger mode is the most important novelty in Aftermath. At the beginning of each match, all players receive the same equipment: basic pistol, knife, grenade, and one specialization. To acquire better equipment, it is necessary to explore the map where different guns are hidden, divided into three levels of quality. First-level weapons (including simple automatic pistols) can be found in relatively safe places near the borders of the map. Getting third-level weaponry (assault rifles and light machine guns) involves a lot of risk such as going the open areas located in the city center, where it is easy to be noticed and get shot by the enemy. What is important, even the best weapon will not help if the player is not quick and accurate enough. The game was balanced in such a way that it is a skill, not your gear, that determines the outcome of the battle.

On the Aftermath maps, it is possible to drive modified versions of three old vehicles. Americans have a Phoenix, which is a remodeled Humvee, and the Russian Vodnik is changed into Barsuk. Civilian van, in turn, was fortified and renamed into Rhino. Also, the soldiers look different – their clothes are stained with blood, and here and there you can see bandages. The expansion also introduces a new weapon – the crossbow which can silently eliminate enemies with deadly precision and power.

Last updated on 21 November 2014