Battlefield 1: Everything You Need to Know

Published by Electronic Arts, Battlefield 1 sees you taking the role of a World War I soldier and is almost certainly the most realistic video game representation of the era. If you’ve ever wondered what it felt like to fight in the trenches, no game has got as close as this one.

Playing the Ultimate Shooter: Battlefield 1

The Battlefield Series has been around since 2002, when EA released Battlefield 1942, an immersive simulation of combat in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Unlike many previous combat games, Battlefield 1942 placed the emphasis on teamwork, lending itself to multiplayer experiences.

Since 2002, the series has seen constant additions, including popular titles like Battlefield Vietnam, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. Most of these games came out on Windows, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, although Battlefield 4 was the first available for the Xbox One and PS4 systems.

In 2016, EA announced the release of Battlefield 1. Far from being a step backwards in technical terms, the latest instalment in the series is faster, more graphically accomplished and has generally been well received by the critics. The 1 simply refers to the World War I setting, which moved the action back in time relative to previous versions.

How Do You Play Battlefield 1?

As with many multiplayer shooters, Battlefield 1 has two modes: campaign and multiplayer. Campaign mode is single player and sees the player commanding six different characters as they negotiate World War I battlefields. Settings include France, England (as an RAF pilot), the Italian front, the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey and Mesopotamia, where the player battles under the command of Lawrence of Arabia.

The action doesn’t proceed chronologically, and the various missions are all kept separate from each other. All-in-all, the game provides a wide-ranging snapshot of the various European and Middle Eastern theatres of the war and offers plenty of different gaming challenges.

However, for many gamers, the real appeal of the Battlefield series is its multiplayer side. Battlefield 1 is no exception and has a variety of multiplayer challenges to overcome, including:

• Conquest – Where teams compete to gain control of locations around a game map. Capturing these areas earns points for your team, this continues until a certain point in the game is reached and then the team with the most points wins the match.
• Rush – Divides the teams into attack and defence, with attackers trying to gain control of key map locations and defenders trying to keep them out of their hands.
• Domination – A variant of the conquest mode, domination is more frenetic and plays out over a far smaller area.
• Team Death Matches – The two teams simply compete to see who can get the most kills, with no need to take control points.

Battlefield 1 also introduces a couple of new multiplayer games that players may not be so familiar with, including:

• War Pigeons – In this game, the two teams have to capture a pigeon, then stay in the same place while a message is attached to the pigeon’s leg and the bird is then released. After a team has released three pigeons successfully, they win the game. It’s essentially a more imaginative version of the conquest and domination games.
• Operations – Divides players into attackers and defenders as in the rush variant. However, operations play out over a series of sectors and brings in extra defensive weapons like tanks and pill-boxes. It’s a more complex version of rush that demands more coordinated teamwork.

All of these multiplayer games can be played via EA's Origin servers, and they provide a thrilling experience. However, players should note that they don't include a split-screen mode. That's a shame, but it seems to have been necessary in order to deliver the kind of graphics that Battlefield 1 features.

Battlefield 1: Launch Trailer

Soldier Classes in Battlefield 1

Another thing that players need to deal with when playing Battlefield 1 is soldier classes. When you start the game, you can pick from four separate classes:

• Support – Armed with light machine guns, support soldiers can repair vehicles and provide ammo to their team-mates so have a vital multiplayer function.
• Medics – Help the team by replenishing the health of other players and have low powered semi-automatic rifles.
• Assault – Armed with shotguns and sub-machine guns, so this class packs more of a punch. Are able to destroy vehicles, which is a key function in aggressive game modes.
• Scouts – Have weak service rifles, but are faster and play a key role in spotting enemy players, while only scouts can fire flare guns as well.
• You can also spawn as classes for specific vehicles, including:
• Pilots – Can fly planes around the game map and use extra weapons like sawn-off shotguns.
• Cavalry – Are able to ride horses into battle.
• Tankers – Can drive tanks and also repair vehicles when they aren’t in their tanks.

Battlefield 1 is played over a series of maps. There are nine in total (thus far), but only one of those is free in the standard edition. The others need to be purchased with the Premium Pass or the Deluxe Edition (see below), they encompass a wide range of World War I scenarios. For example, you can be battling in the trenches around Amiens in one match, before fighting in a chateau in the Argonne Forest, then the fortress of Fao in Mesopotamia.

Different Versions of Battlefield 1

Battlefield 1 has been released for Windows, Xbox One and the PS4, and there is more than one edition for each platform. Here are the major options available:

• Battlefield 1 Standard Edition – The basic version of Battlefield 1. Comes with no extra non-game items.
• Battlefield 1 Early Enlister Deluxe Edition – Slightly more expensive than the Standard Edition, the Early Enlister version comes with a couple of extra themed packs (the Red Baron and the Lawrence of Arabia packs) as well as a few extra items to pick up and use in the game.
• Battlefield 1 Ultimate Edition – Includes the Red Baron Pack, Lawrence of Arabia Pack and the Hellfighter Pack as well as five battlepacks with extra items and skins. Also features a Battlefield 1 Premium Pass with free access to upcoming expansion packs for a short period and access to 16 multiplayer maps.
• Battlefield 1 Exclusive Collector’s Edition – Comes in deluxe and standard versions. Includes the Battlefield 1 game itself, a collector’s edition statue, steel book, cloth poster, playing cards deck and a carrier pigeon tube. The standard edition comes with the base game, while the deluxe edition comes with the Early Enlister edition that has many more features.

Buyers should also be aware that you can purchase a Battlefield 1 Exclusive Collector’s Edition without the game. This comes with all of the non-game items listed above, but won’t include the game (and isn’t cheap), so don’t be fooled.

Add-Ons and Accessories to Buy With Battlefield 1

If you buy the standard version of Battlefield 1, you will be able to play the campaign mode and a smaller number of multiplayer maps. However, EA has launched the game in stages, encouraging players to purchase extra Premium passes. These passes will allow you to play as the French or Russian armies, access elite classes of soldier, play more maps and access different versions of operations mode.

The Premium Pass also has the handy feature of skipping server queues for multiplayer matches. If you don’t buy the add-on, you may end up waiting for a few minutes at the start of every match, which can be frustrating.

Some retailers also bundle Battlefield 1 with gaming accessories like the Turtle Beach X01 or PX24 headset. If you plan to engage in regular operations mode matches, these high-quality headsets are a good way to communicate with your fellow teammates.

Microsoft have also brought out a special Battlefield 1 controller to use with the game which can also be used with Windows PCs.

There are also various accessories like t-shirts, badges, pins and lanyards that add to the atmosphere of playing the game (and make good gifts for hardcore gamers as well).

How do the Different Systems Compare?

Are there any major differences between playing Battlefield 1 on an Xbox One, a PS4 or a Windows PC? For one thing, the basic resolution on the PS4 is higher than the Xbox (1000p to around 900p), but there’s not much difference to the naked eye.

On both systems, the frame rate suffers a little when there’s plenty of action taking place on screen. However, in both multiplayer and campaign modes, the PS4 has been found to be slightly slower than the Xbox One (as low as 30fps in death matches, compared to the 60fps that the makers aimed for).

So, if you have the choice, the Xbox One version will deliver a smoother experience, albeit one with slightly lower graphical resolution. In games where split seconds count, the slightly faster performance could be a game changer.

As for the PC version, on high-spec systems, it outpaces both the Xbox One and the PS4 and looks better as well. However, you’ll need a powerful system to make the most of the game. Typical specs include:

• An AMD FX 8350 Wraith or Intel Core i7 4790 processor
• 16GB RAM
• AMD Radeon™ RX 480 4GB graphics card or an NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1060 3GB.
• A 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
• 50GB Disc space

You can get away with running the game on much less powerful systems, but the performance difference is noticeable, and can make multiplayer gaming much less enjoyable.

Pros and Cons of Battlefield 1

So far, the experience of Battlefield 1 players and critics alike has been almost universally positive. However, there have been some minor gripes. For example, the performance of the Battlefield 1 servers has been variable, with long periods of downtime.

Some people have also drawn attention to the historical aspect of the game. Coming on the anniversary of major WWI battles like the Somme, it might seem insensitive to replay them in such graphical accuracy (and for fun). If you are buying the game for a teenager, it might be something to bear in mind.

Aside from that, the beta and the main game have only thrown up a few minor bugs and the engine works beautifully. As promised, Battlefield 1 delivers high-quality multiplayer gaming in a historical context that similar games haven’t explored, and both the campaign and the multiplayer aspects work well.

Battlefield 1: Single Player Trailer

Battlefield 1 vs. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

However, there are other options to explore before purchasing Battlefield 1. The most popular is probably Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, so how does it stack up against Battlefield?

If you are into sci-fi and advanced weaponry, Call of Duty’s latest instalment will definitely appeal. Featuring space ships and all manner of high-tech guns, it’s a world away from the shotguns and grenades of Battlefield 1.

Call of Duty also has a tongue-in-cheek side to its action, thanks to the zombie mode, and this side of the game has been updated with the Zombies in Spaceland mode for the latest version.

Then again, Battlefield 1 offers a wide range of characters and weapons, allowing you to fight in more complex ways, from close range melees to cavalry charges, tank battles and sniping. It also appears to offer more multiplayer modes than its futuristic competitor, including the imaginative war pigeons variant.

In terms of the number of maps, both games are comparable, and there’s not much to choose between them there. In fact, it looks like the differences are more a matter of style than substance. It all depends on which series you prefer, and fans of one or the other will probably stick to what they know.

How and When to Buy Battlefield 1

When you’ve worked out that Battlefield and a specific edition is right for you, there are a number of ways to buy the game.

One way is to buy a Battlefield bundle. That’s a great option for anyone who wants to update their old console to the latest PS4 Pro or Xbox One S.

If you already have the console or computer you need, there are plenty of HotUKDeals merchants selling the game at discount prices. Some of the UK’s leading high street retailers stock the game, including Currys, GAME, Asda and Argos. You can go online to EA’s Origin Store or PlayStation Store to download a copy, or order one from retailers like Very, Amazon or CDKeys.

Remember that there are many different editions to pick from (and some without the game included) as well as the chance to buy extra features with a Premium Pass. Places to buy a Premium Pass include GAME, CDKeys and ShopTo, although you might want to buy a Deluxe Edition instead. It all depends on what kinds of discounts are on offer at any given moment. The only way to know for sure is by regularly checking the HotUKDeals Battlefield 1 listings.

You might also find special offers on Battlefield 1 bundles or add-ons at certain times of year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to look, as are the post-Christmas sales. As the game gets older, the price of the game itself should drop, but you’ll still have to pay for extras, and EA will be releasing packs regularly over the next year.

Buy Battlefield 1 at Big Discounts With HotUKDeals

Playing Battlefield 1 is as close as you can get to experiencing the fighting in World War I, and it’s one of the most realistic action games ever released. If you want a thrilling multiplayer shooter with a historical twist, and you want to relive the campaigns of the Western Front or Lawrence of Arabia, pick up a copy by checking out the constantly updated list of Battlefield 1 discounts at HotUKDeals.