Battlefield 2: Modern Combat Review (X360)

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat makes the jump to Xbox 360 in pretty good shape, but if you are expecting something different from what you played on the Xbox last year you’re going to be disappointed. There are some improvements here and there, and the game definitely looks better, but the content is mostly the same. Of course, if you haven’t already played the Xbox version, the X360 version is definitely the one to get and offers some of the best Xbox Live multiplayer you’ll find on the 360.

If You Are New To Battlefield 2 ...

Read our full review of the Xbox version of Battlefield 2 here.

If you are new to Battlefield 2, you’ll find a ton of great gameplay to enjoy here. The single player campaign is a winding story of a war between the US and China where you actually get to play as both sides of the conflict. The core gameplay doesn’t change the FPS formula too much and is solid in all of the areas it needs to be so it all feels just right. One big change here is that you can “hot swap” to take control of any of the other friendly soldiers you see on the battlefield. This lets you start out as a grunt, then swap to a sniper to cover a town square, then swap over to a vehicle for extra firepower. It all works very well and adds a fun new element to the gameplay.

The other part of Battlefield 2, and really the main attraction, is the multiplayer over Xbox Live. The maps are huge, you have a ton of vehicles at your disposal, and it is an all out war where up to 24 people can play in “capture the checkpoint” games. Multiplayer is easily the best part of the package and is fast, furious, and very satisfying. I would say that as of right now, Battlefield 2 is the best multiplayer FPS on Xbox Live and is worth picking up just for the Live play.

If You Played Battlefield 2 on Xbox ...

If you have already played Battlefield 2 on the Xbox, however, it isn’t quite as easy to recommend. This is pretty much the same game we saw last year and the handful of improvements and additions don’t really warrant a new purchase at $60. There are a handful of new maps in the 360 version and some new vehicles such as a snowmobile and mini-gun equipped vans, but for the most part this is the same game you have already played to death.

There are still quite a few improvements here, though. The controls feel just a little bit tighter and more precise. The performance online has been improved and the experience is fairly smooth and hassle free now. The game also looks a lot better than the Xbox version. And you get achievements now, of course, so just imagine how quickly you can rack up an extra 500-600 points on your gamerscore since you are already a Battlefield 2 veteran.

It is a tough call whether to buy it and it really just depends on how much time you spent with the Xbox version and how desperate you are for a good Live FPS game on the 360.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Battlefield 2 on the Xbox 360 is a decent improvement over the Xbox version. It might not be up to “next gen standards”, but it still looks really good. Everything has an extra level of detail it didn’t have before and the character models, vehicles, and environments are all very sharp looking now. This is more than just a high-res copy of the Xbox version, as some reviews have claimed, and you’ll find plenty of “ooh and aah” moments.

The sound is mostly unchanged from the Xbox version, but it is still very good. Good sound effects for all of the gunfire and explosions going off all around you, good music that suits the action, and (mostly) decent voice work.

Bottom Line

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat on the Xbox 360 is a fun shooter that offers up some of the best Xbox Live action you’ll find on the 360, but many gamers have seen and done all of this before. Unlike the ports of Burnout Revenge or Far Cry that offered enough improvements and new features to make them worth another purchase, Battlefield 2 just doesn’t have that much new stuff and it suffers because of it. It is the best version of Battlefield you are going to find on a console, certainly, but not worth $60 if you already bought the Xbox version. The flip side of the coin is that if you haven’t already played Battlefield 2, there is a lot to like here in the Xbox 360 version. It is a huge game that offers fantastic Xbox Live play and is definitely worth checking out. Rent it first if you are unsure but it is good enough it will be worth owning for many people.