Micromania Gamer [β] — the game specialist!

Description

Bad Company 2 follows a bigger and better mentality with more vehicles, more destruction, and more team play. At the same time, DICE is aiming for a more tightly tuned single-player experience, by addressing issues like pacing and damage soaking nature of the enemies. The sequel also carries a more mature tone with realistic blood effects and in-game characters using profanities.

An icy reception for the Ruskies

Plot and Setting

It has been confirmed that B Company (“Bad Company”) from the first game will be returning for the sequel. The single-player campaign will be a darker and more intense experience this time around. The game takes place in the modern era, with the continuing fictional conflict between the USA and Russia. This time the Russians are invading through Alaska and the game takes places largely on the western coast of the Americas. The stages – both single and multi-player – are set all the way from Alaska to Chile with varying landscapes and features many different environments like alpine forests, dense jungles and barren snowscapes.

Forms of inspiration include the fusion of traditional Battlefield open-ended gameplay with more linear, Call of Duty-esque set piece moments such as a railgun segment, where the player shoots at a chasing helicopter from the back of a moving truck.

Gameplay

Much like the first game, this first person modern military shooter features constant over-the-top destruction and squad based gameplay.

Frostbite Destruction 2.0

DICE has announced that BC2 will be using an update version of the Frostbite engine with "Destruction 2.0" system, meaning that you can destroy a building right down to the foundation. In the first game, you could not destroy the entire building as there would always be small parts of the building, like support beams, remaining after destruction.

The game also features a large amount of “micro destruction” that allows players to slowly chip away at their targets with rifles, explosives and mounted weapons. Players can now create small holes inside houses and thin walls to gain an advantage during a firefight.

Regenerating Health

The highly controversial Life-2 Health Syringe that magically helped regain players' health in the first game has now been replaced with an automatic health regeneration system similar to many other shooters like DICE's own Battlefield 1943.

Squad based gameplay

Multiplayer

There is a bigger emphasis on the multiplayer in BC2. The player cap is 24 (32 on PC) players with 15 different vehicles sprinkled through out. There will be plenty of unlocks and customization with 46 weapons, 15 gadgets, 4 character classes, and 13 character specializations. There are 15,000 kit customization options 50 ranks and awards.

DICE will also be putting more time into the squad system and you will be able to make private squads. The squads are central to the gameplay experience as you gain extra points for helping your squad.For example, you gain 10 extra points for healing your squad member as opposed to any other teammate. Additionally, you can respawn on any squad-mate which allows you to get back into combat without any delay. To improve coordination, soldiers automatically communicate with each other with heavy use of military jargon like "Oscar Time".

Game Modes

Bad Company 2 will ship with four multiplayer modes

Rush - The objective of the attacking team is to destroy the defender's crates before losing a set amount of forces.
Conquest - This mode is built around control points, as teams can stop their enemies from re-spawning by controlling (capping) flags. The first team to reach zero "tickets" loses.
Squad Deathmatch - A team deathmatch with multiple squads on the same map
New Undisclosed Squad Base mode

Ranking Up & Persistence

Bad Company 2 continues the tradition of the Battlefield franchise with persistent progression for your character as you gain experience points through kills, assists or completing objectives. In addition, you also gain points towards the equipped class kit to unlock exclusive items.

"Bravo Two, we are Oscar Mike to the next base"

Classes

Players can choose between four classes on every respawn, each with their own unique weapons and gadgets.

Assault – This basic infantry unit carries exclusive fully-automatic rifles and can throw out ammo pouches for his teammates. Its also the only class with access to grenade launchers.

Weapon Unlocks - AEK971, XM8, F2000, AUG, AN94, M416, M16.

Engineer – A mechanic class with access to sub-machine guns and rocket launchers. They can repair any vehicle using the pneumatic socket wrench.

Weapon Unlocks - 9A91, SCAR, XM8C, AKS74U, UZI, PP2000, UMP.

Recon – It's the only class with access to sniper rifles.They also carry motion sensors and have access to plastic explosives or mortar fire.

Weapon Unlocks - M24, GOL, QBU88, SV98, SVU, M95, VSS Vintores.

Medic – This self-explanatory class can throw out health packs for their teammates that fastens their health regeneration. They are the only class with access to light machine guns and the highly useful ability to resurrect their teammates using portable defibrillators.

Weapon Unlocks - M249, M60, MG3, MG36, PKM, QJU88, XM8 LMG.

In addition to these classes, players can also customize their soldiers using weapon and vehicle mods. A large number of weapons and gadgets are non-class specific and can be used by anyone on respawn. These alternate kits allow players to earn experience points towards any class, without having to rely on the sometimes weak weapons at lower ranks. These include all the side arms, shotguns and general gadgets like plastic explosives

Side Arms - M9, M1911, MP-444, Magnum.
Shotguns - SPAS12, SPAS-15, Saiga12, NS2000, 870MCS, USAS12, T194.

Large variety of weapon loadouts

Kit Selection & Gadgets

Players are allowed to carry two weapon mods and two gadgets that can vary drastically from one class to another. These customizations are mostly tied to the class specific kits and players will need to rank up in that particular class to unlock a mod. These unlocks usually compliment the general play style of a class or at the very least provide them with more interesting options for their typical role. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect for each class

Assault - Extra Grenades for launcher, Shotgun rounds for their rifles, Smoke Grenades, Scope with Clear Sight or 4x Zoom
Engineer - Extra Explosives, Extra Rockets, Scope with Clear Sight or 4x Zoom
Recon - Extra motion sensors, Scope with 4x or 12x Zoom
Medic - Health Packs with longer range or faster healing, Scope with Clear Sight or 4x

In addition to class specific mods, players also unlock general mods that can be used with any class. This includes things like extra armor, ammo or grenades for the soldier.

Vehicle Combat & Customization

Like the first game, BC2 features a large number of vehicles. Players can now customize vehicles by selecting different kinds of ammunition, armor and speed upgrades. These unlocks can be used with any class but as a measure to balance the use of vehicles, players can only use one vehicle mod at a time.

Enemy Spotting

A new feature introduced in Bad Company 2 is enemy spotting, where you can point out the location of an enemy on the mini-map. This can be done by pointing the gun at the target through ironsight and pushing the "Select" button. It marks the enemy location on the mini-map and puts a temporary marker on their head, both of which are visible to your entire team. In addition, someone else kills a spotted enemy, you get 20 bonus experience points.

Dog Tags

Players can now collect dog tags by knifing a soldier from behind. In addition to the bragging rights, these dog tags award players with extra experience points at the end of each round.

Dedicated Server & Mod Support

In response to the Modern Warfare 2 controversy during Nov '09, DICE's K.M. Troedsson created headlines by announcing dedicated server support for Bad Company 2 on the PC. They later clarified those statements by releasing this information on their official blog:

Mod Tools: There will not be mod tools for BFBC2. However a majority of the the games logic is controlled by the server and there will be Serverside control options for the dedicated servers.

Public Server Files: We will not distribute these publicly. There are many factors for why we have decided this with the biggest factor being security & integrity of our game & Dedicated Servers.