"Battlefield Vietnam" is the same good old "Battlefield" formula, just with more jungles, heat, and the ever-present stereotypes of the Vietnam War. The U. S. and South Vietnam face off against North Vietnam and the Viet Cong, and all that's left for the player is to pick a side and start capturing control points.
It looks better, but not dramatically. Compared to "Battlefield 1942", the visuals have clearly improved. The colors are richer, the detail has increased, the Vietnamese jungle looks decent, and the explosions have more flair. No revolutions here, but the upgrade in graphics is noticeable and expected. For its time, the game looked solid.
The maps are more varied than in "1942": from dense forests to urban shootouts, the environments make the battles a bit more engaging. Each map is based on a real historical operation from the war, adding some context to the chaos. The core mechanics haven't changed: several control points on the map must be captured and held. Take one - you can respawn there. Lose it - find another. All available vehicles are usable, and mastering them is part of the fun.
I played it out of curiosity, but it didn't grab me. "Battlefield Vietnam" isn't a bad game - it just didn't really click with me. I wanted to see what it was all about, and I got exactly what I expected: classic "Battlefield", just in a different historical setting. If you're a fan of the series, you might enjoy it more. For me, it's just another title I can now cross off the list of games I've tried.
6 out of 10.
