deltakodiak

If you're playing it for the first time in 2023, don't mind the graphics. The game has this weird glow or blur filter on that makes your screen look dirty. The story has a good balance between fun and a serious tone. The radio/song selection, Yes, you can drive to a music shop and curate your playlist, has to be one of the best things in gaming history. Having been released a couple of years before we were graced with GTA: V's radio stations. I never understood why they removed the aspect of crib customization with almost every installment after this release. I liked having a luxury penthouse downtown and the option to live in a lighthouse. That brings me to the map too. For a game that came out a while ago, Stillwater has to be one of the most interesting. You could explore museums, find secret entrances to military bases in said mountain, raid an Alcatraz-type prison, grab some burgers, gamble, and even pretend to be on the show 'Cops.' I could go on, but I'd rather save it for anyone who hasn't taken a trip to Stillwater.

So, play this game.

I think this game might be the equivalent to CoD: Ghosts, meaning it's sorely underrated. I know most players didn't find the cops vs robbers aspect of the game amusing and I get it. Recently I've been throwing Hardline's campaign/multiplayer modes on due to the lack of content and change in direction in Battlefield 2042. The multiplayer runs pretty similar to BF4's but with new gadgets, a currency system, and the whole cops/robbers twist. The gameplay however feels just right, almost like butter on a warm pan. New gadgets like zip-lines and grappling hooks opened up new ways of movement and verticality. The grappling hook must've been inspired by R6: Siege and I didn't mind that at all. Hardline uses the same engine BF4 used, Frost Bite 3. The 2 year difference in titles allowed the devs to sharpen up and perfect the movement and visuals used in Hardline. I'm glad they did not number this title. The vibe I get from playing this spinoff resembles something from Miami Vice or GTA Online even. Chasing bad guys down in the LA River, launching firefights in the Florida Everglades, and raiding Hollywood mansions felt surreal when playing. The campaign offered some nice upgrades too. A new stealth system, similar to the Far Cry games, allowed players to complete missions their way. The score/music in the background matched perfectly with what was happening in game, whether it was sneaking through a cartel meth lab or driving down the streets in Miami. Ultimately, I'm finding a lot of fun in this old Battlefield project. In the future, I'd hope to play a new battlefield game that was built like Hardline. Meaning, it took the best aspects of it's previous titles and used it as a foundation.