Battlefield: Hardline

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.

What a shame this is the last game that came from this amazing studio. That being said, it's a decent romp I suppose though it feels really odd as an entry into the Battlefield franchise. Multiplayer is typical Battlefield but with a "cops and robbers" paint job, the campaign is cliche and often cringe, the episodic format is kinda cool as far as mission structure though. You could do worse for a shooter romp. You can do better too.

'Battlefield: Hardline (2015)' takes its long-running, military shooter franchise to the streets. Its aesthetic is unmistakably 'cops vs robbers', seeming similar to pretty much any police procedural you can think of. In multiplayer, this translates to the same large-scale battles you'd expect from the series (even if they're pared back somewhat) and some game modes that attempt to capitalise on its new dynamic (or, rather, the milieu surrounding it). In single player, this translates to a story that could be straight out of 'NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)' or any some such TV show. It's styled as if it's a TV show, too, with chapters that represent episodes and open up with recap montages of the story so far. It's chock-full of the tropes and stereotypes you'd expect from a police procedural, ultimately feeling rather generic. However, it's still enjoyable and the schlocky narrative has a certain, perhaps unintentional B-movie charm to it. The gameplay is standard for a first-person shooter, except for the fact that you're given the option to arrest criminals instead of killing them. In practice, this just means you can sneak up behind or tase an enemy and then activate a prompt to cuff them (effectively eliminating them). This is much harder to do than to just shoot enemies, especially since the stealth is very basic and most missions inevitably escalate into full-blown firefights, and there's no real incentive to do it. That's a shame because it could have been a strong, perhaps even stand-out feature. As is, it's an interesting side-challenge if you're so inclined to take it; I played the entire thing only using my taser and handcuffs, aside from the few instances in which pulling a trigger is literally required to progress (which is really annoying). Overall, the game is a decent effort. It's rather enjoyable to play and its story does what it needs to. It isn't a masterpiece, but it's a solid spin-off from an established franchise. 7/10

The most interesting thing about Hardline is the change of direction. For the first time in this series we see something special. Set in modern day, in the city, no battlefields, no soldiers. It's a cop procedural. I found it interesting. Since we haven't seen Battlefield this way I was excited to see what was waiting. Playing as a detective is fun and amazing. This story feels like a playable tv series with a Netflix-feeling. Sure the story wasn't that deep or emotional in that way. But it was enjoyable to discover Los Angeles and Miami, in a gangster environment. A bit too much cliche sometimes and too less storytelling, actually the beginning of the campaign gave us some time to get to know Kai and Mendoza still. And the ending, I found it likeable. It shows were Mendoza have gotten for this point of time. And the face off between Mendoza and the "antagonist" pretty cool. And of course like the Hollywood movies this game tried to represent, it had a little twist ending. The story wasn't deep, but it was a fun Hollywood experience with evident antagonists.

Multiplayer is cool. All these game modes, this cop vs criminal style is perfect setting of the game. I feel that this game suceeded with making something special and it gave Battlefield some fresh air.

A new take on the BF series, definitely fun to play in different modes and break the traditional gameplay. Installing the content takes hours, and you are limited to the 7min prologue when you first set up the game. I've read forums and reviews and apparently there is not much that users (or EA) can do about it but just sit and wait for hours on end. Estimated wait time is around 7.5 hours to install full game. And yes it's 2020 and still no solution for a game that was released more than 4 years ago.

Some cool actors added to the cast, although the story is sometimes a bit predictable and too much cliché if you ask me.

Great fun outside of the traditional with new game modes, but if you are new to the game you better be patient when installing it.