Battlefield 1: PS4 Review

Battlefield 1: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by EA And developed by DICE

Battlefield 1 is no ordinary shooter.

And it's no ordinary emotional experience.

It's the first first person shooter that's been played that leaves a feeling of despair each time you die - perhaps it's the setting in World War I and the reality that many, many people died during the carnage, or perhaps it's the fact that each time you die, a different character name appears on the screen.

Set over an anthology of stories, this immersive shooter gives you the chance to play different parts of the campaign over the turn of the War.

From a British tank crew to an Italian fighter, the choice is yours - but war itself is very real. And regardless of which order you play the campaign in and in which chapter, the carnage and chaos is utterly terrifying as it spools out in front of you.

It's the 1918 leg of the war, and DICE has opted for reality rather than hyper reality, meaning you're saddled with the primitive weapons of the time. From clunky grenades to guns that need reloading and take time, the weaponry is difficult to use if you don't plan your approaches and ideas.

Granted the sections themselves feel occasionally repetitive (stealth, shoot, kill and steal) being the traits you can expect, but there's a deep emotional connection to this collection that remains rewarding and surprising. Never before has there been the urgent need to invest in the lives of those on the screen and it's Battlefield 1's biggest surprise.

Some of the cut scenes have an epic quality to them as well - giving the whole game a sheen that's welcome.

Multiplayer is massive too - from conquest mode to the chance to play an Operations mode, there's more than enough to keep you alive on the gaming front. While the multiplayer still suffers from the usual issues, spawning you too far away from the action to make it frustration when you arrive and are shot, the game's beauty is evident as well in its surroundings. Plenty of work's gone into the landscapes and the war-torn elements - and in parts, it looks like hell on earth.

While the multiplayer has its trademark DICE issues, the campaign is the greatest reason to play Battlefield 1. Deeply involving, more emotional than expected and with a compulsion that borders on addiction, this shooter is a reminder of the horrors of war, and a game that stays away from glorification of it all.

As a result, it's compelling and gritty as hell.