he late 1960’s and 1970’s were a turbulent time filled with political strife and sometimes violence, both abroad and overseas. But then again, it was also a turning point for the country, one of both national growth and introspection. Perhaps the most defining moment of that era was the Vietnam War, a little “skirmish” taking place in the country of Vietnam between the Democratic South and the Communist North. With all the FPS titles that have been released in the past, few have touched on the gritty and very real drama that was taking place in that small country. That is, until now. EA and developer Digital Illusions have heeded the call for a Vietnam-based FPS in their upcoming Battlefield Vietnam, a spin-off of their wildly popular game Battlefield 1942. For those of you out there cringing at the possibility that the game is just another expansion pack like addition, rest assured. Not only is Vietnam a completely self sufficient game, it’s also one that builds up on the key successful features of 1942, creating a very immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience.

Today I got a chance to take part in a special online press-preview of the game and am happy to say that while I would probably make a lousy soldier in real life, I would probably make a good one granted that wars took place on a PC and I didn’t have to get my hands dirty. The game started off with one of the title’s many “Assault” maps, with each team of soldiers being charged with taking and controlling a number of different command points scattered about. When starting the game, you have the choice of either taking the role of US troops, their allies the South Vietnamese, or the Communist North. Each group has their own strengths and weaknesses, along with their own special units and weapons. The four available character types include assault, sniper, anti-vehicle artillery, and mechanic. The assault character is your basic type of soldier, who is able to use most standard weight firearms. The sniper is able to tote around fewer weapons, but does have the eagle-eye advantage of his trusty sniper rifle, which can take down an enemy from a considerable distance. The anti-vehicle artillery soldier carries the big guns like the bazooka and is invaluable for times when you’re faced with things like tanks and other armored personnel carriers. Lastly, the mechanic is a sort of jack of all trades. While able to use some weapons, the mechanic excels in repairing damaged vehicles. Being able to choose a character that fits your playing style becomes pretty important early on, so for those looking for run n’ gun action, the mechanic might not be the best choice of soldiers. But then again, for those who like to stay in the shadows and help out their fellow platoon mates, soldiers like the sniper and mechanic can be quite beneficial.

One of the most impressive aspects of the game for me was the highly realistic weaponry that you use throughout your missions. In fact, each national group that you can choose from comes outfitted with their own unique firearms and explosives that are quite faithful to the weapons actually used during the Vietnam War. US and South Vietnamese soldiers carry around M16’s and M60’s, along with standard issue grenades and pistols. The North Vietnamese, having allied with the then existent U.S.S.R., carry around Russian made weapons, including the AK47 and pipe grenades. Weapons in the game, from the lowly combat knife to the most imposing machine gun, were highly detailed and showed off a level of visual flair that was impressive. Weapons bob and move along with your stride and even small things like the little metal loops that some guns have move and shake around depending on how you’re moving.

Outside of traditional combat weapons, and perhaps the most popular feature of the previous Battlefield 1942, throughout the game you’ll have the opportunity to take the seat behind virtually every single vehicle that you come across. Ground transportation is taken care of through Jeeps, which are armed with a rear machine gun and some extra seats, so you can take along a few buddies when you’re breaking into hostile territory. While speedy, the Jeep doesn’t offer up much in the way of armor or firepower, so sometimes you’ll really need to bust out the big guns. They come in the form of tanks, rolling behemoths armed with machine guns and a massive turret. Tanks are perhaps the ideal way to get around while on the ground and with their thick armor, they usually guarantee that you’ll be giving your enemy a hard time. But, in the face of such imposing vehicles like the tank, there are other weapons that you can use that prove to be quite helpful. Along with being able to man mortar launchers, you can also seat up in heavy artillery cannons, ideal for bombarding soldiers who may be holed up somewhere or taking out a tank in a quick manner.  Outside of ground based vehicles, you can also take to the sky and the water. In the air, you can pilot a number of different jets as well as helicopters, with the US F4 Phantom and the Soviet Mi21 being perhaps the most impressive. While the controls do take a little getting used to at first, planes in the right hands can become invaluable tools while in battle.  Able to lay down cover fire and bombs, planes can sometimes tip the balance in a particularly heated battle. Helicopters can also be used in the game and are a nice balance between personnel transport and air cover provider. Lastly, in maps that include a lot of water, boats prove to be very handy in getting around. While my time with the multiplayer mode was shorter than I would have liked, I saw two flavors of watercraft; a speedboat-like craft that had a mounted machine gun on it as well as a more heavily armored and slow craft, able to carry far more soldiers on it.

Control wise the game during multiplayer matches was intuitive and easy to pick up. Veterans of FPS titles on the PC should have absolutely no problem getting the hang of moving around the Vietnam world and thanks in part to the fact that the game is on the PC, you can pretty much tweak and customize your controls to your liking. Movement was fluid and aiming was responsive as well, thanks in part to each weapon have a secondary action that will zoom in your viewpoint for when you’re taking down distant enemies. With so much that is pretty standard for FPS games in regards to control and movement, it was hard to find anything really at fault in Vietnam, outside of a few instances where I would get a bit hung up on environmental objects like trees or crates. But, those hardly detracted from the gameplay and in the long run, actually taught me to be better acquainted with my surroundings, since many of the things that I would end up getting caught on were actually helpful in terms of being able to provide me protection or cover.

Graphically the game is impressive and is even a step up from the graphics seen in 1942. Along with the highly detailed weapon models, environments were crisp and full of detail, right down to blades of grass and dirty covered roads. Levels that take place in jungles heavily utilize factors such as tree cover and higher elevations really show off the graphical capabilities of the game, and admittedly, it’s fun sneaking through the trees trying to get a bead on an enemy soldier while they’re doing exactly the same thing. Vehicles also looked nice and visually, they reacted and moved like they should have. Tanks threw up dust in their wake and helicopters blew aside tree branches as they came in for a touchdown. Character models, while nicer looking than they were in 1942, still suffered a bit of the old “tin man” syndrome, their movements sometimes seeming jerky and mechanical. But, when caught in a hail of gunfire or large explosions, they reacted nicely and slumped to the ground or were blown airborne in a realistic fashion. And, to sweeten the deal, the game features some nice CG-like movies during the menu and loading sequences that show off some hectic fights as well as a look and feel that exudes the attitude and feelings of the Vietnam era.

This fact comes across in the sound in the game. While Vietnam does feature a lot of faithful and realistic weapon sounds and vehicle noises, the real meat in the sound comes in the form of music and sound clips taken from news announcements from the Vietnam era. Along with its share of tracks from some old-school music artist like Jefferson Airplane and Credence Clearwater Revival, the game features a number of sound clips taken from the Vietnam era during the many menu screens. It’s neat starting up a game and hearing a charming Vietnamese anti-US propaganda monger chime in and try to lower my morale.

While my time with Battlefield Vietnam was limited, I came away from the experience both happy and with nerves frayed to the breaking point. Thanks in part to overall sense of realism in the game, every skirmish and every conflict ends up being like the real thing. It’s perhaps that do or die quality about the game that makes it so appealing. Running through the woods trying to scope out an enemy only to have yourself get cut down suddenly by a sniper who’s been waiting for you is both frustrating and exhilarating. With so many vehicles to pilot as well as the ability to take on the war from both sides, Battlefield Vietnam should be on the “must have” lists of all Battlefield fans out there, as well as newcomers. It may be war, but now you can take it home with you.