GameInformer

Very informal review that im going to write about MAG.

I thought the developers of MAG had a good idea in mind when they designed this game. I mean, putting 256 players in a single FPS match seems like an epic idea - and on paper, it is. the extent in which they made the game fit 256 people in a match and have it NOT lag like a Modern Warfare 2 blew my mind. It also relies heavily on squad communication and organization. 
in MAG, you choose between 3 factions or PMC's and stick with them for the rest of your career (lvl 60 - where you can 'prestige' and start over with a different faction). The three factions include Raven, Valor, and SVER, all with different character skins and weapon load outs.
There are four different match types found in MAG. Suppression is a Team Deathmatch within your own faction, Sabotage is similar to Domination found in MW2. These first two 64 player matches are accessible from the begining after you complete the tutorial. as you gain more levels you unlock Acquisition, a 128 player match where the objective is to infiltrate enemy territory, steal a vehicle, and return to base with it while the opposing team defends. And finally the 256 player match called Domination (not to be confused with the one in MW2) where the goal is to seize objective points long enough to win. those maps are strewn with strategically placed targets such where one can spawn, resupply, and control mounted turrets. there are also points with sensor arrays that allow squad/platoon leaders to call in mortar strikes and vehicles.

But thats where the shining glory of MAG comes to an end.

Because of the day and age we live in, Teamwork is not among the forethoughts of many players. It can be very difficult to have some stranger listen to you and do what you tell them in person, so you can imagine what it would be like to try to give orders out to a squad with your mini headset. Im not saying you cant find a group of people that wont work together (thank you clans) but they are rare. The core of this game relies on that teamwork aspect, and when it fails, you will find yourself on the side of a long and frustrating fight which will end in your imminent loss.

The graphics in this game are not spectacular either. this is mostly due to the servers having to support so many players without lag. it might have not been a let down if played on the PS2, but with PS3 and blueray technology, the game looks tacky and old. The menus are plain and dull, charactor customization and weapon loadouts are limited, and the meager maps you play on quickly become old. you will find yourself runnning the same maps over and over again grinding experience to get to your next level to unlock a mediocre upgrade (if any). the weapons you start out with are painstakingly inaccurate that it can be very difficult to kill someone. until you get some better upgrades (which involve getting experience by killing someone..see where im going here?), you will be a very frustrated player.
the spawn mechanism in this game is also poor. there are no squad spawns so every time you die, you will be sent back to your base (or nearest base depending on match type), wait for the respawn timer to hit zero, and have to walk all the way back to where you were.

This game may appeal to some, but it just wasnt my cup of tea. i mean shooting peoples faces off is fun with 256 people but it loses its appeal after so long. and i havent even begun to talk about the grenade spam and all the other things people do on online shooters. you can just imagine.
overall i'd give this game a 6.5
it was a good effort at something more but people just arent ready to work together. kill death ratio is just too important to kids right now. i liked what it tried to do- making huge battles. but everything else about it was mediocre, especially with good leading titles out there like Call of Duty, Halo, and Battlefield.

Summary
The follow up to2008's original Battlefield Bad Company game makes vast improvements on gameplay, story, visuals, and overall handling brining to the PS3, 360, and pc a game worth playing.

Pros
Almost complete environmental destruction
Well designed online multiplayer
Visuals and sound
Hilarious characters

Cons
If you enjoyed the nonsense story of the first game, this one will seem a lot more serious and holding a darker tone (it does)
Slow health regen and smart AI can make the game a little difficult
Checkpoints can be very unforgiving

Graphics
9/10
Comparing with the original game and its hazy world thats always seemed to be covered in mist, BC2 practically redo's everything. Graphically, things look more realistic and sharp. The effects that appear when you shoot down a tree, blow up a vehicle, or destroy a building looks spectacular, making that destructive side of you smile in glee. Sound effects are also noticeable. From the chirping of birds to the sound of a sniper rifle, everything is crystal clear through the speakers.

Gameplay
10/10
If you have played any first person shooter, then the feel of BC2 will be very familiar. There is a intense singleplayer campaign which it notably worth playing due to the hilarious characters from the original Bad Company and a story to boot. But you'll soon find that the meat of the game comes from the online multiplayer. Although similar to other FPS, the things that set this game apart from other shooters though, are what make it an exception. The fully destructible environment transfers over to online multiplayer, which holds up to 24 players on a match, where it can be used tactically to breach buildings, or just to get rid of an obstacle. Vehicles are also included in the game in a way that it is well balanced out and doesn't provide a cheating advantage to the game. There are different kinds of land, sea, and air vehicles that one can employ to further the destruction of the battlefield.
Squad and objective based combat are also what sets it apart from popular titles such as Call of Duty. The game is more focused on teamwork and communication rather than Kill/Death ratios. With the ability to only communicate with your squad members rather than the whole team, everyone needs to work together to hold or destroy an objective. 
Online maps are also quite large, varying from snowy forests, a town in the middle of a desert, forest villages, to a map covered in the cloak of night. 
The four classes included in BC2are the Assault, soldiers who carry assault rifles with mounted grenade launchers who can drop ammo for teammates; Engineer, sub-machine gun wielders who can repair or sabotage vehicles; Medic, machine gun fighters who can heal and revive fallen teammates; and the Recon, a stealth class equipped with sniper rifles and C4.
Weapons, gadgets, and specializations (which boosts stats) are unlocked by gaining experience in a selected class. You gain experience by kills, assisting teammates, and doing class related actions such as healing for the medic and spotting enemies as recon. Because enemies don't appear on the map after they fire a shot, spotting is essential to communicate to teammates where the enemy are going. Hitting select while the enemy is in your sights will automatically place a red triangle over their head and alert others where he is.
Beyond this, there are a lot of tactical decisions and maneuvers for players to find out. Some more hilarious than others.

Replay Value
9.5/10
Although you probably wont go back to the singleplayer after you have beaten it and found all its trophies/achievements, you'll be playing the online multiplayer for quite some time. No more noobs camping with a heartbeat sensor and RPG-7 spam. Knifing feels more realistic, riding the game of cursed teleportation... er commando knifing found in certain FPS today...
Although dumb players are still present, there are fewer 'cheap' tactics. Some squads are just that good.

Overall
9.5/10
Own
Put it simply, its better than MW2. It is a battlefield game. A veteran of FPS or a complete newbie, this game is definitely worth the buy. From its highly addictive fully destructible environments to that anti-tank mine you just placed there on the ground, this game will keep you engaged for a very long time.