Conclusion
This is the 10th Battlefield game, and at this stage in the franchise’s history, it isn’t easy to come up with fresh takes. Visceral Games has done that.
It has some flaws. Along the way, I felt like multiplayer took priority over the main campaign. You don’t get to fly around in an aircraft in single-player missions, even though you actually escape in one at one point. In other words, single-player experiences give you a taste of what is possible to do in these big virtual spaces, but only multiplayer really lets you live out that fantasy.
I won’t spoil the ending. But it’s a satisfying one that raises questions. It leaves the window open for a sequel, but it has enough closure to bring a full arc to the story of Nick Mendoza. Some people who want a lot more choice will find that Battlefield Hardline isn’t about that. It’s about telling one story as well as it can. If you like that, then you’ll like this game.
Overall, I think that EA and Visceral have established a new franchise within the Battlefield series, and one that could live on for many years to come.
Review score: 86/100
We’ll assign a final review after a few days of multiplayer. Battlefield Hardline released March 17, 2015, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The publisher provided GamesBeat with an Xbox One copy of the game for the purpose of this review. It is rated mature.
