Ben B

A perfect example of chasing trends and forgetting what makes something great in the first place. 2042 attempts to mix the sandbox style of combat of previous titles with aspects of free-to-play games and hero shooters like Fortnite and Apex. The result is a mess of ideas that fails to capture the immersion and atmosphere of past Battlefield titles, while also missing the mark on the social aspect and competitive elements that make Apex and Fortnite enjoyable. The squad leader and classes have been replaced with a skeleton squad system and specialists that turn the battlefield into a chaotic cluster as opposed to the classic "rock-paper-scissors" engagements the series has always been known for. Top that with a horde of bugs, poor optimization, limited content, and you have the conditions that make the game an extremely frustrating experience on all fronts.