Up until this past week, DICE seemed to be pulling off a near perfect next-gen update. Battlefield 4’s previous multiplayer showings brought a lot of spectacular moments, with the collapsing skyscraper in the harbour of the Siege of Shangai being a particular stand-out. Unfortunately, as previously reported, there is a little trouble in paradise right now.
I played two versions of the game, first the PlayStation 4 version behind closed doors before heading to the show floor, where they were playing on PCs. Between the two there were a number of differences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQwkS1_CIh8&feature=c4-overview&list=UUmJgm56O64l2h7mpFcxKWfw
We’ve seen it outed last week that the game was in fact running at noticeably less than 1080p on PlayStation 4, which was disappointing, to say the least. I too easily gloss over these kinds of things, but to me it certainly didn’t match the level of detail of the PC version I played, even though it felt absolutely smooth and consistent.
I found that the most jarring point of difference comes when you die, and the game shows you your killer. Your foe is now highlighted orange against the rest of the world, and this really makes it incredibly obvious that the PS4 build was scaling back to lower polygon models much sooner than the PC version. They would have quite visibly angular limbs, with pointy knees and elbows looking like something from a much older game and generation of hardware.
Certainly there is still a lot of work to be done here, but the controls were nicely honed to the DualShock 4. With the modified L2/R2 triggers, these are now used for aiming and shooting, but more interesting is how they’re adapting to the loss of the Select button for spotting and marking enemies. This now lives on the R1 button, and should be more obvious to players, whilst the touchpad can invoke the Battlelog within the game.
On PS4 we played the smaller scale Conquest Domination on the newly revealed map, Paracel Storm, set in the South China Sea. With teams of eight on a subsection of the overall map, it’s a mode which was popular from the BF3 expansions, and so has been brought to the main game for BF4.
Unfortunately, none of my play time really showed much of the so called “Levolution” – though the less that term is used, the better – with only more subtle changes apparent. However, there’s a minor caveat to all of this, in that DICE state that this will all be player triggered. In Conquest Domination it felt like the only addition in this regard was being able to open and close shipping container doors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Kw0s_fgGQ
However, stepping up to the PC and a few more world changes did become noticeable. Here, players were given a round of the new Obliteration mode, with a tense fight over a bomb and various destructive objectives in the offing.
Played here with two teams of 16 players, Russians vs. Chinese, it did much to dispel my initial reaction that this was just Capture The Flag with a single flag, a game mode which has existed for a long time. While it’s certainly beholden to what has gone before here, it puts a new spin on things, as the bomb must be fought over and delivered to three targets spread across the map.
With another variant of the Paracel Storm map, this opened up a number of distant islands, with bomb spawn points and destinations being scattered throughout the entire environment. That opens up a lot of tactical play, allowing for a team to go for the closest or furthest target, and needing to utilise various forms of transport to best get to your destination by sea, since the map has a strong amphibious slant to proceedings.
With the larger map, it also gave the opportunity for some of the larger world effects to come into play. While I don’t believe we were privy to a warship beaching itself on an island (as that would need a player to hop into a ship and crash it into the archipelago) we did get to see the huge storm kick up and cause middle distance wind turbines to explode under the stress of the high winds, whilst the land was similarly battered by wind and rain.
Again, this didn’t quite show off DICE’s vision and promise of level evolution as best it could, but did drop a few hints. It won’t be until we see 64 players playing full rounds of Rush and Conquest on these maps that we see the true scale of what they’re doing, and how consistently they can achieve it.
Taking a step back from the war, and delving into the customisation options, there’s a lot of new content to be found here. Many more options exist for tweaking your weaponry, with many different laser pointers, which could be green or triple dot, new weapon sights from Chinese military or canted iron sights, new weapons themselves, and so on.
Looking at all of the options was rather daunting, and here the companion app should come in handy. You’ll be able to quickly dive into all of these options, and hopefully get to the changed loadout you want much quicker than via the menus in-game. It will naturally give you access to all your stats too, and let you hop into Commander Mode, to direct troops – sending orders to squad leaders, with squads getting more points for following your instructions – and support them with abilities and remote weaponry.
Honestly, I don’t think that DICE managed to put their best foot forwards with their hands-on efforts at Gamescom. The PS4 version lacked visually, and it will go right down to the wire with optimising the game to see if they can hit the golden 1080p and 60Hz target, whilst the game modes on show didn’t really do the best job of showing off the level evolution which has been demonstrated before.
Fingers crossed DICE will be able to deliver on their promises, and everyone’s hopes for the next generation, when it comes to the middle of November.
Wardy-77-
Battlefield 4 is a day one with PS4 for me,hopefully they can iron out the rough elbows and knees and other rough edges,and get it running to as close to it’s full potential as possible.
yiddo
Doesn’t every PS4 game come with a demo?
If so, I’ll wait to try out the demo. Or if not, I’ll see how rough it looks through somebody elses live stream/shared clips.
Anyway, it’s Killzone day 1 for me, but as with Wardy, I hope these problems get ironed out because the MP certainly looks awesome.
beeje13
That’s what I thought, with it being streamed by Gaikai tech rather than downloaded. As it’s the full game(60 minute trial), developers don’t need to code a demo, saving time.
quinkill
I’m not too fussed about it not running at 1080 tbh. What I still can’t find an answer to is whether the companion app will be available on my Vita? any one know anything about this?
yiddo
You mean commander mode?
I don’t know of any concrete info, but I’d assume so. Isn’t there a PlayStation app launching on tablets, mobiles and the Vita that does all of this second screen, companion app stuff?
I really do hope commander mode can be played on Vita.
DJ Judas
I’d presumed that the differences between PS4/XO and PC versions would be non-existent, however small the differences though it just makes the decision to pick it up on PC rather than PS4 an easy one, if only to keep me busy for the month run-up to PS4.
Klart
“quite visibly angular limbs, with pointy knees and elbows”
Hmm, this kind of thing shouldn’t be present on next gen
rossthebassist
its clear that this was behind closed doors for a reason and thats why footage has not leaked online yet! game sounds like its clearly not ready to be shown! we will see footage when thats “ironed” out i suspect.
HywelWJ
When do you think PS4 review copies will start be sent out before launch? there are a few games of the same genre (this or killzone for example) that I’ll wait until reviews to decide.
Stefan L
This depends more on Microsoft and Sony than it does EA, and the availability of the actual games consoles for reviews prior to the street date. This is likely to be quite limited to the biggest press outlets, but I really don’t know exactly. It could equally be next to no-one!
However, if you’re outside the US and wanting a PS4, then you’re in luck, because for BF4 we’ll have the US PS4 launch, which can get reviews, as well as the rumoured early November X1 release, which can also get reviewed. All ahead of the EU street date.
E8_BALL_
Triggers for aiming & firing, oh dear. I get how it’s suited to firing, but aiming, why, what, no thanks. So evolution on how to aim & fire, since its been in a fps, since doom or whatever. The red killcam, even looks out of place on a PC. Luckily I only play hcore & k/cam isn’t present.
Really don’t like the trigger controls, praying they are adjustable.
E8_BALL_
There’s alot I like the look of about this game btw, but its all been said before.
Stefan L
It’s the established system, and what has been used since the Xbox Classico, really. It’s only the DS2 and DS3 having inappropriate L2/R2 triggers for this kind of system (not that I suffer from it, but I know many people have slippery fingers) which has meant that it’s been L1/L2 on the PlayStation.
There’s something to be said for symmetry, too. The control scheme will generally want to feel balanced, and having a symmetrical layout makes the most sense in that regard. Aiming down sights can’t be on R1 or any of the face buttons, which means it has to be L1 or L2, and when that’s the case, it’s going to generally match the fire button.
I’m sure there will be some control options. I know that a few devs out there are sensitive to the L1/R1 legacy which the DS3 has left us, and are putting the options in.
Anyway, give it a go, and you might end up liking it.
beeje13
I’d be willing to bet the PC version’s graphic’s card alone cost more than the PS4…
For PS4 to match would be impossible, especially as DICE are rather good PC developers. Still plenty of time for optimisations.
I’m surprised the Xbox One version wasn’t shown, given the games slight tie in towards the platform. I’d imagine the game runs even worse on there.
Stefan L
You can get perfectly capable graphics cards for PC, which will run at 1080p and 60Hz for less than a PS4, but you’re likely right. The PCs at the show will have not made any compromises, just for the absolute stability of the game.
I can’t remember what it was, but wasn’t BF4 announced prior to the Xbox One? Did that tie into things?
I wouldn’t expect there to be that big a difference between Xbox One and PS4 games initially.
Statix
Have to agree with beeje13. Battlefield 4 is supposed to have timed-exclusive DLC on the Xbox One, and yet the only console DICE is confident enough to show the game on is PS4? That isn’t a good sign for the Xbox One, no matter how you slice it.
If I’m correct, Need For Speed: Rivals (another Frostbite 3 game) has been demonstrated on the PS4 instead of the Xbox One as well; another fact that flies somewhat in the face of the supposed EA/Microsoft partnership.
The fact that these, and most other multiplatform games, are being shown on PS4 rather than Xbox One, leads me to believe that most multiplatform titles are either further along or look/perform better on PS4.
Shadow-King
Will be getting for PC and PS4 both. Just like I’m playing it that way for bf3, thankfully due to PS+. The gap between PC and next gen consoles was always going to be present. I’m pretty sure a dev tweeted that BF4 consoles wasnt going to run at 1080p60, but rather 720p60. Makes sense when you look at the graphics cards in the consoles.
Can’t wait to get my hands on the beta and full game!