Battlefield: A Futuristic Fray Worth Joining

Battlefield 2142 is set 135 years into the future with ultramodern weapons. (Electronic Arts)

Battlefield 2142, the latest in the Battlefield series of first-person shooter games, puts players in a futuristic combat environment where, after 135 years and a new ice age, European Union forces face off against the Russo-Asian Pan-Asian Coalition army.

A logical step from its prequels (the World War II-themed Battlefield 1942 and the modern combat-themed Battlefield 2), Battlefield 2142 pits players against the computer and one another, this time with futuristic weapons, defenses and vehicles. Like its predecessors, you can play a variety of roles (reconnaissance, assault, engineer and support), each with unique abilities.

It offers two major game modes, Conquest and Titan. In Conquest, players compete against computer-controlled units to capture points on a map while fighting in typically urban environments. In Titan, available only with Internet access, each team has a gigantic Titan airship and must bring down the other team's ship by capturing and holding several missile stations. There are multiple ways to achieve that goal.

Perhaps the most fun element -- and addictive -- is the game's unlocking system. Points, which are gained by killing foes, helping teammates, winning combat medals and the like, push a player toward the next rank. Once a higher rank is earned, players can unlock new weapons, armor and abilities.

The graphics and sound are impressive, but the sense of immersion is incredible, especially when players come under fire while performing such tasks as capturing a base or missile silo. The world becomes nothing but roaring noise with smoke and dirt flying everywhere as players dive behind cover.

Unfortunately, there are downsides. The game features in-game advertising on billboards scattered throughout each level. And it's difficult to distinguish friend from foe at a glance because the teams' uniforms are so similar. That can force players to hesitate before firing sometimes to avoid shooting a friend.

Even though the developers release a regular stream of updates, a few bugs remain. Player scores were sometimes incorrect after a round, a problem that had to be fixed by logging out of a multiplayer game server and logging back in. That, added to the occasional disconnect from a server, can be frustrating but by no means a deal-breaker.

The game is hardware-intensive, which may make you wince a little; you'll want more than the minimum specifications to run it, and the more RAM you have, the better.

Battlefield 2142 is extremely fun. The unlocking system keeps players coming back. There's no set way to play, which keeps the game interesting.

-- Chris Barylick

Battlefield 2142 Teen; Windows XP ($40) Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment/ Electronic Arts