Battlefield Vietnam
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| Battlefield Vietnam | |
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| Developer(s) | Digital Illusions |
| Publisher(s) | EA Games |
| Release date(s) | March 14, 2004 |
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PC |
Battlefield Vietnam is a first-person shooter computer game and the next game in Electronic Arts Battlefield franchise after Battlefield 1942. The game was developed by Digital Illusions and published by Electronic Arts on March 15, 2004 in North America and days later in other parts of the world.
On March 15, 2005, EA re-released the game as Battlefield Vietnam: Redux, which includes the 1.01, 1.02, 1.1, and 1.2 patches, new vehicles, maps, and the World War II mod.
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Description
Battlefield Vietnam takes place during the Vietnam War rather than World War II as in Battlefield 1942. It gives the character a variety of weapons, spanning the M16 to punji sticks that were used as booby-traps. It also has several new additions to it, such as air-lifting vehicles and playing the radio in any vehicle from a wide selection of the 1960s music. Another notable enhancement is the ability to fire from the passenger sides of vehicles this time around, rather than having to sit and watch. Also, helicopters hover by themselves (assuming there is a person in the pilot seat, and the helicopter is balanced) without requiring constant tapping of the keyboard, and the engineer class is sometimes equipped with a torch that allows for sabotage or eliminating a threat, such as a tank.
Primarily an online multi-player game, it is possible to play single-player, but gameplay is often marred by technical flaws. The initial release caused many complaints, as the American side had a vastly superior unit to the equivalent for the Vietcong, leading to one-sided contests. This was addressed in the first patch, and it is now much more evenly balanced.
There are numerous modifications (called mods) to Battlefield Vietnam in development. Many Battlefield 1942 mods changed over to BFV as well as many new ones were announced. Many of the existing, released BF1942 mods may at some point create a BFV version as well. How many modifications will actually be released is unknown, especially with the announcement of Battlefield 2.
There are several mods available for Battlefield Vietnam, such as the "Eve of Destruction" mod, which uses better quality models for vehicles and weapons, as well as introducing new ones and new maps. Another popular mod for Battlefield Vietnam is "Point of Existence" also known as PoE. PoE takes place in 2007, with a hypothetical war between the United States and Russia over oilfields in Africa.
Included Maps
- Hue 1968
- Reclaiming Hue
- Operation Flaming Dart
- Ia Drang Valley
- Landing Zone Albany
- Operation Hastings
- Operation Irving
- Quang Tri 1968
- Quang Tri 1972
- Fall of Lang Vei
- Operation Game Warden
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Cambodian Incursion
- Khe Sanh
- Defense of Con Thien (after 1.1 patch)
- Operation Cedar Falls (after 1.2 patch)
- Fall of Saigon (after 1.2 patch)
- Saigon 1968 (after 1.2 patch)
Note: Though it is a game, the Maps in Battlefield Vietnam have major historical inaccuracies
Weapons of the Vietnam War
Battlefield Vietnam provides a host of different kinds of firearms, ranging from the famous M16 to the unusual Type 53 Rifle (actually its real name is the DP-28). The Vietnamese get plenty of booby-trap type weapons, such as pungi sticks, which are poisoned sticks pushed into the ground. Several different configurations are included, for assault, sniper, engineer and heavy class soldiers.
Assault weapons
The American M16 rifle and AK-47 can generally be considered the best assault weapons of the game. They both have a fast fire rate and heavy damage can quickly mop up the enemys forces. The game also inlcudes the M14, DP-28, M60 machine gun, MAT-49, and SKS-56. The RPD is included in the 1.1 patch.
Anti-armour weapons
The game includes anti-armour/anti-air weapons effective against destroying vehicles and tightly packed infantry. There is only one heat-seaking weapon, the SA-7. Otherwise, it includes the standard LAW, RPG-7 and RPG-2. The modereately effective M79 grenade launcher is included as well.
Sidearms
The game includes renditions of sidearms available to both sides during including the M1911, the M19 revolver and the TT-33 revolver. Sidearms are effective as a last ditch weapon for medium ranged combat. For short-ranged combat, there is a knife/machete available or a Mossberg 500 shotgun in some cases.
Sniper rifles
The sniper rifles have a long effective range and powerful scopes meant for killing at a distance. The weapons included are the M21 sniper, M40, SVD and the M91-30. The SVD has the longest range and most powerful scope in the game making it the deadliest sniper weapon.
Explosive
In addition to the hand help weapons, there is a variety of explosive deviced available including C-4, time bombs and a variety of landmines including the infamous "Bouncing Betty". There is also a variety of grenades available as well as a high-explosive mortar.
Vehicles
Battlefield Vietnam hosts a large amount of period specific vehicles that were actually used in combat. It has land, air and sea vehicles included and unique vehicles to both sides. The vehicles included are:
US
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2 -Tactics: The ability to airlift this light tank makes it useful for striking behind enemy lines.
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2 -Tactics: Powerful but slow, infantry support is essential
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: 203mm explosive shell -Tactics: Use to set up mobile artillery points and support attacks
-Capacity: 6 -Weapons: machine gun -Tactics: Fast, use it to supply troops with a mobile healing point
-Capacity: 5 -Weapons: 2 x M60 machine guns -Tactics: Useful to strike and take enemy points behind front lines, airlift a tank to increase its power
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: gattling guns x 2, rockets, cannon -Tactics: heavily armed, useful for antitank support
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: minigun, guided missiles, rockets -Tactics: Fast and useful for roving antitank support
Chinook heavy transport chopper
-Capacity: 8 -Weapons: machine guns x 2, rockets, cannon -Tactics: Good for transporting troops and vehicles behind your own lines. Other than that, good for target practice.
-Capacity: 3 -Weapons: machine guns x 2 -Tactics: Good for river or sea based maps, and shooting down aircraft.
-Capacity: 4 -Weapons: machine guns x 2, artillery -tactics: use as a mobile base in water based maps
-Capacity: 3 -Weapons: rockets -Tactics: Fast, useful for anti armour support when assaulting
-Capacity: 1 -Weapons: napalm, missiles -Tactics: Fast, use the napalm for spooking enemies on the ground, and the guided missiles against aircraft.
-Capacity: 1 -Weapons: bombs, machine gun -Tactics: useful for ground stirkes, do NOT attempt to dogfight with it
NVA
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2 -Tactics: Powerful, but needs infantry or air support.
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2 -Tactics: Fast, utilise its ability to cross water in lightning attacks, also is amphibious so can cross water like a boat.
-Capacity: 6 -No weapons -Tactics: acts as mobile spawnpoint for parchuting into bases
-Capacity: 6 -Weapons: Missle launchers x4, machine guns
-Capacity: 5 -No weapons
-Capacity: 2 -No weapons
-Capacity:3 -Weapons: rear mounted machine gun
ZSU-57-2 anti-aircraft (flak) gun
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Anti-air flak shells
-Capacity: 2 -Weapons: Missle launcher x 6
-Capacity: 8 -Weapons: Machine gun, firing holes
-Capacity:1 -Weapons: Machine guns, bombs
-Capacity:1 -Weapons: Machine guns, bombs
In-Game Music
Battlefield Vietnam contains nearly twenty songs from the 1960s and 1970s. These include "War", "All Day and All Night", "I Fought the Law", "Get Ready" and "Surfin' Bird". Songs can be played when inside vehicles. An abrupt end to your favorite song can come if your vehicle explodes.
Mods
There are many mods for battlefield Vietnam, covering many different periods and theatres of war. Some popular ones include:
Dice City is a mod in which swat teams battle drug cartels, featuring urban landscapes and interesting vehicles, such as hot air baloons, airboats and supercars.
Revolution 1776 is based around the American war of Independence, and features muskets and cannon.
WW2 Mod is a popular mod which emulates BF:V graphics with BF: 1942 gameplay.
See also
External links
- EA's official Battlefield Vietnam site (http://www.eagames.com/official/battlefield/vietnam/us/home.jsp)
- MobyGames' entry on Battlefield Vietnam (http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/p,3/gameId,12397/)
- PlanetBattlefield Vietnam fan site (http://www.planetbattlefield.com/bfv/)
- Hanoi Hanna, psychological warfare broadcasting voice over in the game (http://www.psywarrior.com/hannah.html)fr:Battlefield Vietnam