Basically "if its in the game, you can use it" is a good rule of thumb for vehicles in Bad Company.
There are jeeps, tanks, trucks, helicopters, armoured vehicles, boats, and as mentioned earlier golf carts; all of which have a varying range of usefulness. The tank also has the option to blow out smoke therefore creating a smoke shield, which will become mighty useful in the online multiplayer. All the vehicles are very straightforward to drive (or pilot) and getting into each will come almost naturally to most players. This is great for new players, but also somewhat sad as the challenge in piloting planes, jets and helicopters in previous Battlefield titles was part of the great attraction and longevity of the franchise. Enlarge this image
The squad combat in the single-player works quite well. To begin with it feels as though the rest of your squad is pretty useless, unless in a vehicle where they can man the guns for you while you drive. It's not until you are left without them that you realise the difference they make. They follow you well, and if they fall behind they will be re-spawned closer. For the record however, they can’t be killed and will always be there to back you up, which is probably why they aren’t the crack shots you might at times wish them to be, as this would have made the game too easy.
You also can’t command the squad around (which might have something to do with the fact that you're not Sarge), but they will take cover and on occasion even take out a vehicle for you. Very useful is the audio feedback they give you on eliminating enemies and such, or when Haggard sings “down down down†after eliminating an enemy, and you think of Johnny Cash and chuckle. Enlarge this image
One of the most irritating aspects of the single-player is the enemies. There are a good number of them, and they are ace shots. The irritating bit is that they will in most cases see you before you see them. Shrubs and trees don't matter, they’ll see you and they’ll shoot you. Its a shame because this means there is rarely an opportunity for any real sniping or sneaking tactics. But I guess that’s what you get when you implement one of the most amazing deformation engines ever, into a game. This game is meant to be played in a way that maximises the number of buildings that are destroyed and carnage created.
From the word go to the end I found myself blown away by the manner in which building walls and roofs are, well, blown away - often leaving the enemy inside somewhat stunned and open to attack (if the initial barrage hasn’t finished him off yet). Virtually every building and surface in the game is in some way damageable or deformable. You can’t completely level buildings, as the corner walls usually remain, but you can come pretty close. It's awe inspiring to see the war affecting the environment around you. Enlarge this image
The particle and smoke effects do a lot to help realise the destructible environment. When you blow open a building it often takes some time before the dust is swept away by the wind. The graphics overall are very impressive. It gives the game a realistically gritty feel; partly due to the grainy filter they have put in, which won’t appeal to everyone, but which gives a unique feel that I felt worked well. The draw distance is immense and you can often see miles off into the distance. The trees sway realistically (and as with the houses are fully destroyable), and the texture detail is superb. The ground, buildings, uniforms, everything looks great. A nice touch, adding to the immersion, is that most of the vehicles have a range of moving parts that bounce around, all rendered beautifully with excellent shadowing.
For the most part the game is in first-person, but when you are in a vehicle you have the option of third-person or first-person. I personally found the first-person view much more satisfying, and occasionally in third-person the camera would swing to an annoying angle where your tank/vehicle would block your sight. Aiming the tank was also substantially easier from within the driver's cabin.
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