You Don’t Play the Whole Map
Unlike other battle royale games, in Firestorm, you don’t play the entirety of the game’s map. Instead, the circle is there from the very start, limiting players to an area roughly 2,500 meters in diameter (we have a full breakdown of the Firestorm map size here).
The actual location of the circle is randomized every match, of course, with the idea being that it makes every match feel unique. So not only are you forced to different locations by the flight of the aircraft, you’re also having to quickly think of alternative areas to loot and explore based on where the circle is.
It’s a pretty clever feature that definitely does keep each match feeling fresh, in our experience.
As a result of the circle’s persistence from the start and the fact that you never know which areas of the map it’s going to cut off, you’re really forced to get to grip’s with Firestorm’s entire map — there’s no picking one or two favorite locations and consistently hitting those same spots.
There’s Destructibility, Firestorm Included
The firestorm is different from other battle royale circles in another key way, and that’s in how deadly it is not just to players but the entire landscape. Battlefield V Firestorm features a fully destructible environment, and the circle itself is a ring of fire that obliterates everything in its path.
Trees, buildings, players: the firestorm literally incinerates, crumbles, and kills anything in it touches.
Not only does this look totally badass, but it also can play a key role in the endgame. You won’t, for example, want to be hiding in a building or taking cover in a densely forested area when the firestorm approaches.
And if you’re the solo or squad doing the hunting, you can use the firestorm’s destructibility to your advantage, using it to level buildings and expose enemies.
Of course, the destruction isn’t limited to the firestorm. Tanks, heavy weapons, and explosives can all be used to reduce buildings to rubble.
This is something we’ve seen in Battlefield games for years, but among popular games in the battle royale genre, it’s totally new territory, and it makes a huge difference to gameplay.
You simply can’t use the terrain to an overwhelming advantage in Firestorm, particularly if your enemies have heavy weapons or tanks. And obviously, just the nature of environments that can shift and change depending on damage adds variety to each match.
Vehicles, Lots of Vehicles
Firestorm certainly isn’t the first battle royale game to feature vehicles, but it takes the concept to a whole new level. Whereas in games like PUBG and H1Z1 they are merely transport, in Firestorm they pack a serious punch. What’s more, there’s an insane amount of them.
A whopping 17 vehicles are available, allowing players to traverse air, land, and sea with everything from heavy tanks like the Churchill and Sturmtiger to the tiny but useful Fl 282 Kolibri helicopter.
Vehicles are distributed around the map in special lockups, which can be found at most major landmarked areas. These lockups take a bit of time to open, and doing so is a risky business, since it alerts enemies to your position. Of course, the pay off can be pretty major if you score a decent tank.
Of course, vehicle balancing will be a key concern for players heading into Firestorm, but based on my hands-on experience, it’s pretty well thought out.
Tanks can be countered with the right weapons and gadgets, and vehicles require fuel to operate, so players can’t just maraude around in perpetuity. And any squad members caught inside an exploded vehicle can’t be revived, so using them needs to be considered carefully.
That said, the balance and the whole concept of war vehicles paired with battle royale felt more appropriate in squads than it did in solo. We’ll be breaking that down in more detail in another article.
There are Objectives to Capture
In the spirit of keeping Firestorm a uniquely Battlefield experience, this battle royale mode actually features objectives that players can capture. Randomly spawning at the start of each match, capture points A, B, C are signposted by balloons.
Just like in a regular Battlefield multiplayer match, squads gather around the objective to capture it, with the timer ticking down faster the more players join in. Securing these capture points provides a major loot drop, with some the best weapons and items in the game.
The catch is that other players are alerted to your attempt to capture the point, so you should expect plenty of heat coming your way if you attempt it.
Just as is the case with the vehicle lockups though, the reward is definitely worth it. Epic weapons, heavy armor, and the possibility of a vehicle resupply can tips the odds in your favor if you succeed.
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