Battlefieldis as storied a gaming franchise as any other, with its mainline hits, lesser-known offshoots, ambitious misfires, and cherished favorites among its millions of fans. Wedged between the originalBattlefield1942and its first foray into modern combat withBattlefield 2is the franchise’s sophomore effort,Battlefield Vietnam, which had several unique design decisions and a compelling setting, all begging to be revisited.
Battlefield 1942 wasreleased in late 2002, developed initially by Refraction Games before it was subsumed by DICE under EA’s umbrella. Its success as a large-scale multiplayer FPS, while online gaming was in its adolescence, marked a change in competitive shooter philosophy, shirking individualism for more role-defined team-based cooperation. Kill counts became secondary to point captures and team coordination took priority over lone wolves with quick aims. As the wheels began to spin on creating a worthy follow-up,DICE opted for a bold shift in era, taking players to the punji trap-riddled jungles of Vietnam.
A Warm Welcome to the Jungle
Released in 2004,Battlefield Vietnamgarnered generally favorable reviews and sold more copies than its predecessor, making the title an unequivocal success and solidifyingBattlefield’s place as a fixture of the genre for the years to follow. Now two decades from its initial release, the setting of Vietnam has yet to be revisited by the franchise beyondBattlefield Bad Company 2’s excellent Vietnam expansion. Alas, the conflict itself is relatively underrepresented in gaming, with titles likeRising Storm 2: Vietnamfew and far between. There is a niche to fill, andBattlefield Vietnam 2would certainly face less market inundationas a similar title set during the World Wars or a modern-day military conflict.
Battlefield Vietnambrought with it several unique features, some of which evolved into hallmarks of the franchise. Features like helicopters, airlifted vehicles, and asymmetrical factions made the game distinct. The differing weapons, tactics, and resources between the US forces and North and South Vietnamese inspired creativity in strategy and reduced gameplay stagnation. It is a tenet ofBattlefield design that DICE has carried forward, but arguably, that factional contrast was never more endearingly glaring than inBattlefield Vietnam.
The Iconic Sounds of the Vietnam War
Fascinatingly enough, one of the most fondly recalled features ofBattlefield Vietnamhas yet to resurfacein a modernBattlefield(Battlefield Hardlinebeing the most recent). Vehicle radios imbued the chaos of combat with a soundtrack, letting both pilot and passenger enjoy a score of songs synonymous with the Vietnam War and the 1970s. A Huey air assault hot drop has a much more resonant sense of immersion when the squad is being serenaded by Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Fortunate Son. Players could even add MP3s to the game directory that would play on the vehicle radios, creating some truly irreverent and inimitable gameplay experiences.
Battlefield Will be Back
In May 2024, an EA earnings call shed some light on the future ofBattlefield. CEO Andrew Wilson stated that he had been playtesting the next iteration of the franchise, claiming it would be a “tremendous live service,” and would “return in an entirely new way.” While neither quote inspires confidence that the next step inBattlefield’s journey will be a retread from two decades ago, it does not entirely rule it out, either. A lot of the series' most dedicated fans felt spurned byBattlefield 2042’s missteps in the specialist and progression systems, but DICE has done a considerable amount of rectifying in the three years since its launch, likeBattlefront 2before it, eventually updated into a game worthy of its pedigree. Whether revealed at the 2024 Game Awards or at some other event, there is a palpable demand for thenext entry inBattlefield, and the timing might be perfect forBattlefield Vietnam 2.
