Where to begin? Let's ignore the Day One crashes and server problems, the many bugs, the many patches seemingly designed to introduce yet more bugs, and let us instead look at what was left out from previous versions, discarding the maxim 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' Dice instead went with 'If it ain't broke let's kick it until it squeals on the floor while its dog-tags are heartlessly flung in the furnace of wanton abandonment'. In Battlefield 3 players could squad up before joining each other online. a useful feature that (mostly) ensured players would join a game on the same team, and often in the same squad. Preferring zero form over functionality, Dice discarded this popular feature in favour of... Nothing. And then there's Co-op: Battlefield had a 3 player co-op campaign. Previous iterations had a (purchasable) Onslaught mode, but once again these have been discarded, the developers resources of time and talent instead directed to ensuring a completely immersive, satisfying and trouble-free online experience. (If you don't laugh you cry, right?) Some of this could have been forgiven if the game worked, but fans and investors alike were left feeling they'd been conned. time (and the courts) will decide if this is true on the investors behalf, but looking once again at metacritic we can see that although critics initial reactions were favourable, once the game was released into the great wide open, players felt disillusioned and wondering if they'd just bought an expensive and lazy beta.
When not overthrowing governments MuddledMuppet can be found on youtube making mockery of life with slightly better than average gameplay.
https://www.youtube.com/user/muddledmuppet
