EA have dished out some details on the plot behind Battlefield 4‘s campaign mode. Can you guess what it involves?
Well, you’re wrong. It’s actually a hearts and minds campaign, in which you have to distribute leaflets and food packages, ensure that the local infrastructure works, and keep the local populace safe while cultivating friendships with… oh, who am I kidding? You shoot lots of people in order to save the world. Oh, and be warned that this description probably spoils the first two or three missions.
You play Sergeant Daniel Recker and, very early on, you and your squad learn that the Chinese Admiral Chang is planning a coup, and that Russia is willing to back him up. You and your squad then have to head to Shanghai to extract some VIPs, although the locals aren’t exactly friendly due to the US being implicated in the assassination of a popular figure. Martial law! Russian and US fleets positioning themselves outside Shanghai! Mysterious refugee hunted by the Chinese military! CIA field operatives! Escape to Singapore! Everything gets blown up! NOTHING IS CERTAIN! Final hope for peace! Etc.
If you’re actually interested in the details rather than a brief (and cynical) overview, you can find them here. Just be warned that the linked piece contains the phrase “Are you Preapred [sic] 4 Battle?“
But wait, that’s not all! Two of your teammates have been detailed, too. Well, I say detailed. They’ve been given names, ranks, and ages.
There’s Clayton “Pac” Pakowski, a 27 year old who holds the rank of Marine Combat Lifesaver and has the designation Tombstone 4, and there’s Kimble “Irish” Graves, a Staff Sergeant with the designation Tombstone 3. Pictures of them above and below. And if Irish looks a bit like Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire), that might be because Irish is being played by Michael K. Williams!
Battlefield 4 is due out on 29 October and, despite what I’ve written here, it’s actually looking pretty good – although I rather suspect I’ll be playing it for the gameplay rather than the story.
