When looking at theBattlefieldfranchise, many gamers are quick to talk about how flawed the recent entries have been. They will usually go on to mentionthe glory days ofBattlefield 3andBad Company 2, citing these titles as some of the best in the series and wishing that theBattlefieldbrand was still as strong as it was in the early 2010s. In both of these successful games, Rush was a major focus, and that is likely not a coincidence.
Unfortunately, Rush has been treated as an afterthought in recentBattlefieldtitles, as few maps feel like they were built for the mode. Further, if Rush is not just forced into a map that was clearly crafted for Conquest, it is ignored entirely. Sometimes it will be added as post-launch content, and other times it will be outright replaced by something like Breakthrough. Going forward, this has to change, as DICE has been treating one of the series’ best game modes as an afterthought.
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How Rush Can Return To Its Former Glory
For those unfamiliar withBattlefield’s Rush mode, the concept of the mode is easy to grasp. Players are split onto two teams. One side is made up of Defenders, with their only goal being to drain the opposing team of their lives or “tickets.” As for the Attackers, they need to destroy several sets of MCOMs, and when each set is destroyed, the defending team is pushed back to a new chunk of the map. When Rush is done right, players are constantly enjoying a change of scenery and getting new areas to fight around.
With the nextBattlefieldgame, Rush being present at launch would go a long way to pleasing the mode’s fans. InBattlefield 2042,Rush was added as an LTM, but fan backlash ensured that it was brought back to the game just one week after it was removed. This negativity was completely unnecessary, as if DICE had recognized how beloved Rush is, it could have included it on day one as a core mode instead of making it an LTM. Hopefully, the controversy reminds the studio to prioritize Rush with its next project.
Withthe nextBattlefieldrelease, there should also be an even split between Conquest maps and Rush maps. Since Conquest and its vehicular mayhem are the main reason many play the game, the mode should obviously not be done away with. However, it has to stop overshadowing Rush completely, as both game modes deserve to shine. To accomplish this, DICE should deliver an even split between Rush-exclusive maps and Conquest-exclusive maps. It is easy to tell when Rush has been forced into a location that was designed for Conquest, as Rush on Caspian Border was a lot less fun that it was on otherBattlefield 3maps.
WithBattlefield’s new seasonal approachlikely to stick around even after 2042’s struggles, as live service games are the new norm in the gaming industry, DICE could release one Conquest-focused map and one Rush-focused map every season. This way, fans of both modes will be getting additional content to enjoy, keeping them engaged and allowing both styles of gameplay to thrive. With seasons lasting several months, two maps being added in every season seems reasonable if the nextBattlefieldgame launches in a good state and DICE can focus on extra content instead of fixes.
Lastly, and most importantly, DICE needs to deliver Rush maps that are distinct and memorable. Operation Metro is timeless because of the variation, as players battle in a park before taking to the eponymous metro system, and they even end up in a city before the match concludes.Damavand Peakis an even bigger example of an iconic Rush map, as the jump off the mountain at the midway point of the game feels like a campaign set piece. Seeing helicopters and a few dozen teammates plummeting to the ground is unforgettable, with Damavand Peak providing an “only inBattlefield” moment every single game. Going forward, DICE should strive to replicate that feeling, focusing closely on making Rush feel special again.
