However, there’s a great deal of raw potential here that could, with time and luck, be forged into one of the series’ best. And a variety of bugs, underdeveloped features, and placeholder menu screens remind you of that at nearly every turn. Like a fresh recruit, Battlefield V was clearly deployed into action without adequate preparation. Everyone is a Jack of all trades, which disappointingly lessens the need for coordinated squad building and teamwork. Specialists are basically just an extra skill that you can pick to augment your playstyle further – that’s a fun addition, but it’s also a big shift that diminishes the importance of individual classes as a result. Not having the usual class items exclusive to specific Specialists makes selecting a class feel less restrictive, but it struck me as odd that there also isn’t really any reason for a team to diversify their classes anymore when anyone can repair, heal, use anti-aircraft and anti-artillery equipment, and deploy ammo crates. I eventually found myself primarily picking Webster Mackay, whose Specialty is a grappling hook, and equipping the medical crate to get maximum mobility while still being able to play support.

There are Specialists who have more unique abilities, like Casper getting an OV-P Recon Drone to scout with or Sundance getting a wingsuit instead of a parachute to cover more distance while dropping into the map – but overall the Specialists’ loadouts don’t feel as distinct as the roles we played in previous Battlefield games. Similarly, anyone can now hold a repair tool, so that’s no longer specific to Engineers, and any Specialist can even equip any gun. And while Falck’s Specialist trait allows her to revive downed teammates to full health, anyone can revive their teammates or provide healing. I initially thought Falck would basically be the only option for someone who likes to play as a medic, but it turns out that anyone can go in as a healer if they equip the medical crate gadget, which lets them throw out the typical Battlefield area-of-effect healing box. Her Specialty skill arms her with a Syrette Pistol that fires syringes which heal allies and herself, but damage enemies.

For example, I first decided to go with Support Specialist Maria Falck to act as the team medic. However, unlike the previous Battlefield games where classes had very specific jobs and skills to define them, 2042’s Specialists’ skills don’t really change a team’s dynamic much. For instance, at first glance it appears that Battlefield 2042’s roster of 10 playable Specialists are based off of the original four Battlefield classes: Assault, Support, Recon, and Engineer.

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