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Battlefield 1943
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 65 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 72 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions (DICE)
Genre(s): First-Person Shooter
Players: 24
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: July 8, 2009
Summary
[Xbox Live Arcade] Using the Frostbite engine, Battlefield 1943 takes players back to WWII. The game offers hours of 24 player multiplayer action over three classic and tropic locations; Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Delivering the award-winning through-the-gun and vehicle warfare online experience DICE is best recognized for, Battlefield 1943 has players battling in ruthless aerial dog fights and intense trench combat. [Electronic Arts]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Even with the barest bones of a Battlefield game it's utterly complete. [Sept 2009, p.102]
GameShark
What makes this game interesting is the speed of play and the sheer, as mentioned before, chaos of it all.
Read Full Review >RealGamer
Battlefield 1943 may not be the most extensive multiplayer shooter available but none the less at its price it reflects tremendous value as it provides one of the best multiplayer experiences around, without doubt a must play title for any shooter fan.
Read Full Review >Gamer Limit
This is the best thing EA has done since they acquired Bioware. Instead of pumping out games that bring everything to the table, and only really offer a few things, they put out a title that offers one thing, and plenty of it.
Read Full Review >Console Monster
Take one fantastic engine, add pick up and play gameplay, top it off with a fantastic price and you have a hit - to the point of which EA struggle to handle the demand for. That’s a good sign that you should jump on in.
Read Full Review >Gameplanet
Battlefield 1943 not only delivers an excellent game but impresses on just about every level. If you have ever wondered what World War II was really like, this is about as close to the experience as you’re going to get.
Read Full Review >GamePro
With satisfaction always within reach, Battlefield 1943 makes for an addictive online experience. [Aug 2009, p.79]
Edge Magazine
A perfectly sized, expertly-crafted romp, Pacific gives other download games their marching orders. [Aug 2009, p.97]
Read Full Review >GameSpy
A great game and, in my mind, a fantastic value. It may not have a single-player campaign or a host of levels, but the content that it does provide is carefully made and really showcases the talent of DICE as a studio that knows how to create addictive multiplayer shooters.
Read Full Review >Totally360
Battlefield 1943 should be on everyone’s list once the server issues are sorted out, and the game’s back end infrastructure expands enough to incorporate more players.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
A finely-tuned online shooter that delivers an excellent multiplayer experience at a good price. [Sept 2009, p.78]
Pelit (Finland)
A first-class multiplayer-FPS. It doesn't do anything new, but what it does, it does very well. It’s fun and entertaining. [July 2009]
GamingXP
Some full price title can’t keep up with the multiplayer fun and the good looking graphic. Battlefield veterans don’t come around anyway therefore. Battlefield 1943 is a completely clear purchase recommendation for each action fan.
Read Full Review >Multiplayer.it
Battlefield 1943 is a welcome back to the saga's roots. A fast, fun and effective online game, well above the average product you can buy over Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. Hours of gameplay await the ones willing to spend the 15€ needed to buy this game.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
Battlefield 1943 is truly a blast. Its stripped-down nature (though definitely not a no-frills release) means its easy to get into, and the high potential player count should have the servers filled with players for quite some time.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
Battlefield 1943 is a prime example of why online gaming is so addictive. The concept is simple, the content is limited, but the fun is nearly endless.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
Despite a lack of depth found in other full-fledged FPS offerings (even from what's found in the Battlefield franchise itself) and a number of initial coding missteps, Battlefield 1943 is an arcade offering you really shouldn't miss. The $15 price tag and the overall quality make this a great purchase for anyone interested in shooters.
Read Full Review >Planet Xbox 360
Let’s cross our fingers that EA and Digital Illusions are already hard at work with new maps, vehicles and classes for downloadable content. We can’t tell you a reason not to pick up Battlefield 1943 via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the ultra-low value of 1200 Microsoft Points; it’s available now.
Read Full Review >WonderwallWeb
Battlefield 1943 is online only title which is well worth the cost and the hard drive space.
Read Full Review >GameFocus
What BF:1943 lacks in depth compared to earlier Battlefield games, it makes up for in a simplistic and challenging multiplayer game. Twenty-four person matches feel fantastic and except for the odd laggy match, it’s a seamless and fun experience. If you can get together a squad, there isn’t a more fun FPS online experience for your money.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
The game gives you a lot of action for a downloadable shooter, but it's not full-featured. There's no way to play or practice offline, so you'll have to learn the maps and how to use the vehicles in the heat of battle.
Read Full Review >Kombo
With Battlefield 1943, DICE has created an incredible environment in which a simple set of rules allows for infinite experimentation and destruction and can be just as inspiring when watching from afar as it is being smack in the middle of the gunfire an explosions.
Read Full Review >BigPond GameArena
Battlefield 1943 definitely has something for all shooter fans. Old school BF1943 will appreciate the map choices and the new ability to destroy what was once cover. New players will come to appreciate some of the best map designs ever all while immediately finding themselves able to compete against veterans.
Read Full Review >Gaming Target
Overall, Battlefield 1943 successfully condenses down to the essentials what makes the franchise fun.
Read Full Review >XGN
For only 13 euros this is a really cool experience. If you want a great multiplayer shooter, then you should definitely buy this game!
Read Full Review >GamingExcellence
Battlefield 1943 is proof that the increasing complexity found in some shooters gets in the way of the fun instead of enhancing it.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
Battlefield 1943 is an all out multiplayer experience and one that fans will surely be hooked to for quite some time. Although only three maps are available at this time, EA is constantly holding contests to unlock new maps for each system and the inclusion of ranks and awards will only encourage players to continue fighting.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
While the game lacks the feature depth of other Battlefield titles, 1943 is a fairly priced, solid core to build around with more downloadable content. If EA introduces weapon packs and additional maps from the franchise’s storied past, I’ll be playing right up to the release of Bad Company 2.
Read Full Review >IGN
Battlefield 1943 is an impressive package that sets a new standard for digital titles. You won't find anything new in terms of gameplay, but the seven-year old Battlefield formula remains a lot of fun today.
Read Full Review >PALGN
Whether you bleed for all things Battlefield or are just a gamer after a moderately priced casual shooter that is fun to pick up and play, you can't go past the entertaining gameplay of Battlefield 1943.
Read Full Review >Gamervision
It’s a miniature version, a smaller, quicker Battlefield, and one that is better suited for a downloadable title. Even with its faults, 1943 is absolutely worthy of a purchase. You’d be hard pressed to find a better downloadable game thus far in 2009.
Read Full Review >MS Xbox World
All in all, Battlefield 1943 is one of the highest quality multiplayer games you’ll find on Xbox Live Arcade, and for the asking price, it’s one of the best deals, as well.
Read Full Review >Vandal Online
Battlefield 1943 focuses on multiplayer, and achieves a great level of quality. Classic, well-made and fun as soon as some friends join in, it is a sure bet provided we are going to have war partners.
Read Full Review >1UP
New for some and familiar for others, 1943 will once again keep players up well into the night for just one more round. Before long, the greenhorns will be wily vets, experts on the ins and outs of all three maps, and eager for more.
Read Full Review >3DJuegos
1943 is a great effort from DICE to change the format of the series. Maybe there is nothing especially new in its concept, but it´s as amazing as its previously released Battlefield counterparts.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
DICE did a great job of refining the Battlefield formula into a cohesive package that should tide fans over until Bad Company 2, or may create a whole new fanbase in itself under 1943's small-but-strong design philosophy.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Battlefield 1943 is an impressive feat - it's a fun and gorgeous-looking downloadable game. If its rigid online structure can somehow be made more user-friendly in future patches, it'll be even more of a sure-bet that many of us will be playing for a long, long time, especially if this type of co-operative unlocking of features becomes a standard in future content.
Read Full Review >NZGamer
It’s an interesting, stripped down version that still has a lot of fun packed in. This comes with the proviso of playing alongside decent players, of course.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Battlefield 1943 is a great game if you’ve got a half hour or an hour in between something else and you want to play something but not get too deep into it. It, unfortunately, doesn’t go deeper than that, which is a shame because there are plenty of things here that could be done to open the game up even further.
Read Full Review >HellBored
For an online multiplayer experience, 1943 is up there with the best of them. With some more add-ons and expansions, which we’d gladly pay for, it can become amazing. But even as it stands, it’s pretty much an essential purchase if you’re a fan of multiplayer combat.
Read Full Review >Everyeye.it
Battlefield 1943 is one of the best Xbox Live Arcade ever, with a gorgeus graphic and an excellent and well crafted online mode.
Read Full Review >Thunderbolt
It provides a solid and refreshing online shooter for the hardcore and casual alike.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
This multiplayer-only slice of the Battlefield series packs plenty of thrills into a downloadable package.
Read Full Review >Giant Bomb
An intense, replayable multiplayer shooter that's fully worthy of both the Battlefield name and the price of entry.
Read Full Review >VideoGamer
Despite the lack of game modes and a bare bones class system, Battlefield 1943 differs enough from the competition to make it a worthwhile alternative to the likes of CoD, Halo, Gears of War, Killzone 2, Resistance and the rest.
Read Full Review >GamesNation
The long wait since Battlefield 1942 was well worth it: Battlefield 1943 is real value for money. It is a quality shooter, finely made and highly enjoyable thanks to its gameplay solutions and the flawless on-line experience. It’s available via digital delivery, and it’s cheap!
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
In the first flushes of infatuation it's an easy game to love, and one that will easily provide hours of ferocious enjoyment. In a few months' time the spell may well have worn off, but for this price that's really not something to worry about right now.
Read Full Review >Teletext GameCentral
A triumphant back-to-basics return to WWII, for the original vehicle-based multiplayer shooter.
Read Full Review >Meristation
Battlefield 1943 is a great multiplayer experience. It lacks game modes, weapons, maps and other features, but it's well-balanced and what it offers is great overall. Ideal for lovers of online multiplayer games, a fun and unforgettable experience that has become one of the best downloadable games nowadays.
Read Full Review >GameZone
Battlefield 1943 is a blast to play, and does a fine job of taking the basic mechanics of the Battlefield franchise and capitalizing on them. Sadly, the game is awfully low on content, with only one online mode, 3 maps, and 3 classes.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer Spain
Even with its minor defects, Battlefield 1943 is an example to follow by downloadable games: it has a small size, a fair price, offers a lot of fun and technically it has nothing to envy from bigger games.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
A superb Battlefield game, then, and an unmistakable sign that downloadable games are ready to give retail a run for its money. [Sept 2009, p.121]
DarkZero
Battlefield 1943 sets a high standard for the quality of downloadable games, and at only a tenner is an almost essential purchase for any online FPS fan.
Read Full Review >Cynamite
A decent remake of a great game, the only thing missing is more content.
Read Full Review >Gamer.nl
Dice took everything we loved from Battlefield and added more action packed gameplay. Battlefield 1943 offers a great multiplayer experience and total destruction, but tends to get repetitive because of a lack of modes.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
Battlefield 1943 is exactly the kind of game we like during these hot months -- not deep enough to play for an entire year (and at $15 a pop, would you expect to?) but definitely entertaining enough to tide you and your friends over until the fall's A-list releases.
Read Full Review >Boomtown
The main gripe of Battlefield 1943, however, is its staying power, considering just how shelled-out it is in comparison to previous entries in the series. It's quite superb in small doses, but with only two game modes, one of which has only one map, and both of which are only minutely customisable, there's no chance of losing a day to it.
Read Full Review >GameTrailers
Players looking for variety won't find it here, but for $15, it does a great job of keeping you hooked for hours on end.
Read Full Review >Destructoid
Whether you are a Battlefield fanatic or a series scrub like me, you’ll get your money’s worth from Battlefield 1943, as well as an unrivaled experience in the realm of download-only games.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
What you get, really, is Battlefield at its most pure. [Aug 2009, p.71]
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
This is definitely a good-looking $15 game, but there's just not enough meat here to sustain it for a long period of time.
Read Full Review >Absolute Games
Battlefield 1943 is the best multiplayer shooter for XBLA and PSN, but only by virtue of having no formidable competitors, except for the crippled CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars.
Read Full Review >NTSC-uk
Battlefield 1943 is technically very well made, with high production values and a solid online infrastructure that can easily host 24 players without any problems. Great as this is for the first 3-4 hours, though, it’s not long before the monotony sets in. There simply isn’t enough variety here to keep you coming back, and being an Xbox Live Arcade release is no excuse.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 72 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
John G O gave it a9:
Great game well worth the 1200 points. It's a bit dumbed down but At thesame time it's very fast paced and fun
Dustin G gave it a10:
Best game on 360. Hands Down. Blows away Call of Duty games.
Oliver H gave it a9:
1 of the best online experiences on the 360. A really outstanding achievement by DICE. This game was fantastic on the PC and on the 360 there is no exception. If you love a squad/team based fps then i cant recommend this enough and at only 1200points its a steal!
[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Battlefield 1943 is a game that delivers on the most essential element of any quality video game experience: the fun factor. It is not something that should be judged in comparison to previous installments in the long running series. That would be unfair, and entirely contrary to the developers intentions. BF 1943 is an arcade game, and it never attempts to argue otherwise. Infinite health, ammo, sprint- they're all present. This is not a "hardcore" fps, and I realize how that may disappoint fans of the series. However, if they would only judge the game purely on its own merits, then perhaps they would see the light. And oh what a beautiful, luminescent light it is. The premise of the game is beautifully simple. Set in the chaotic Pacific theater of 1943, two teams (the Americans and Japanese, obviously) duke it out in the ultimate hopes of conquering, or defending, a piece of land. This is accomplished through the capturing of flags, dispersed evenly throughout the three islands (Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Wake Island.) A meter at the top of the screen clearly displays the progress of both teams; the side that captures more flags and kills more soldiers will ultimately emerge victorious. That is, however, a boring synopsis of the game. The real fun lies in the methods of killing the enemy, of which there are numerous options. Tanks, planes, rifles, machine guns, snipers, grenade launchers, swords, wrenches; if it was used in WW2, it will most likely be found in BF 1943. The presentation is also superb, especially for an arcade game. The bright sun illuminates the colorful islands and sparkling Pacific waters of Wake Island and Guadalcanal, while the setting sun presents an eery backdrop for Iwo Jima. Bombs, grenades and tank shells explode around you in deadly showers of dirt, gravel and fire while you marvel at their beauty. The quality of audio is unmatched; as planes fly over you, you almost feel an instinctive impulse to duck. The sound of discharged rifle rounds changes when you step into interior settings. As buildings explode near you, you can hear the dirt and stone raining down upon you. It all makes for one hell of an immersive experience. If one fault can be attributed to BF 1943, it is that the three maps eventually begin to lose their initial appeal and ultimately wear on you. I sincerely hope that DICE fully supports this title post-release, for it has the potential to blossom into a thriving online community, with the proper developer support, of course. BF 1943 is beautiful, immersive, addictive, and above all, fun. For the insane price of $15, it cannot, must not, be ignored. This is the future of gaming, my friends. Enjoy.
Chris N gave it a9:
I've never had as many great gaming moments, and hours of entertainment from any other $15 game. So many ways to kill and be killed. I can't think of any arcade game with more bang for your buck.
Brandon F gave it a10:
The server problems seemed to be fixed. I've had no problem connecting to a match. BF:1943 is simply the best XBLA release to date. With enough interest EA will release DLC which can only extend the playability of an already good use of your 15$. When it comes down to price per hour of play this title will smoke most full retail games. A must buy.
Antti L gave it a10:
Best XBLA game so far. It's a great idea to make online-only game, because everyone who gets a XBLA game, has Live too. Great graphics, better than in most full priced games. It's simplified in many ways, but it's extremely well balanced. No class or vehicle is overpowered. The destruction is great, I was worried that the battlefield would be totally flat in the end of the round, but that never happens. You're too busy shooting the enemy to level down terrain. It's really a great game and I hope they release a few DLC extra maps, I would definitely biy them.