There is a creature in Greek mythology known as the Chimera. The Chimera was an unholy patchwork of a beast, a combination of lion, snake, and goat. Battlefield 3 is the software equivalent of a Chimera-a beast of a game stitched together from disparate parts.

Refined, well-balanced, multiplayer classes; giant, chaotic, detailed maps; jaw-dropping pyrotechnic, lighting, and particle effects

Unfulfilling single-player campaign; Battlelog is a pain to deal with

Many games today have the promise of DLC (downloadable content) to extend the gameplay once the original mission or levels have been "played out," but Electronic Arts has truly gone above and beyond the call of duty with Battlefield 3 Premium , a service that offers special perks and items to the...

More maps; more modes; truly expands on the Battlefield 3 action; and offers the promise of two more modes in 2013

With new maps the old ones are starting to feel like abandoned towns; suggesting longevity of some servers could be in question.

L'arrivée de Battlefield 3 et celle prochaine de Modern Warfare 3 prouve combien le temps passe vite. Il semble que le temps n'était pas si loin où les éditeurs respectifs de ces titres ne faisaient encore qu'annoncer leur mastodonte.

Le multijoueur; cœur du jeu et ses qualités; l'action et le rythme imposée par la présence de 64 joueurs et des véhicules; les cartes gigantesque regorgeant de subtilités; de passages secrets,..

Une campagne solo anecdotique mais appréciable quand elle est vue comme une mise en bouche; Les bugs rédhibitoires

Six years have passed since Battlefield 2 was released for the PC. Today we take a look at its successor, Battlefield 3, and determine whether it has truly surpassed its predecessor.

Multiplayer will keep you playing for hours without noticing the time; Excellent Graphics; Performance quite good even on mid-range video cards; Massive maps and great interaction with vehicles; Lots of customization for weapons

Falls Short on Single Player and Co-op; Will need a 2GB+ video card for glitch free gameplay on a Surround (3 monitor) setup.

A stunning and explosive first-person shooter, Battlefield 3 doesn't quite tip the scales with innovation, but its multiplayer and overall presentation is enough to give its competition a run for its money.

Looks and sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster; Multiplayer battles are epic and explosive; Multiplayer maps are well-crafted

Single-player mode is generally mediocre, Poor A.I; leads to frustration, Some graphical pop-ins and minor texture issues

We live in an odd world. If, for example, Russian Special Forces were to overrun the cities and nations of the western world, most of the young people of those civilizations would, I'm sure, show a remarkable aptitude for the weapons and tactics they require to fight back against the onslaught.

Intense; Utterly beautiful; Perfectly balanced

Not much really; Er...

An earthquake has hit Tehran and the streets are a cracked, debris-ridden mess. Thankfully there are lots of dudes to shoot to make matters even messier. That's the setting for Battlefield 3 's latest downloadable content, Aftermath , and it works well.

Great map design; lots of verticality and flanking routes; satisfying crossbows; fun Scavenger mode

Disappointing vehicles; questionable longevity for Scavenger; generic Markaz Monolith

Here's a quick tip for enjoying the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 3: if you really want to enjoy the console version of the game, then don't play the PC version. Ever. I know that sounds pithy and a bit on the arrogant side but playing the game on the console was one of the best console...

Since Battlefield 3 was released late last year, it's taken hold pretty well on PC, but there sure is a lot of competition out there. From free-to-play shooters like Tribes: Ascend and Team Fortress 2 to Valve's revival of Counter-Strike in this summer's CS: Global Offensive , EA and DICE are having...

As the curtain slowly closes on a generation filled with stunning experiences, it's only a natural to reminisce on the games that made this generation so spectacular. For many, Battlefield 3 is one of those experiences.