World War II is where the Battlefield series began over 16 years ago, and now the latest game in the franchise, Battlefield V , returns to those well-worn fields and streets. A lot has changed in the series in the years since it debuted - BFV wa s supposed to be a big step forward for the franchise,...

Incredible visuals and sound design

Lots of bugs; and a disappointing story campaign

Buoyed by compelling multiplayer modes, Battlefield V is a gripping first-person shooter that re-creates the intensity and anxiety of war better than its competitors.

Pulse-pounding gameplay; Breathtaking audiovisuals; Attrition adds complexity; Exciting maps; Free downloadable content

Visual hiccups; Bland; short campaign

Before you make that inevitable scroll to the bottom of this review to discover the score (I'll save you the trouble, it's between 1-10), you should realize that the Battlefield V that is being reviewed here is *certainly* not as good as the Battlefield V that we will have in three weeks time.

Over the years, the Battlefield series has steadily built up a reputation as a reliable purveyor of chaotic, large-scale vehicular and squad-based warfare, thanks in no small part to its capacity to effortlessly generate one jaw-dropping moment after another.

Like a fresh recruit, was clearly deployed into action without adequate preparation. And a variety of bugs, underdeveloped features, and placeholder menu screens remind you of that at nearly every turn.

An expertly crafted shooter with worthwhile narrative endeavours, that's a little too light on content for the time being

The most realistic FPS on the market. Limited progression for weapons and classes keep everyone somewhat on an level playing field. Sniper class slightly OP'ed.

Battlefield has been around long enough that you could ask half a dozen people for their favourite game and get as many different answers. It's a series that's been through its ups and down, but despite the rolling controversies and uncertainty from fans, Battlefield V and its return to WW2 is...

Great feeling combat and enhanced squad play; More variety in Grand Operations; Fortifications work well alongside destruction; Free Tides of War (we hope

When you're not in a squad; Rough around the edges with bugs; Single player is largely forgettable; Features not ready for launch in Tides of War

Overall, Battlefield V is a fine shooter to both behold and play: the way in which it sucks you deep into the full horror (and thrill) of a terrifyingly realistic rendition of World War II is simply magnificent.

Looks and sounds amazing; Epic maps; WWII brings better weaponry and vehicles; Well-judged classes; Incredible destructibility; War Stories fresh and full of character; Grand Operations add a sense of storyline to multiplayer

Tides of War plus one War Story and Firestorm conspicuous by their absence at launch; Dumb AI in single-player campaign; A few visual glitches persist; Battle royale is included but hard to access; Single-player campaign too short at launch

Electronic Arts' flagship first-person shooter franchise Battlefield has often felt like a poor relation to Activision's rival Call Of Duty – it has certainly never managed to hit the latter's commercial heights.