The weird experience of liking a game before it’s ‘fixed’
A PC Gamer reviewer explores the contrasting perspectives players can have on a game during its launch period. The article focuses on Battlefield 2042, which was widely criticized as the worst entry in the franchise, yet one reviewer gave it a positive assessment. Rather than one perspective being correct, the reviewer argues both camps were valid—just evaluating the game differently.
The reviewer appreciated qualities that others criticized. The massive 128-player maps’ desolate stretches, which left some players stranded and frustrated, created eerie, isolated atmospheres the reviewer enjoyed, reminiscent of the original Battlefield 1942. Similarly, the game’s glitchy hovercrafts—typically seen as a problem—aligned with the Battlefield series’ tradition of wonky physics. The Portal scripting tool, which enabled custom game creation, was highlighted as another positive element that added value despite the game’s rough launch state.
The piece examines how subjective gaming experiences can diverge significantly, especially during a live-service game’s early period when patches and updates may later address community concerns. It raises questions about how players evaluate games before post-launch improvements occur and whether early reviews adequately capture the potential of titles that receive substantial support.