Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Another reason why stop killing games exsist, by this point they're telling you to pirate the game

This game was lightning in a bottle, the idiots at DICE could never figure out how to replicate it.

THEEE best game from the battlefield series
and now no longer buyable to new players
the end of good games is a dark dark place
rest in peace
shame on EA ...
if you can find it buy it 10/10

The best battlefield game ever made, no longer for sell.
Probably cause EA wouldn't want you to have fun

Before I start with my review, I'd just like to shame EA for taking this game off the Steam store. In doing so, they are denying future generations the chance to experience an enjoyable campaign and a simple but fun Battlefield multiplayer. They are truly one of the worst gaming companies of all time, and I sincerely hope that their fate mirrors that of the Bad Company series. Anyway, let me get started on the game.
Bad Company 2, along with the first Battlefield Bad Company, have the best Battlefield campaigns by a country mile. There is simply no contest. Unlike the more recent Battlefield campaigns that have tried to emulate the more serious "tacticool" stories and gameplay of Call of Duty campaigns, the Bad Company series is humorous and light-hearted at its core. Whereas I couldn’t care less about most characters in a shooter, I found myself enjoying the back and forth between the main cast of Bad Company over the two games, even now when I’m much older. It reminds me a bit of the back-and-forth banter that I’d have with my friends in voice chat. It’s nice. The levels are usually quite large, some with a fair bit of travelling in a vehicle, so there’s plenty of time to listen to them talk. There’s plenty of destruction to be had in these levels too, because unlike the more modern Battlefields, almost everything is completely destructible in Bad Company 2. Entire villages can and will be flattened on the way to the objective.
The multiplayer in this Battlefield is very PS3/360 era console-esque. It's slower paced, smaller scale, lacks fixed wing aircraft, and has a larger emphasis on Rush Mode over the traditional Battlefield Conquest. Frankly the game is better for it. Sure, the gameplay feels a tad clunky compared to the slick feel of the modern Battlefield games, but that's what makes Bad Company 2 better than them. It's not all about running around like rabid greyhounds, sliding around corners and blasting opponents before they can even blink. Instead, there is time to think, and there is more than enough time to smell the roses - well before they get blown up anyway.
On top of this, the weapons are all meaty and feel solid to shoot. They are also loud, and the sound is impactful. The sound of bullets and explosions will echo around not just interiors but bounce off nearby buildings outside too. It’s a real joy to the ears.
There is one issue that I have with the online, and that is the weapon balancing, but it doesn't take away from the game or make me not want to play it. Far from it in-fact. Whenever I spend time on Bad Company 2, no matter how poorly I'm doing, I'm smiling and having a good time. There's just something so magic about this era of Battlefield that has been lost since the release of Battlefield 3.
I'm also going to mention the Vietnam DLC in this review because it seems that it's no longer possible to review it separately. It is hands down one of the finest pieces of DLC that I have ever seen for a game. The maps, the vehicles, the weapons, and the music - wow, the music - it all came together to make it feel like a whole new game, and I believe for only £9.99 back in the day on the PS3. Contrast this with today where Battlefield games will drop pig slop maps once a quarter and sell skins for a tenner a piece. It’s not even comparable when you think about it. The standards for DLC have dropped significantly.
EA, do us all a favour and remaster Bad Company 1, Bad Company 2, and BF 1943. Then release them all on Steam. It won't take away from your modern CODified Battlefield games like BF6, but rather it will give us Bad Company era fans a chance to relive our memories. I'd sooner spend £70+ to fight in Harvest Day, Valparaiso, and Wake Island over spending a second longer in New Slop City.

A game from a better era.
The tech was less advanced, but the designers and writers KNEW their audience and understood what made military FPS magic.
Needs just a little nudge to bring it up to modern visual standards, but after that, the Single Player Campaign is still a masterpiece.
I am glad I got it here before it was delisted, but you can still find it.... elsewhere, and YOU SHOULD.

I played this game for about 1,500 hours, mostly with friends, and had the time of my life in multiplayer. It's actually the only PVP game I've really enjoyed.
I don't think I'll ever have that kind of multiplayer fun again, but remembering it or watching videos of it on YouTube always brings a smile to my face. :-)
And before anyone asks if Battlefield 6 could bring me back to the game, I don't think so. That's why I'm saving my money, but I still wish everyone lots of fun with Battlefield 6!