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Battlefield Vietnam

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Battlefield Vietnam is a first-person shooter computer game and the next game in Electronic Arts Battlefield franchise after Battlefield 1942. The game was developed by Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts on March 15, 2004 in North America and days later in other parts of the world.

On March 15, 2005, EA re-released the game as Battlefield Vietnam: Redux, which includes the 1.01, 1.02, 1.1, and 1.2 patches, new vehicles, maps, and the World War II mod.

Contents

Description

Battlefield Vietnam takes place during the Vietnam War rather than World War II as in Battlefield 1942. It gives the character a variety of weapons, spanning the M16 to punji sticks that were used as booby-traps. It also has several new additions to it, such as air-lifting vehicles and playing the radio in any vehicle from a wide selection of the 1960s music. Another notable enhancement is the ability to fire from the passenger sides of vehicles this time around, rather than having to sit and watch. Also, helicopters hover by themselves (assuming there is a person in the pilot seat, and the helicopter is balanced) without requiring constant tapping of the keyboard, and the engineer class is sometimes equipped with a torch that allows for sabotage or eliminating a threat, such as a tank.

It is primarily an online multi-player game, although it is possible to play single-player, but as pointed out in a number of game reviews there were some key issues that caused problems. In the first release the gameplay was marred by technical flaws and balance issues, though this was partially addressed in the first patch.

There are numerous modifications (called mods) to Battlefield Vietnam in development. Many Battlefield 1942 mods changed over to BFV as well as many new ones were announced. Many of the existing, released BF1942 mods may at some point create a BFV version as well. How many modifications will actually be released is unknown, especially with the release of Battlefield 2.

There are several mods available for Battlefield Vietnam, such as the "Eve of Destruction" mod, which uses better quality models for vehicles and weapons, as well as introducing new ones and new maps. Another popular mod for Battlefield Vietnam is "Point of Existence" also known as PoE. PoE takes place in 2007, with a hypothetical war between the United States and Russia over oilfields in Africa.

Included Maps

Because this is a game, the maps in Battlefield Vietnam have major historical inaccuracies such as the games battlefield being often reduced in size compared to the real battlefield.

Weapons in the game

Battlefield Vietnam provides a host of different kinds of firearms, ranging from the famous M16 to the WWII-era, Russian designed Type 53 LMG (The Chinese built version of the DP-28). The Vietnamese get plenty of booby-trap type weapons, such as pungi sticks, which are poisoned sticks pushed into the ground. Several different configurations are included, for assault, sniper, engineer and heavy class soldiers. The available weapons for each class differ from map to map, dependant on the period of the war in which the map is set.

Assault rifles

The American M16 and Russian AK-47 can generally be considered the best assault rifles of the game. They both have a fast fire rate and heavy damage can quickly mop up the enemies' forces. The game also inlcudes the M14, Type 53, M60 machine gun, CAR-15, CAR-15 & XM148, MAT-49, and SKS-56. The RPD is included in the 1.1 patch.

Anti-armor weapons

The game includes anti-armor/anti-air weapons effective against destroying vehicles and tightly packed infantry. There is only one heat-seaking weapon, the SA-7 Grail. Otherwise, it includes the standard M72 LAW, RPG-7 and RPG-2. The moderately effective M79 grenade launcher is included as well.

Sidearms

The game includes renditions of sidearms available to both sides during the Vietnam War, including the M1911, the M19 revolver and the TT-33 pistol. Sidearms are effective as a last ditch weapon for medium ranged combat. For short-ranged combat, there is a knife/machete available or a Mossberg 500 shotgun in some cases.

Sniper rifles

The sniper rifles have a long effective range and powerful scopes meant for killing at a distance. The weapons included are the M21 sniper rifle, M40 sniper rifle, Dragunov SVD sniper rifle and the Mosin-Nagant M-1891/1930 PU sniper rifle. The SVD has the longest range and most powerful scope in the game making it the deadliest sniper weapon. Other people, however, much prefer the M40.

Explosives

In addition to the hand help weapons, there are a variety of explosive devices available including C-4, time bombs and a variety of landmines including the infamous M-16 "Bouncing Betty" Anti-Personal Mine. There are also a variety of grenades available as well as a high-explosive mortar.

Vehicles

Battlefield Vietnam hosts a large amount of period specific vehicles that were actually used in combat. It has land, air and sea vehicles included and unique vehicles to both sides. The vehicles included are:

U.S./South Vietnam

M551 Sheridan tank -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2
-Tactics: The ability to airlift this light tank makes it useful for striking behind enemy lines.

Patton tank -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2
-Tactics: Powerful but slow, infantry support is essential

M110 howitzer mobile artillery -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: 203 mm explosive shell
-Tactics: Use to set up mobile artillery points and support attacks

M113 ACAV APC -Capacity: 6
-Weapons: 1 x .50 caliber heavy machine gun, 2 x M60 side-mounted machine guns
-Tactics: Fast, use it to supply troops with a mobile healing point, amphibious can swim across rivers and lakes

UH-1 Iroquois Huey transport chopper -Capacity: 5
-Weapons: 2 x M60 side-mounted machine guns
-Tactics: Useful to strike and take enemy points behind front lines, airlift a tank to increase its power

UH-1 Iroquois Huey gunship chopper -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: machine guns x 2, rockets, 40 mm grenade launcher
-Tactics: Heavily armed, useful for antitank support

AH-1 Cobra gunship chopper -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: minigun, guided missiles, rockets
-Tactics: Fast and useful for roving antitank support, can down other helicopters.

CH-47 Chinook heavy transport chopper -Capacity: 8
-Weapons: machine guns x 2, rockets, 40 mm grenade launcher
-Tactics: Good for transporting troops and vehicles (Including the PBR) behind your own lines. Can land and take-off from water.

PBR patrol boat -Capacity: 3
-Weapons: twin 360° prow machine guns , 1 rear-facing M60 machine gun
-Tactics: Good for river or sea based maps, and shooting down aircraft.

Tango -Capacity: 4
-Weapons: machine guns x 2, artillery
, helipad, and cargo hold. -tactics: use as a mobile base in water based maps, vehicle transport, and helicopter repair.

MUTT (Jeep) -Capacity: 3
-Weapons: Heat Seeking TOW Missiles
-Tactics: Fast, useful for anti-armour or anti-helicopter support when assaulting, though quite vulnerable to attack.

F-4 Phantom II interceptor -Capacity: 1
-Weapons: Heat Seeking Missiles, Napalm Bombs
-Tactics: Fast, use the napalm for spooking enemies on the ground, and the guided missiles against aircraft.

A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft -Capacity: 1
-Weapons: Bombs, machine gun
-Tactics: useful for ground strikes, do NOT attempt to dogfight with it (maneuverability is poor).

AC-47 'Spooky' Gunship -Capacity: 6
-Weapons: bombs, 2 gatling guns (manned by 2 gunners)
-Tactics: useful air support. Ask your teammates to locate major enemy blockades and shred them with your bombing runs and gatling gun fire.

A-1 Skyraider Ground Attack (Loadout 1) -Capacity: 1
-Weapons: Machineguns, Napalm
-Tactics: Most useful for ground attack, specifically against infantry formations.

A-1 Skyraider Ground Attack (Loadout 2) -Capacity: 1
-Weapons: Rockets, Bombs
-Tactics: Most useful for ground attack, specifically against vehicle formations.

OH-6 Scout Helicopter -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: 2x Miniguns, Artillery Spotting
-Tactics: Used in spotting for artillery, and miniguns for use against soft skinned vehicles, passenger can shoot his own personal weapons from the second seat.

M50 Ontos Multiple Recoiless Rifles -Capacity: 1
-Weapons: Recoiless Rifles

North Vietnam/Viet Cong

T-72 tank -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2, smoke
-Tactics: Very Powerful, an obvious target & therefore needs support.

T-54 tank -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2
-Tactics: Powerful, but needs infantry or air support.

PT-76 tank -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Cannon, machine guns x 2
-Tactics: Fast, utilise its ability to cross water in lightning attacks, also is amphibious so can cross water like a boat.

BRDM fitted with Malyutka -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Malyutka wire-guided missiles
-Tactics: Effective long-range anti-armour (RC missiles), also is amphibious so can cross water like a boat, requires driver & gunner.

Mil Mi-8 transport chopper -Capacity: 6
-No weapons
-Tactics: acts as mobile spawnpoint for parachuting into bases.

Mil Mi-8 missile gunship -Capacity: 6
-Weapons: Missile launchers x4 -Tactics: The Mi-8 is extremely useful for air to ground support.

Kamov Ka-25 Anti-Submarine Warfare(ASW) -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Chain guns x 2, heat-seeking missiles

Sampan -Capacity: 5
-Weapons: None, passengers can use hand-held weapons

Vespa Scooter -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: None, back-seat passenger can use hand-held weapons

UAZ 469 jeep -Capacity:3
-Weapons: rear mounted machine gun

ZSU-57-2 anti-aircraft flak gun -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: twin anti-air flak

BM-21 Multiple Rocket Launcher -Capacity: 2
-Weapons: Rocket launcher x 6

BTR-60 APC -Capacity: 8
-Weapons: Machine gun, gun ports for 2 passengers

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 -Capacity:1
-Weapons: Two 23 mm cannons, 250 kg bombs

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 -Capacity:1
-Weapons: One 23 mm cannon, rockets -Tactics: Fastest airplane in the game.

In-game music

One of the most notable features of Battlefield Vietnam is its soundtrack of period songs. All total, the game contains sixteen songs from the 1960s and 1970s playable from a menu accessible inside any vehicle. A song will play as long as the player remains in the driver's seat of the vehicle, and is audible to other players within hearing distance of the vehicle. The songs included are:

Mods

There are many mods for Battlefield Vietnam, covering many different periods and theatres of war. Some popular ones include:

Dice City is a mod in which swat teams battle drug cartels, featuring urban landscapes and interesting vehicles, such as hot air balloons, airboats and supercars.

Insurrection 1776 is based around the American Revolutionary War, and features muskets and cannons.

WW2 Mod is a popular, official DICE mod which emulates BF:V graphics with BF: 1942 gameplay.

PoE Mod Point of Existence is a total conversion mod, including a variety of new vehicles and maps.

Released Mods with released version for Bf:V. (Incomplete)

Released Minor Mods

Unreleased

Mod teams that have announced intention to release. (Incomplete)

See also

External links

Battlefield series

1942 series: Battlefield 1942 - Battlefield 1942>Road to Rome - Secret Weapons of WWII
Vietnam series: Battlefield Vietnam
Battlefield 2 series: Battlefield 2 - ' - Euro Force - Armored Fury - '
2142 series: Battlefield 2142

 

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