Battlefield 2: Modern Combat - Modern Combat war simulation

Introduction

By Erik Brudvig

The hit Computer Battlefield formula has hit home on consoles, but it did not show up empty handed. Along with the fierce 24-player online battles, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat comes packed with a complete single player campaign mode. Get your C4 ready, the heavy cavalry is about to roll in.
When the whole world is fighting, it is hard to tell who your friends are. Alliances can be made and broken overnight in this crazy propaganda fueled world. No matter which side you are on, IGN Guides will help you win. Think of us like the arms dealer that will sell weapons to both sides, as long as they are Insiders.

Controls

• Single Player
• Multiplayer
• Vehicle

Single Player

• Pause
• Jump
• Enter/Exit vehicle
• Stand, Crouch, Prone
• Dive to prone/Jump to stand
• Hot swap
• Open parachute
• Reload
• Use weapon/item
• Default weapon
• (hold) + or Cycle weapons
• Aim/Look
• (Pressed) Zoom
• Move/Drive
• or Zoom minimap in/out
• Toggle minimap large/small
• Toggle flag locations and distance

⤴ ↳ ⇡

Mulitplayer

• Combat zone overview screen
• Scoreboard
• Jump
• Enter/Exit vehicle
• Stand, Crouch, Prone
• Dive to prone/Jump to stand
• Reload
• Pick up kit
• Speak (Xbox communicator required)
• Pick up kit
• Speak (Xbox communicator required)
• Use weapon/item
• Default weapon
• (hold) + or Cycle weapons
• Aim/Look
• (Pressed) Zoom
• Move/Drive
• or Zoom minimap in/out
• Toggle minimap large/small

⤴ ↳ ⇡

Vehicle

• Pause
• Command a nearby trooper to enter your vehicle and take over gunner duties
• Enter/Exit vehicle
• Change vehicle position
• Change camera
• Use weapon
• Helicopter altitude and roll/Aim turret
• Drive land vehicle/ Helicopter pitch and rotation
• or Zoom minimap in/out

⤴ ↳ ⇡

Basics

Basic Combat

There are five different types of soldiers that you can play as in Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. Regardless of which weapon kit you are using, there are several rules to follow.

Aim high

Head shots and solid body shots do more damage than any other area. Never run around with your gun pointed at the ground.

Zoom

Zooming in is a simple task that greatly increases your accuracy. However, you should not run around with it on as you will lose your feel for the big picture of the current battle. Get in the habit of zooming in and out as you approach a skirmish.

Use the right tool

Trying to shoot down a tank with an assault rifle is going to take you all day. Likewise, trying to kill a solitary soldier with a rocket launcher is overkill. Every character class has a weapon that can effectively deal with any situation. Be ready to change your weapons at all times.

Flank them

In the single player game, you can effectively Hotswap your way around the map until you have a character that can easily attack your enemy from the side. Do the same thing in Multiplayer games. It is very difficult for your enemies to defend against a multi-directional assault.

Vehicles

When you are inside a vehicle you are way more deadly than when you are on foot. Always hop into vehicles and make full use of their destructive and defensive capabilities.

Team play

Always work with your teammates. If you get into a vehicle, wait for someone to man the guns. Do not run off alone either. A small squad will win against a lone soldier any day of the week.

Reload

If nobody is around you to fight, take a moment to reload your weapon. Having a full clip when a firefight erupts is a huge advantage. Being a sitting duck while you reload is not a good plan.

Points

In the single player game, you can only receive points for killing enemies or destroying their vehicles. However, you can easily rack up huge scores by killing enemies in quick succession. For each kill you get, your score multiplier will increase. The best way to rack up huge score multipliers is by using a turret or vehicle. Remember to always Hotswap out of a nearly dead soldier. If they die while you are possessing them, you will lose 5000 points and your score multiplier will be reset.

Points are integral to receiving stars at the end of the battle (see below) and for moving up in the ranks. Having good accuracy will aid you in this quest. For each kill you get, you are given a ranking. The ranking determines how many points you get for the kill and is determined by how quickly you kill the enemy from when you first hurt them. A one shot kill will always be rated as Perfect, so always aim for the head.

Rewards

At the end of each battle in the single player game, you will be rated against a standard and rewarded (or not) a set number of stars. The standards are different for each mission, but you are always judged in the same categories. These categories are:

• Score: Tally up a big point total to get the highest rank.
• Time: Complete the mission under set amounts of time.
• Style: Effectively use your entire army. Hotswap around as often as you can to get a higher rating.
• Accuracy: Finish the mission with a set percentage of your shots hitting home.
• Losses: Complete the mission without losing your buddies. Lose too many and you will be punished.

Why should you care about these rankings? For each standard that you achieve, you are rewarded with a star. Collect enough stars, and begin moving up in the ranks which will allow you to unlock new Challenges, character classes, weapons and weapon enhancements.

You can also win medals by completing certain impressive feats in battles. The requirements list can be viewed in the Status menu of your Campaign. If you accomplish the hardest feat for each medal, you will be given a star which will help you along the way toward becoming a General.

Enhancements

In the single player campaign, you can enhance your character's abilities by playing well. Along with giving you score multipliers, killing huge numbers of enemies quickly will also give you bonus effects. The effects you can get depend upon what your current army ranking is, as well as how many successive kills you have gotten. The bonuses include enhancements such as health or damage multipliers, faster rates of fire, or taking less time to reload your weapon.

If you go on a killing spree but then do not kill anyone for a while, your enhancements will start to wear off. To prevent this, quickly Hotswap over to where the battle is raging and take advantage of being the strongest soldier on the field.

Hot swapping

Hot swapping is one of the coolest ways to get around, but it is only available in the single player game. To Hotswap, aim your gun at a CPU controlled teammate and press the Hot-swap button when their icon turns white. If it stays blue, that means you do not have a direct line of site and you cannot swap into that player. If that is the case, try zooming in. It allows you to Hotswap greater distances than you normally would be able to.

The advantages of Hot swapping are numerous. First of all, you will be judged based on how much of a team player you are at the end of each mission. The more you Hot swap, the more likely you are to collect these stars at the end of the mission. Hot swapping also enables you to achieve higher scores. If your current soldier is almost out of health, Hot swap into a healthy teammate before you die and lose 5000 points. There are also the more obvious reasons to Hot swap, such as the ability to cover great distances quickly and to easily switch to a new weapon kit.

When you are on the battlefield, it is a great idea to constantly and consistently Hot swap around. Move through the various sniping positions and take out the large groups of enemies that swarm you from the best vantage point rather than risking your life.

Different Soldier Classes

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is not just a spawn-and-shoot game there is much more to it than that. Aside from drivable vehicles, mammoth maps, and elegant design, much of its strategy is derived from well-balanced teams. This game offers seven different classes of soldier to play, and understanding their various roles is of importance.

Assault

Also known as "bullet stoppers," these are the fan favorites for wading into infantry battles. With good weaponry and body armor, they take some damage before hitting the deck. If you choose to have one class dominate the team more than the others, the Assault class should be it.

Favorite Tactic

Roll into an enemy encampment with a whole squad filled with Assault troopers. Their combination of guns, smoke grenades, and body armor makes them a tough force.

Support

Support Kits are great when attacking an enemy encampment. They can heal other teammates as well as themselves. They also come equipped with a heavy machine gun that can even take out a helicopter relatively quickly. With the ability to call in mortar strikes, this is a better mix of offense and defense than you might think.

Favorite Tactic

Defend a flag by finding an enclosed area. Use your mortar strike on any vehicles that come your way, then lay down some heavy fire with your machine gun on any survivors.

Sniper

This Kit is fairly self-explanatory — they are the only soldier type that possesses a sniper rifle. If marksmanship is your game, spend some time with this Kit. Do not overload the team with snipers though, as balance is the key. Snipers are at a serious disadvantage when fighting in close quarters, so it is not a bad idea for them to find an Assault soldier as an escort.

Favorite Tactic

Defend from a distance. Find the high ground and defend two separate allied Capture Points. Nothing frustrates an enemy more than heading into a lightly defended Capture Point only to take one in the noggin from afar.

Engineer

In vehicle-heavy maps, the Engineer is a prized Kit. They are the only class that repairs vehicles and damaged structures in the game. Play this Kit much like you do the medic. Remember, your job is to repair, not to kill. Make sure that there is always an Engineer within a short distance of your teams UAV—if your commander's station gets knocked out, you are essentially leaderless.

Favorite Tactic

Ride along between a tank and an APC, repairing both as you go. By using each vehicle as cover, you will survive for long periods of time and help ensure the heavy vehicles have a much longer life span.

Special Forces

or surgical strikes, there is no better class than the Special Forces. With a laser-sighted machine gun and C4, they inflict heavy damage in a hurry. They are best used in conjunction with Assault forces who act as the front line (Special Forces have no body armor) and soak up a little damage.

Favorite Tactic

Run ahead of armored vehicles (tanks and APCs), place some C4, run back to cover and hit the trigger as they roll over it. Honorable mention: Outfit a truck or jeep with some C4 and sending it into a heavily defended base. It does quite a bit of damage and it is a great diversionary tactic.

The soldier class system in Battlefield 2 is one thing that separates the game from its competitors. Each Kit offers a compelling reason to play it. A balanced team can make the difference between a win and a loss, so make sure all Kits are represented on your team.

Weapons

US Army

Assualt

M4 Carbine has a medium range and good stopping power.

Grenade launcher

Beretta M9 is a standard issue military pistol

M61 Fragmentation grenade
You can throw grenades at varying lengths depending on how long you hold down the button and other factors.

AN-M8 smoke grenade sends out clouds of smokes to conceal yourself and enemies. You can throw grenades at varying lengths depending on how long you hold down the button and other factors.

Sniper

Barrett M95 Sniper Rifle has two to Three click ranges for zoom. Variable hit damage depending on where the shot lands. Tracers for the bullets. When the sniper looks using his scope a "flash cone" appears. The flash cone reveals his position by causing a flash of light like the sun is hitting his scope. The flash can only be seen if the player is zoomed in and the person is in the snipers flash cone and looks towards the sniper. The flash cone only appears every 5-10 seconds the actual time is TBD. If the player is not zoomed in then there is no aim help.

Beretta M9

PAQ-1 Laser target designator
A sniper paints the target with a laser beam and causes a missile to drop on the target. Any target can be painted with the target designator. An indicator on the reticule in 1st person view will tell you how much longer you will have to hold down the button until the missile hits the target. If you release the button, the timer will reset. The missile itself is powerful enough to take out a tank with a direct hit, but because of its small blast radius it will not be very effective against infantry. The laser target has a battery life so that it cannot be constantly used. The battery is much like an ammo clip for a gun.

Anyone that sees the vehicle can se that it is being targeted, a small polygon line will stick out from the target indicating the direction of the sniper. It will take approximately ten seconds from when you start holding down the button until the missile strikes. The reticule will change to an X to signal that an inappropriate target has been selected such as the sky.

M61 Fragmentation grenade

Forward observer is a mini computer with GPS that allows the sniper to communicate with CENTCOM. By pressing the button he is able to update the mini map for his team and himself for a certain area around the sniper.

Snipers will lose in a close firefight, so stay hidden and prone, especially if you do not have a squad mate defending you. If you notice the enemy has spotted you, do not stay where you are!

Special Ops

MP-5N with silencer: has the same range as the M4, but has less stopping power. It can however be quite effective because of its high accuracy. The silencer makes easier to avoid being detected.

Beretta M9 with silencer is faster and more accurate then a normal pistol but has less punch then a Desert Eagle and is equipped with a silencer.

C4 Explosives come with a remote detonator when the SpecOps throws or places the C4 to detonate the C4. This has a power similar to that of an artillery piece from BF PC.

Randall model 1 knife can instantly kill enemy opponents when used.

XM84 Stun Grenade will create a flash of light when detonating that will temporarily blind nearby soldiers. The closer you are to the flash, the more intense the blinding effect will be. The blinding effect is greatly reduced if facing away from the flash when it detonates.

C4 is not just for when you are on the ground. If you play as Special Ops, you can toss out a few C4 packs while you are parachuting to clear a safe landing zone if there are enemies below you. You can take out a few tanks guarding the flag this way.

Combat engineer

SPAS-12 is an automatic shotgun with 8 rounds. Rate of fire is a tuning issue.

Blowtorch Repair Kit is a portable welding blowtorch that you can repair vehicles with. It can also be used as a close combat weapon if used against another player at point blank range.

Beretta M9

SMAW Rocket Launcher is a reload-able rocket launcher.

Vehicle Mines are the usual anti vehicle mines. These mines are deadly to an enemy vehicle but useless against infantry. The mines cannot be destroyed by enemy fire but can be picked up by the engineer.

Combat support

M249 Machine Gun is a heavy machine gun that has a larger clip and more stopping power then the M4 Carbine but can become more inaccurate unless used in a controlled manner.

M61 Fragmentation grenade

Beretta M9

Auto injector allows the user to heal himself or his comrades. When you press the fire button the auto injector will fire a round of healing substance into the subject (either you or another player). This will cause the subject's health to increase a set amount of points within a set timeframe. It is fast to use but the effect is as slow as the medic kit in BF1942. The good thing about that is that you do not have to stand defenseless and wait for the health to increase but can continue fighting. The auto injector will have a set amount of shots where each shot gives a set amount of health. If the subject has low health you can fire off multiple shots in succession to get a greater health increase.

European Union

Assault

L85A2 Assault rifle is used mainly by the British forces. The A2 version is a version updated by Hechler & Koch for increased reliability in the field.

M-203 Grenade launcher is its own weapon selection. The link shows the M-203 mounted on the L85A2 rifle.

Glock 17 pistol is a reliable, lightweight pistol that is standard issue for many European armies and police forces.

M61 Fragmentation grenade

AN-M8 smoke grenade

Sniper

SVU Sniper rifle is a semi-automatic shortened bull-pup version of the Russian Dragunov sniper rifle. Two to Three click ranges for zoom. Variable hit damage depending on where the shot lands. Tracers for the bullets. When the sniper looks using his scope a "flash cone" appears. The flash cone reveals his position by causing a flash of light like the sun is hitting his scope. The flash can only be seen if the player is zoomed in and the person is in the snipers flash cone and looks towards the sniper. The flash cone only appears every 5-10 seconds the actual time is TBD. If the player is not zoomed in then there is no aim help.

MP-445 Varjag pistol

PAQ-1 Laser target designator

M61 Fragmentation grenade

Forward observer

Special Ops

FN P90 Submachine gun with silencer

Glock 17 pistol with silencer.

C4 Explosives

Randall model 1 knife Same as the US kit

XM84 Stun Grenade

Combat engineer

Benelli M3 is a pump-action shotgun.

Blowtorch Repair Kit

Glock 17 pistol

Carl Gustav M3 Rocket launcher is a reload able rocket launcher.

Vehicle Mines

Combat support unit

PKM machine gun

M61 Fragmentation grenade

MP-445 Varjag pistol

Auto injector

China

Assault

Type 95 Assault Rifle is a lightweight weapon sharing similarities with the French FAMAS bullpup design. High reliability and versatility makes the Type 95 an accurate and deadly weapon for the PLA.

Type 91 Grenade Launcher fires 35mm grenades

QSZ-92 Pistol is the latest pistol in service with the PLA. It fires 9 mm pistol bullets. Compared to the older pistols in the PLA, the QSZ-92 is lighter, more reliable, with smaller recoil.

Type 77-1 Stick Fragmentation Grenade

AN-M8 Smoke Grenade

The grenade launcher is a great tool against heavily guarded Capture Points, mobile Squads, and even small vehicles. Practice aiming it and you can kill multiple targets with a single shot.

Sniper

Type 88 Sniper Rifle
This is the sniper version of the type 95 assault. It has a longer and heavier barrel and a bipod in this role. Two to Three click ranges for zoom. Variable hit damage depending on where the shot lands. Tracers for the bullets. When the sniper looks using his scope a "flash cone" appears. The flash cone reveals his position by causing a flash of light like the sun is hitting his scope. The flash can only be seen if the player is zoomed in and the person is in the snipers flash cone and looks towards the sniper. The flash cone only appears every 5-10 seconds the actual time is TBD. If the player is not zoomed in then there is no aim help.

QSZ-92 Pistol

1PN90 Laser Target Designator

Type 77-1 Stick Fragmentation Grenade

Forward Observer

Special Ops

Type 85 Submachine Gun with silencer

QSZ-92 Pistol (w/ Silencer)

C4 Explosives

Type 95 Bayonet looks just like the USMC M-9 Bayonet. Kills other infantrymen instantly.

XM84 Stun Grenade

Special Forces are great for covert operations. Use them in conjunction with vehicles to slip in behind enemy lines and take control of unguarded Capture Points.

Combat Engineer

RMB-93 Pump-action shotgun has a hand guard with forward-back movement instead of classic back-forward moving barrel.

Blowtorch Repair Kit is a Portable welding blowtorch that you can repair vehicles with. It can also be used as a close combat weapon if used against another player at point blank range.

QSZ-92 Pistol

PF-98 Rocket Launcher is becoming the PLA's primary light anti-tank weapon to replace the obsolete recoilless guns. The PF-98 is a recoilless rocket launcher used primarily by infantry forces for engagement and defeat of enemy armour in short distances.

Vehicle Mines

Engineers are the only class that can make repairs to damaged utilities and vehicles, and you get points for doing so.

Combat Support Unit

QJY-88 Machine gun is PLA's next generation heavy machine gun to replace other machine guns currently in service.

Type 77-1 Stick Fragmentation Grenade

QSZ-92 Pistol

Auto injector

The support unit is another great kit to play with when you are first starting out. If you stay with your squad, you will have the opportunity to get points for both healing and harming.

Middle Eastern Coalition

Assault

AK47 is the most produced assault rifle in the world, the AK47 sports a rugged design with the ability to mount a grenade launcher.

GP25 Grenade Launcher fires 40mm grenades

Tariq Pistol is an Iraqi-made 9mm pistol.

TGO-78 Fragmentation Grenade

AN-M8 Smoke Grenade

Sniper

Druganov SVD Sniper Rifle
Two to Three click ranges for zoom. Variable hit damage depending on where the shot lands. Tracers for the bullets. When the sniper looks using his scope a "flash cone" appears. The flash cone reveals his position by causing a flash of light like the sun is hitting his scope. The flash can only be seen if the player is zoomed in and the person is in the snipers flash cone and looks towards the sniper. The flash cone only appears every 5-10 seconds the actual time is TBD. If the player is not zoomed in then there is no aim help.

Tariq Pistol

1PN90 Laser Target Designator

RGO-78 Fragmentation Grenade

Forward Observer

Special Ops

OTS-02 Kiparis Submachine Gun With silencer (stock folded out and 30 bullet clip).

Tariq Pistol with silencer.

C4 Explosives

Kukri XM84 Stun Grenade

Combat Engineer

Mossberg 500 Shotgun

Blowtorch Repair Kit

Tariq Pistol
with silencer.

RPG-7V Rocket Launcher is a recoilless, shoulder-fired, muzzle-loaded, reload able, antitank grenade launcher which is light enough to be carried and fired by one person.

Vehicle Mines

Combat Support Unit

PKM Machine gun

RGO-78 Fragmentation Grenade

Tariq Pistol
with silencer.

Auto injector

Vehicles

Any good Battlefield 2: Modern combat player knows how to use their vehicles effectively. With such large maps, vehicles are the best way to quickly traverse the land and get into the action. Additionally, vehicles are extremely powerful. They are hardy, fast, and have great destructive capabilities. Even if you're just riding along in one, you will still get points for a Team Vehicle Assist every time someone in the ride makes a kill. Practice in your rides and you will be moving up the leader boards quickly.

Vehicles respawn fairly quickly, so do not be afraid to jump in a helicopter and use it as a transport to get to a far base by jumping out and parachuting in. Chances are the enemy has moved away from their farthest base to try and capture one of yours, so it is a great time to swoop in and take a flag back.

U.S. Army

M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret: Range 360
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top left side of the tank: Range 360

Weapons

• Driver: 120mm Cannon
• First Gunner: 12.7mm Machine gun

LAV-300 (Amphibious)

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret: Range 360
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top left side of the tank: Range 360

Weapons

• Main Gun: 120mm Cannon
• Commander: 7.62 mm Machine gun

M1114 HMMWV

• Driver: A seat on the left hand side of the vehicle
• First Gunner: A port hole on the top
• Runner Seat

Weapons

• Gunner: 12.7 mm Machine gun

Using the Spec Op kit, strap C4 all around a jeep. Then, drive it into an enemy Capture Point and detonate it as a car bomb.

M6 Bradley Linebacker

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• First Gunner: A port hole on the top of the turret

Weapons

• Driver: 25mm Automatic Gun
• First Gunner: Two Tube Stinger Missile

Desert Patrol Vehicle

• Driver: Seat on the left hand side of the vehicle
• Passenger 1: Seat on the right hand side of the vehicle
• Passanger 2: Standing behind and to the right of the driver

Weapons

• Driver: 25mm Automatic Gun
• First Gunner: Two Tube Stinger Missile

AH-64D Apache Longbow

• Pilot: A seat in the front center of the vehicle
• Gunner: A seat behind the pilot

Weapons

• Pilot: 70mm FFAR/li>
• Gunner: 30mm Gun

Use the Apache-style (more mobile) copters to hover over flag points with a passenger (to help accelerate the capture). Take off as soon as you have captured and repeat.

AH-6J Little Bird

• Driver: A seat on the left of the vehicle
• Open Gun: A seat on the right of the vehicle

Weapons

• Pilot: 70mm FFAR
• Open Gunner: 12.7mm Machine gun

Black Hawk Helicopter

• Pilot: A seat in the left side of the vehicle
• Primary Gun: The right front side of the vehicle
• Secondary Gun: The left front side of the vehicle
• 1st Open Position: A kneeling position front right of the open hatch
• 2nd Open Position: A kneeling position back left of the open hatch

Weapons

• Pilot: 70mm FFAR
• Primary Gun: 7.62mm MiniGun
• Secondary Gun: 7.62mm MiniGun

SeaArk Stinger 26

Armor Type: 2, Speed: 4, Maneuverability: 4

• Pilot: A seat in the center of the vehicle
• Primary Gun: Gun mount in front of the driver
• Secondary Gun: Gun mount right behind the driver

Weapons

• Primary Gun: 40mm Grenade Machine gun
• Secondary Gun: 12.7mm Machine gun

European Union

The Leopard 2A5

• Driver: - A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top left side of the tank

Weapons

• Driver: 120mm Cannon
• First Gunner: 12.7mm Machine gun

Always attack tanks and other armored vehicles from the back if you can. The armor is much thicker in the front of vehicles than in the back, so it takes less shots to take them out.

T-90 main battle tank

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top right side of the tank

Weapons

• Driver: 125mm Cannon
• First Gunner: 12.7mm Machinegun (anti-air)

Combat vehicle 90

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• Machine Gunner: Port hole in the top left side of the turret

Weapons

• Main Gun: 40mm cannon
• Machine Gunner: 7.62 mm Machine gun

MOWAG Eagle

• Driver: A seat on the left hand side of the vehicle
• Gunner: A turret in the back center of the vehicle

Weapons

• Gunner: 7.62 mm Machine gun

M6 Bradley Linebacker

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• Gunner Position

Weapons

• Driver: 25mm Automatic Gun
• Gunner: Two Tube Stinger Missile

AS 665 Tiger Helicopter

• Pilot: A seat in the center of the vehicle
• Gunner: A seat behind the pilot

Weapons

• Pilot: 70mm FFAR
• Gunner: Sidewinder and Hellfire

China

Type 98 Main Battle Tank

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• Commander: A port hole on the left hand side of the turret

Weapons

• Main Gun: 125mm Cannon
• Commander's Gun: 12.7mm Machine gun

BMD-3 Airborne Combat Vehicle

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top left side of the tank

Weapons

• Driver: 30mm Cannon
• First Gunner: ATGM Launcher

FAV Fast Attack Vehicle

• Driver: A set on the left hand side of the vehicle
• First Open Position: Behind and to the right of the driver
• Second Open Position: Seated to the right of the driver

Weapons

• First Open Position: 12.7mm Machine gun
• Second Open Position: Type 87 35mm Grenade Launcher

BK-1990 Self-Propelled Artillery (8x8)

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret
• Commander: A port hole in the top of the turret
• Others: Two rear open positions

Weapons

• Main Gun: 105mm Cannon
• Commander's Gun: 12.7mm Machine gun

WZ-9 Attack Helicopter

• Pilot: A seat in the left hand side of the chopper
• Primary Gun Position: The right front side of the chopper
• Secondary Gun Position: The left front side of the chopper
• Other: A kneeling position front right and front left of the open hatch.

Weapons

• Primary Gun Position: 7.62mm Mini-Gun
• Secondary Gun Position: 7.62mm Mini-Gun
• Other: Kit Selected Weapon

Middle Eastern Coalition

2S25 Tank Destroyer

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret

Weapons

• Main Gun: 125mm Cannon

BMP-2 Combat Vehicle

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret: Range 360
• First Gunner: A port hole in the top left side of the tank: Range 360

Weapons

• Driver: 30mm Cannon
• First Gunner: ATGM Launcher

AMX-10

• Driver: Centered underneath the main turret
• Primary Commander Position: Right side on top of the turret

Weapons

• Main Gun: 105mm Cannon
• Primary Commander Position: Kit Selected Weapon

ZSU-23-4 Shilka 23MM Antiaircraft Gun

• Driver: A seat in the center of the vehicle below the turret

Weapons

• Driver: Four 23mm cannons

Otokar Akrep

• Driver: A seat on the left hand side of the vehicle
• Gunner: A turret in the back center of the vehicle

Weapons

• Gunner: 12.7mm Machine gun

Mi-24 HIND

• Pilot: A seat in the front center of the vehicle: Range NA
• Gunner: A seat behind the pilot
• 1st Open Position: A kneeling position front right of the open hatch
• 2nd Open Position: A kneeling position back left of the open hatch

Weapons

• Pilot: 70mm FFAR
• Gunner: 30mm Gun
• Primary Open Position: Kit Selected Weapon
• Secondary Open Position: Kit Selected Weapon

Light Patrol Boat (PBL)

Boats do not need a dock to land, so use them to bring an entire squad in behind the enemy's main defenses for a surprise attack.

• Pilot: Standing position in the center of the vehicle
• Primary Gun Position: Gun mount right behind the driver
• Secondary Gun Position: Gun mount in front of the driver

Weapons

• Primary Gun Position: Grenade Launcher
• Secondary Gun Position: 12.7mm Machine gun

Ranks

Ranks are gained through stars. Stars are gained via missions, challenges, medals, and field tasks.

• 0 - Private
• 6 - Private 1st Class
• 12 - Corporal
• 19 - Sergeant
• 27 - Sergeant 1st Class
• 36 - Master Sergeant
• 46 - Sergeant Major
• 57 - Command Sergeant Major
• 69 - Warrant Officer
• 82 - Chief Warrant Officer
• 96 - 2nd Lieutenant
• 112 - 1st Lieutenant
• 128 - Captain
• 145 - Major
• 163 - Lieutenant Colonel
• 182 - Colonel
• 203 - Brigadier General
• 224 - Major General
• 246 - Lieutenant General
• 269 - General

Stars

Stars can be obtained in several different ways. The most common way is to complete a mission. When you do, you'll be given a ranking and can win up to 10 stars. Since there are 20 total missions, you can obtain 200 of the 345 stars this way. Always be mindful of your score and of dying too much in the campaign mode since these are the easiest ways to gain and lose stars.

Stars do several things for you. The first is that they can win you upgrades that make you a stronger soldier in the campaign mode. These range from having more ammo, to a larger clip size, to having a better zoom. If you're having problems on a mission, you should always go back and try to unlock new upgrades. It can make a world of difference.

Stars will also allow you to move up in the military ranks. This will unlock new challenges, which in turn give you more chances to earn stars.

The best way to earn more stars is to go back and replay old missions. You'll find that your new skills, along with the upgraded weapons, make these missions way easier than the first time you came through. Try to kill as many enemies as you can in a short period of time, stay alive, and be sure to Hotswap through a multitude of soldiers.

Medals

Medals are earned by completing a variety of tasks in the campaign mode. You can view your medals at any time by going to the Status menu of your campaign. For each medal, there is a condition, or set of conditions, that needs to be met to win the medal. Complete the hardest condition and you will earn yourself a star. There are 78 medals that you can win. For each one you can receive one star. Be sure to go to this screen often and see what tasks you need to perform. We find it best if you go into a mission with a specific medal in mind. Remember, even if you fail the mission, you can still earn medals and their associated stars. You'll end up winning these faster if you shoot for them rather than just hoping to perform them during the course of your campaign.

Field tasks

The progress of your Field Tasks can also be viewed from the Status screen on your campaign. Field tasks are objects that you should look for and destroy (except for the flags) during your missions. Flags must be converted a la conquest mode instead of destroyed. There are 13 different objects to find and 12 of them must be located and destroyed in multiple places. Once again, it is easier to find these if you go out searching for them rather than hoping to destroy them in the course of a mission. It should also be noted that these are pretty much a waste of time. You only receive one star for each of the field tasks which require a lot of hunting. That means there are 13 stars up for grabs through field tasks. The highest ranking is General and only requires 269 out of the 345 total stars. Also, you'll stop unlocking new upgrades at 266 stars. The only reason you should spend time hunting these down is if you're having major problems completing missions or challenges or if you are completely dead set on 100% completing this game.

Missions

• 1. In and Out
• 2. Radio Silence
• 3. Headshot
• 4. Submerged
• 5. Metal Island
• 6. Heavy Tonnage
• 7. Air Traffic Control
• 8. Catching Flak
• 9. Rolling Thunder
• 10. Burning Bridges
• 11. Beach Party
• 12. Big Bang
• 13. Hotel Alpha
• 14. Top Man
• 15. DMZ
• 16. End of the Line
• 17. End Game
• 18. Flying the Flag

Challenges

• Hot Swap
  • Ruins
  • Oil Platform
  • Factory
  • North Docs
  • Plaza
  • Village
• Race
  • Humvee
  • Light Patrol Boat
  • Eagle Military Tactical Vehicle
  • BK 1990 Mobile Artillery
  • Apache Attack Helicopter
  • Fast Attack Vehicle
• Weapons
  • Assault Rifle
  • RPG
  • Sniper Rifle
  • Frag Grenade
  • Shotgun
  • Machine Gun

Multiplayer

The online experience is vastly different from the single player campaign mode in Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. It is, however, very similar to its PC cousin, Battlefield 2. Those familiar with that title might want to go straight into a game and ignore this section.

Conquest Mode

This is the classic Battlefield 2 online game. To win, your team is going to need to take control and hold as many Capture Points as possible. Capture Points are also the points where you can choose to respawn after you die.

To gain control of a Capture Point, you have to take down your opponent's flag and raise yours. To do so, you have to be within the capture radius of the flag pole. You do not have to be right next to the flag. Crouching behind objects, hiding behind walls, or lying prone in a corner are great ways to neutralize and capture flags without being seen and shot.

NOTE: The more people you have within the capture radius, the faster the enemy's flag will be lowered and yours raised. However, if an enemy is present in the radius, you cannot convert the flag.

The game score is based on Tickets, which are displayed in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Your team's number of Tickets is the number of reinforcements available to be called out. Each time someone on your team dies, your team loses a ticket when they respawn.

There are three types of game play, all of them conquest based.

• Double Assault: This is what you play in the single player mode, or on any 16 player maps online. Each team will start with one Capture Point and one or two neutral Capture Points. You can increase the rate at which the opponent's Tickets are reduced by controlling more than half of the Capture Points on the map.
• Assault: In this mode, there is an attacking team and a defending team. The attacking team generally starts with one uncapturable spawn point while the defending team controls the rest of the map. Either team can increase the rate at which the opponent's Tickets decrease by holding all of the Capture Points on the map.
• Head On: Similar to Double Assault, except now each team has one base that is uncapturable. Just like Double Assault, you can increase the rate at which the opponent's Tickets are reduced by controlling more than half of the Capture Points on the map.

There is More

If this game were all about just capturing flags, there would not be enough incentive to play as a team. So, a point system was developed to reward or punish you for certain actions.

• Kill enemy +1
• Protect flag +2
• Destroy enemy vehicle +2
• Driver assist +1
• Neutralize flag +2
• Neutralize assist +1
• Capture flag +3
• Capture assist +1
• Heal teammate 30% +1
• Repair teammate vehicle 30% +1
• Team kill - 1st -1
• Team Kill - 2nd -2
• Team kill - 3rd -3
• Team kill - 4+ -6

Capture the Flag

This classic game style has been added to Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, though not many people online who prefer it to Conquest. CTF in Battlefield is an interesting game, mostly because of the vast number of vehicles and large, open maps.

The goal of any CTF game is to capture the enemy's flag and return it to your base. To return it, your flag must be at your base, so defense is just as important as offense. If you are killed while you have the flag, it will drop to the ground and can either be picked up by a teammate, or returned to its home by an enemy. This makes it a necessity to travel in small squads when stealing a flag. A lone soldier can easily picked off, but a small group can defend the carrier and continue his work if he is killed.

To succeed in CTF, you have to make use of the vehicles. You can actually capture flags without getting out of the vehicle by simply ramming into the pole. The game is fast paced and no soldier should waste their time trying to run across the land on foot. If there are no vehicles available, man a turret and play a defensive role because you can be assured that an enemy vehicle will be coming for your flag very shortly.

• Kill +1
• Destroy enemy vehicle +2
• Steal flag +1
• Capture flag +5
• Capture assist +1
• Return flag +1
• Drive flag carrier back +2
• Kill enemy flag carrier +2
• Kill near flag +2
• Protect carrier +2/+3
• Protect flag +2
• Heal carrier +2
• Heal teammate 30% +1
• Repair vehicle 30% +1
• Repair carrier vehicle +2
• Suicide> -1
• Team kill -1
• Team kill - 2nd -2
• Team kill - 3rd -3
• Team kill - 4+ -6

To rack up huge points in CTF, you should always travel in squads. Whether you are carrying the flag or simply protecting and aiding the carrier, you get many more points than if you simply run around trying to kill everyone. Unlike most CTF games, the team that plays as a team the best will have the highest point total at the end.

Expert Strategy

By Rich Briggs, Electronic Arts

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is all about fast-paced action, and it’s easy to pick up and play. Hop in a game, rack up a few kills here and there, grab a flag or two, and die a lot. However, if you want to own the battlefield, you need to step up your game. Below are a few helpful strategies so you can lead your team to victory in Modern Combat.

Soldier Classes

Learn the weapons and skills of all five soldier classes. Pick one for your specialty, but Battlefield is like a game of rock-paper-scissors with vehicles and weapons. Everything in the game has something that it can beat, and something that beats it. So, if you only play one soldier type, you are at a disadvantage when you cannot adapt as the battle changes. Adapting is crucial to winning—you need to be able to switch to a soldier class that will provide you with an advantage in a given situation.

The exception is if you are a member of an eight- or ten-man clan that functions as a well-balanced team, where everyone has a specialty and thereby covers all the bases. Be a Sniper 24/7 if you like, because you can count on the Engineer having your back when a tank rolls up behind you.

Flag Control

The key to victory is not killing a bunch of enemy soldiers (even though that is a lot of fun), but controlling the flags. Each army starts the game with a set number of tickets. Control the majority of the flags on the map, and the enemy’s tickets start to decrease. They also lose a ticket whenever you kill a soldier and he has to re-spawn, but nothing beats watching their tickets count down like a timer when you own the map. Capturing a flag not only gives your army another spawn point, it forces the enemy to rush your position, letting you set up traps and ambushes. Learn not only where each flag is located, but what number it is. When you hear that you have lost flag two, for instance, you should know exactly where you need to be without checking the map or thinking about it.

After taking a flag you need to keep it, so leave a soldier behind on guard duty. If your squad can’t afford to leave a soldier behind, plant mines on the main access roads to take out any vehicles that venture that close. The enemy has to come within a certain distance to capture the flag, so plant C4 near the flagpole. If you hear the announcement that you have lost a flag, it means an enemy is at the flagpole. Detonate the C4 to take him out, and then get someone over there to bring the flag back under your control.

Squad Tactics

The most important skill is communication. Use the voice chat to tell your teammates what you are doing. By coordinating everyone's efforts, you can capture multiple flags simultaneously, keep each other informed of enemy positions, and call for reinforcements when you need them.

• Open and shut your parachute multiple times while falling to avoid giving the enemy a slow and predictable target
• If you are a Spec Op, place C4 in every vehicle you commandeer, in case an enemy steals it while you are otherwise occupied.
• Watch the screen whenever you get killed, especially if by a Sniper, as it shows the direction the shot came from.
• The more soldiers you have within the capture radius, the quicker you capture a flag.

Master the skills of every soldier type so you know how to play in any given situation; learn exactly where the flags are; control the flags first, then kill enemies; and communicate with your team at all times. If you do this, you will own the Battlefield.

First Encounter

By Alex McLain

There are few games that become an instant phenomenon, and within the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, the list is even smaller. Halo: Combat Evolved, Goldeneye, and Battlefield 1942 can all lay claim to the "all time classic" title. With Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (the true sequel to Battlefield 1942) arriving on everyone's favorite console, the Xbox is now home to another FPS landmark. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a game anyone can play, but very few can master; it offers impeccable FPS gameplay, assorted classes to choose from, well balanced maps, more vehicles than even Halo 2 can shake an energy sword at, and a Conquest game mode that defines elegant game design.

Multiplayer Conquest

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat has a distinctive multiplayer game mode known as Conquest with three sub-types to choose from. It includes enough varied FPS gameplay and tactics that it feels like several games rolled into one. Let me break it down:

• Each team begins with a set amount of tickets. These tickets represent reinforcements, so when a team member dies, you lose a ticket. Essentially, this makes staying alive much more important than most first person shooters (where kills are more important than deaths).
• Two teams spawn at the beginning of the match, with the focus on depleting the other team's tickets or capturing all of the Capture Points.
• Capture Points are essentially bases or spawn points. Control a Capture Point and members from your faction will spawn there (selecting their class as they do so). Moreover, holding more than half the Capture Points available on the map causes the opposing team to lose tickets faster than normal.

Choosing a Kit

Call them classes, call them Kits, but either way, call them welcome. The army employs specialists of all kinds—not everyone is a grunt toting an M-16. Each man has his purpose, and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat gives you ample opportunity to play any number of roles during battle. You can wade into infantry battles as an Assault soldier, sneak into enemy installations with the Special Forces folks, pick enemies off from afar with the Sniper, heal your fellow men with the Support class, or repair your vehicles with the Engineer. Also, you are not locked into any one Kit. You can select a new class after you die or grab a different Kit from a fallen soldier (the idea being that you are swapping out your gear for theirs to play a different role). Plus any Kit can pilot any vehicle—no special training required.

Treads, Tires, Wings, and Rotors

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is not simulating just infantry battle, it is simulating modern combat! As such, vehicles of all kinds are required, and this game does vehicle combat as well as other games dedicated to just that. You have got jeeps, armored personnel carriers (APCs), trucks, tanks, boats, and even helicopters. In other words, land, air, and sea, and each vehicle fits a role and serves a purpose. Load up a whole squad in a transport helicopter and drop them behind enemy lines, support an infantry assault with cannon fire from a tank, or transport squads of soldiers quickly with the APCs. The handling and depth of strategy for just one vehicle is startling, let alone the whole stable Battlefield 2: Modern Combat offers.

That is just a taste of what to expect. Pick this game up for the first time and feel the thrill settle into your veins as you witness the quality of its design. From the smooth and believable animation of the players, to the tight and varied control of all the vehicles, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a marriage of great design and flawless execution. It is a rare breed—enjoy it!

Cheats

All Weapons

If you are tired of earning gear the old fashioned way, input this code anytime while playing to unlock all weapons: hold Black and White and input RIGHT, RIGHT, DOWN, UP, LEFT, LEFT.

Brigadier General

You must win 12 Medals, 19390 Points, 85 PPH.

Chief Warrant Officer

You must win 5 Medals, 3700 Points, 50 PPH.

Commanding Sergeant Major

You must collect 3 Medals, 1820 Points, 40 PPH.

Corporal:

You must collect 70 Points and 15 PPH.