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Previous iterations of the "Battlefield" franchise had all been strictly multiplayer games. Even if they did have a single-player campaign, it was usually akin to similar types of multiplayer match types held within its online mode (think "Unreal Tournament III's" single-player portion).

But "Battlefield: Bad Company" is changing things around a bit. Not only does this game feature a plethora of new features over its predecessor, "Battlefield 2: Modern Combat," it is also backed by much-improved graphics and an intense, story-driven single-player campaign.

From the very first day "Bad Company's" demo was released, something became very clear; us 360 fans were expecting another, or at least something similar to, the excellent 2007 war/action game "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." "Bad Company" in no shape, way or form resembles that game. That is not to say it is somehow worse or even better than Infinity Ward's epic, it is just entirely different. First and foremost, "Call of Duty 4" was a war game through and through. "Bad Company" is, more or less a story of four ragtag soldiers who become disillusioned with the reasons they are fighting so they embark on a quest for personal gain.

That is not to say "Call of Duty 4" didn't have a superb story, because it certainly did. But everything about that game was based in and around war, including its story. "Bad Company" is a story more akin to a dramedy that just so happens to be set during a war (think “Three Kings”). And it isn't so much a war they're fighting as it is opposition hellbent on stopping them from achieving their goal... who just so happen to be Russian military. It's this grown-up approach that I appreciated. While "Call of Duty 4" had its fair share of epic, dare I say clichéd moments; "Bad Company" has manned up and offers to the gamer a story of serious drama and pervasive comedy that, instead, takes place during the time of battle instead of a story about the battlefield.

Moreover, the inclusion of destructible environments lends to the illusion of being in a war more true-to-life. Picture it for a second, if you will. As you're wiping out enemies left and right, here comes a tank from the West. It comes barreling through a fence, tearing it to pieces, and smashes into and through the corner of a house, perfectly protruding through it. As this massive piece of armor swings its canon towards you, you begin to run. Narrowly dodging the explosive shell it shoots, it hits the watch tower to your left and the whole thing comes crumbling down, in pieces, with smoke billowing out from the rubble.

I think it would be safe to say that without the destructible environments, this game would lack much of its fun factor. Most of the excitement of the game stems from just blowing holes in houses, exploding random objects or seeing what else goes "kaboom" just to watch the beautiful aftermath. But a plethora of drivable vehicles make the game just as much fun. You can sprint across the entire game if you so choose, but to make things a little easier, "Bad Company" also allows you to commandeer as many vehicles as needed and to even repair them if you have the required tool. You'll be flying helicopters, driving jeeps, golf carts, tanks, boats, and typical wheeled vehicles as well. Anything that appears drivable in "Bad Company" probably is.

Even without all of the icing on the cake and as just a vanilla shooter, "Bad Company" would have worked decently. The sounds of battle are perfect and as you blast away with your primary weapon or take control of mounted machine guns and missile launchers, the feeling of empowerment that will more than likely wash over you (as it did me) is amazing. The beautiful orchestration of on-screen violence, the sounds of explosions, and the accompanying combat was astounding. The ragdoll physics are quite generous, and whether enemies are tossed through the air with by way of an explosion or just shot once in the head and brought down like a sack of potatoes, "Bad Company's" combat is 100% satisfying.

In terms of graphical prowess, “Battlefield: Bad Company” is one of the best looking games currently available for the 360. Not only are the character models highly detailed and realistically mo-captured, but each locale that they populate is vastly expansive and packed with small, minute touches that brings them to vibrant life. While buildings and houses tend to look painfully similar as the 10 hour campaign wears on, they are modeled accurately, and the damage models are absolutely perfect. I’m sure, though, that many gamers will complain about the lack of NPC model variation, but with the other visual details present (such as being able to destroy or knock down just about anything) these few visual flaws are easily forgivable.

Water effects are another plus and are some of the best looking since last year’s “BioShock.” Although the game really only has one look, which is distinctly gritty, I appreciated that look immensely. War is not pretty and it isn’t fun, and looking at the smudges on our four main character’s faces and noticing their dirt-laden fatigues lends credence to the game’s war-time setting. HDTV‘s are almost a must to get the most out of this game. Granted, the visuals still look good on a standard television, but at 720p or 1080p, every single one of the game’s details becomes magnificently recognizable; some of them more so as you progress. As harsh as the violence is (even without any blood or gore), I can’t say it has ever looked any more beautiful.

While the game is immensely fun to play thanks to its outstanding combat and beautiful graphics, there are still some minor quips I would like to get out of the way. For one, the enemy is crack shots. Even though there is something called an auto-injector which allows you to refill your health whenever you need to, being at full health and being reduced to less than half in a matter of seconds by one enemy really becomes tedious, especially during later missions when the game becomes increasingly more difficult. The controls can also be hard to get the hang of. Vehicles handle exceptionally well and are always responsive, but some of them, like a huge attack chopper, are so frustrating to even use that it becomes an exercise in futility. While the game is fairly easy and I died very few times, the controls were cause for a large portion of that.

With the exception of some unnecessarily difficult controls and repetitive NPC designs, this is one of the finest first-person shooters I’ve ever played. It could be because I’m such a war junkie, but “Bad Company’s” combat is so intense and so addicting that you probably won’t find yourself leaving the house until you’re through with this one. Then you’ll play it again. There are a fair amount of things to collect and unlock during the single-player campaign to keep you searching and, of course, coming back for more, too.

As with any “Battlefield” game, there is also a multiplayer component that, personally, I feel is this one’s weakest facet. One game mode and a ton of cheating players make for a totally unrewarding experience. Never mind that there is destructible cover and a huge, expansive environment to enjoy, its online mode is simply not as fun as it used to be. But Digital Illusions, a company that firmly focused on multiplayer for years, have crafted a single-player game with interesting, relatable, often-humorous characters, as well as an original story. With that said, there is much more fun to be had offline than online. Take that as you may, but this is unarguably one of the finest FPS’s of the year.

9/10