It is clear to see why Battlefield 1 still stands out as such a memorable and defining entry to the longstanding franchise. Away from the usual settings of modern combat or World War 2 that many shooter titles have utilized over the years, Battlefield 1 instead boldly stepped into the gritty conflicts of the First World War. Of course, this setting largely shaped the maps, weapons, equipment, factions, and single-player experiences of the game, which remains quite popular almost a decade after the game’s release.
Many fans have been searching for a similar product with the same unique approach as Battlefield 1 ever since, with many shooters since 2016 instead opting for the more traditional and safer settings and conflicts that have dominated the genre for decades. For console players, this long wait may have come to an end, with one longstanding title renowned for its unique conflicts and massive scale recently making its way over to Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
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Holdfast: Nations at War released on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 on July 9, with the game having initially launched in early access in 2017. The game has developed a sizable and dedicated community of players on PC over the years, with its intense 150-player matches causing a predictable level of chaos within its traditional battlefields.
For comparison, Battlefield 1 featured 64-player matches, while other games like Isonzo feature up to 48 players.
Crucially, Holdfast: Nations at War features World War 1 gameplay as well as Napoleonic warfare, covering two deeply interesting and important time periods that are underrepresented across gaming media. This ambitious blend of historical conflicts has given way to over 70 maps within Holdfast, with players fighting under eight unique factions across land and sea. Of course, these two time periods offer a wide range of equipment and combat roles for players to use, with over 27 classes being available overall.
It is clear to see why Holdfast has drawn some comparisons to the likes of Battlefield 1 and Isonzo, though there are some unique benefits of Holdfast that are hard to overlook. Aside from the game’s massive lobby sizes, players also have the freedom to choose between a first-person and third-person perspective, with proximity chat making for many moments that are as memorable as they are hilarious.
While Battlefield 1 may offer a more immersive experience through its graphics and high-octane game engine, Holdfast fosters quite a complex and layered experience on a much larger scale. Both games play quite differently from one another, but the framework of portraying unique historical settings and combat avenues are definitely shared between the two projects. Inevitably, Battlefield 1‘s console community is starting to wane despite maintaining a strong core, and the recent launch of Holdfast is a perfect way to recapture the early excitement and widespread popularity that Battlefield 1‘s release created back in 2016.
In terms of an authentic and detailed First World War experience, Battlefield 1 and Holdfast: Nations at War are very similar titles. The WW1 combat for both games includes the likes of controlling dreadnought ships, charging into combat on horseback, and tackling enemies head-on with devastating bayonet engagements. The Napoleonic gameplay of Holdfast introduces an entirely new world of experiences away from what Battlefield 1 was aiming to portray, giving even more reason for fans of the 2016 title to check out Holdfast while it is still fresh on Xbox and PlayStation.
9/10
October 21, 2016
M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
Electronic Arts
Frostbite
