Highlights

  • Fans are divided over the iconic Airship L30 Behemoth from Battlefield 1, with some nostalgic for its cinematic flair and others critical of its game-balancing mechanics.
  • The controversial Behemoth mechanic remains a hot topic, with players debating whether future Battlefield games should reintroduce such momentum-swinging elements.
  • Some players think Battlefield 2042 struggles to match the spectacle of past games, leading to mixed reactions to the introduction of the XFAD-4 Draugr aircraft in mid-May 2024.

After more than eight years, Battlefield 1 players are still captivated by one multiplayer element: The Airship L30. Despite its controversy, this Behemoth is celebrated for creating iconic Battlefield 1 moments that remain vivid in players' memories. However, a recent Reddit post has reignited the debate over whether Battlefield games should retain Behemoth mechanics.

Despite Battlefield 2042's attempts to sustain servers and expand the player base with fresh seasonal content, it has struggled to appease many Battlefield 1 enthusiasts, especially those fond of the ambitious multiplayer mechanics in the 2016 release. And a Reddit post encapsulates fans' discontent by recalling a beloved old feature.

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A recent post by Reddit user SmoothTux1303 featured a brief clip of a descending Zeppelin in Battlefield 1, accompanied by the emotional caption, "This will forever and always be one of the best Battlefield moments." The video depicts the dramatic explosion of the Airship L30 Behemoth as enemy forces bring it down. This nostalgic post has rekindled the community's longstanding division into two camps: those who cherished the colossal combat vehicles and those who did not. In Battlefield 1, the Airship L30 was a balancing mechanic for the Conquest mode. This aircraft accommodated up to six operators tasked with bombing the war zone and engaging the enemy using 20mm Becker Type M2 auto-cannons. However, what made the Airship L30 stand out was its spectacular—and somewhat harrowing—realistic destruction.

Should the Airship L30 Be Missed?

SmoothTux1303's post on Battlefield's subreddit has reignited the longstanding debate surrounding Behemoth. While some fans laud the Airship L30 as a pinnacle moment for the franchise, others hope that the momentum-swing mechanic is never reintroduced in any future Battlefield game.

Critics argue that the issue with the Behemoth lies in its ease of acquisition. Seasoned players note that Behemoths were allocated to the losing team to balance the match. While this approach theoretically aimed to level the playing field from a matchmaking standpoint, the winning team considered it an unjust advantage, given that the sole requirement for obtaining a Behemoth was losing the match. On the other hand, some have proposed that the Airship L30, exemplified in SmoothTux1303's clip, was intriguing primarily due to the cinematic flair it brought to multiplayer matches. And it could turn into Battlefield 2042's best feature, as the franchise’s latest installment seems to be struggling to evoke similar levels of spectacle.

DICE has recently unveiled that Battlefield 2042: Turning Point will introduce a new aircraft aimed at fulfilling players' desire for an engaging aerial experience. The XFAD-4 Draugr, inspired by the design of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, is set to join the game in mid-May 2024. Speculation suggests that this new vehicle may feature a nuclear weapon capable of wiping out the enemy team. However, fans' reactions to this addition are mixed, though they are curious about its impact on the game's meta.