Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is an upgraded version of the XBOX/PS2 game of the same name that was released late last year. This time around we get enhanced graphics to go with the awesomeness that is Battlefield gameplay. While some might see this as a minor upgrade to a bastardized console version of the great PC Battlefield 2, I see it as the 360’s best online game yet. Don’t believe me? Download the demo off of Live and play one of the best maps in the game for free and decide for yourself.

The core of BF2: MC is the online multiplayer but there is a single player campaign that is much more robust than the offline training match that ships with its PC counterpart. It’s like GRAW’s single player if you took all the polish off, took very little time to orchestrate the mission objectives, and basically just wanted to ship something someone could marginally enjoy when the internet is out. If the developers actually take the time to make a full fledged worthwhile single player campaign it could be a great thing as the engine is surely capable but what we’ve got here is not worth playing unless you’re a gamer point whore.

With that out of the way we can talk about the real reason to pick up this game and that’s the up to 24 players at once online multiplayer. There are two modes to choose from, which are capture the flag and conquest. While I thought conquest was the best at first, capture the flag surely grew on me over time if only to complete medal achievements to further my online rank. Capture the flag needs no explanation but conquest might as it’s not your standard online mode.

In conquest you pick between one of two sides to align with. You then coordinate with your side via the visuals on screen and the XBOX 360 mic in order to capture flags of which there are many throughout the different maps. The more flags you hold over the majority of flags on the map the faster you decrease your opponents overall score. Once time is up or you have decreased the opposing side’s overall score to zero a winner is determined. It’s like capture the flag taken to the next level and is really executed great through most of the maps.