Battlefield 4: Next-Gen Tips, Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Recon Class | The Bunker

Games journalist and Battlefield fan Guy Cocker looks at how Battlefield 4’s move to next-gen systems changes the game and how best to respond, plus new tips on the Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Recon class.

That’s it. After months of waiting, the next gen consoles are finally here.

In Battlefield 4, the big change (aside from the fancy new graphics, which run at 60 frames per second on both consoles) comes to the multiplayer. Both online services support up to 64 players for the first time on a games console, doubling the maximum player count over the Xbox 360 and PS3.

I’ve been busy playing both the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game this week, so this week’s tips will cover off next-gen versions of Battlefield 4, as well as some more general pointers for Recon class and the Infantry Fighting Vehicles that are useful for all versions of the game.

Next-gen
On next-gen, things are even more hectic on the battlefield than they were before, thanks to the fact that there are often double the amount of players on the map. The chances of you being thrown straight into some action are therefore also increased, so you really don't want to go it alone unless absolutely necessary.

Infantry Fighting Vehicles (also known as APCs)
As a result of this, something I've been using a lot of over the last week is the infantry fighting vehicles. These vehicles vary depending on which army you're playing as, but include the LAV 25, BMP 2,BTR 90 and the AAV 7A1, and they’re all great for exploring the larger maps and controlling positions, as they move very fast.

Infantry Fighting Vehicles are used primarily as a light armour--like an ATV with a canon on top, so you're fully enclosed, protected and invulnerable to bullets. This is particularly useful if you're playing on a map that's infantry-focussed, where you might not see many engineers coming by to repair you. Compared to the main battle tanks, whose lack of speed and slow firing rate can be a bit much for new starters, the IFVs are not too intimidating to use, and are easy to level up and therefore upgrade quickly.

One particularly noteworthy upgrade are the Zuni rockets, which really allow you to take on much more armoured vehicles, as well as do some really long-range barrages to suppress the enemy. The IFV/Zuni combo is particularly good for Conquest mode, because if you see a point that's being contested, you’re able to move in and out of small places and really swing the balance of the match. For example, I was using combo in a game on the Zavod 311 map on Conquest mode, and managed a ridiculous kill/death ratio of 42-to-10 by doing this.

Some of these vehicles such as the BMP-2 feature six passenger slots, so you’re able to protect an entire squad whether it's dropping them off at an objective, or simply keeping them protected rather than out in the open. They can be used for attack runs if you have one or two people in, or you can use them for transporting people around the map. All the IFVs are also amphibious, so you can take them in the water. My advice is to start taking advantage of these versatile vehicles right away!

Recon Class
Whereas last time I spoke about the support and engineer classes, this week I’ve been settling into using the recon class. I think the common mistake people make with this class is thinking the recon class has to be a sniper. All classes can now use carbine weapons, so don't be afraid to take the recon off sniper duties and get him placing down spawn beacons and motion sensors. Motion sensors now last for about 20 seconds, and tell you where all the soldiers are in that area. It really makes a difference when you use the recon class as a team player in this way, similar to the assault class’s medic skills, rather than as a lone wolf.

With the recon class, the spawn beacon can also be really useful, especially on the smaller maps. Rather than spawning on you, your squad can use the beacon, which allows you to be more tactical and sneaky. If you drop this in the right place, it can really help you and your team sneak around and meet key objectives. You can also perform flanking maneuvers using this technique, and take an enemy squad down from behind while they’re distracted by another squad. Basically, if you're able to get a spawn beacon behind enemy lines, it's one of the best things you can do for your team.

Conclusion
Don’t be afraid to use the recon class, equip them with a carbine weapon and then get stuck into the heat of the battle--using the techniques above will make you a hero of your team.

How are you finding the next-gen version of Battlefield 4, and do you have any PC, Xbox-360, PlayStation 3 or Xbox One-specific tips to recommend? Please let me and your fellow players know by commenting below or by tweeting me @guycocker.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you again next week for more Battlefield 4 tips.