For those who've bought it, played it, or downloaded the demo, what do you think of it?

I don't have it or the demo because I don't have the money to do a complete hardware overhaul to run it, but I played it on a friend's PC. I think it's not a great deal different from BF: 1942 and BF: Vietnam, but it's definitely an improvement. I especially liked the ability to form squads, but I'm not a huge fan of the ranked "unlockable" system.

The main problem I noticed in the game was the fact that, due to the large-scale, team-based nature of the game, players who decided to screw around instead of playing seriously could seriously detract from the experience. However, this didn't hurt as much when I joined larger servers, where each team had at least 15 players.

Note to self: try demo.

Have you ever played the original Battlefield (1942)? Star Wars: Battlefront is similar, if you've played that.

Basically, it's a team-oriented game (up to 32 vs 32) with a large degree of freedom in what you do. Basically, you can be a lone wolf, pilot a chopper, drive a tank, plant bombs, or whatever. In the end, though, each player is just a grunt, so lone wolves find themselves easily killed.

It's kind of hard to describe to someone who hasn't played that type of game before. I guess the best way I could relate it would be to say that it's like a large-scale conflict in Lusternia: each person has his or her role, and while individual skill can greatly influence small battles, those who know how to work together may ultimately win out.

I've played the original a little, I'd say for around 45 minutes at a lan cafe.

I loved BF1942 and then its addon Desert Combat, shame they stopped updating that. I play it at lans where theres is around 10 on coalition, then have X x 5 for oppersition. Yet we do get some traitors
I will be attempting to put BF2 on my computer, the requirements for the game is over the top. Farcry was the same though. I ran that with no problems on this machine.
I'll post later once its installed and i'll post specs to compare if its decent to play.

Edit: Congrats to BF2, first game I haven't been able to run after installing.
Everything meets the specs but my videocard, which is a GF4Ti4200. A great card that one, I have been able to run and play all new games with it. Seems the era is going to end for these great cards
I also installed the latest driver for nVidia which came out today/yesterday. Still no go. I will keep thinking of things to get it to run. Never will give up on this card till it doesn't run Oblivion.

Ah, I forgot to say: BF2 uses some new shader technology (1.4), while all GF4s use 1, which sucks, because I have one, too.

On the topic of the game itself, BF2 is kind of like Desert Combat (EA bought the developers of Desert Combat - DICE, I think), but with all the advantages of being made as a full game.

For a second there, I thought you were talking about that tank game on www.bonus.com .

It's cool. Not a particularly cerebral game, but I like to hop on it when I've just done a long stretch of complicated stuff for an event or something similar.

I only have the demo, but I enjoy it and I rock with the Special Forces kit.

I'll agree with you there; the average grunt in BF2 doesn't have to do a great deal of thinking. I think the beauty of it lies in the moments each person can create, such as the Special Forces soldier running up to a tank to blow it up as it's about to roll over his squad.

I've heard from someone who commands most of his team's games that it takes a lot of concentration and thought to deal with requests and the big picture, though.

Yes, I like the fact they've introduced this commander position and the squads, because it means if they want to that the players can have a more strategic game. Which is fun in its own way, but I do still think one of the strengths of the Battlefield franchise is that you can hop on it when you're tired or stressed, not think at all, and have a fun game with a real sense of being part of a larger battle.

This is also why I play things like Halo 2. Sure, the first time you're all about the story and how cool everything is, but nowadays it's just a stress buster for me. You can't stay tired and depressed after you see a grunt running around screaming with a plasma grenade stuck to it.

Still looking for people to play at Red Alert 2, Dawn of War or any of the faster RTSs. *urge*

Actually some relatives kindly provided me with some vouchers for Virgin Megastores, and I quite fancy buying a game to help relieve the tension forcing myself not to zap all of you brings.

I'm just not entirely sure what...

I'll give you a game of Dawn of War sometime.

I would play Dawn of War, but I am notoriously bad at it. I can't even beat the AI when its on "hard mode", unless I am on two equal teams of four and my allies hold my opponent out until I can start churning out my third tier stuff.

Woo. PM me your MSN or AIM or whatever DoW players and we can give it a try. I haven't played it for a few months but I could probably get back to scratch.