History VideoGame / Battlefield4

** The variants of the [=AK-12=] have mostly fictional names (though this is to be expected for some, since most of their real names were unknown due to their RareGuns status) - the carbine ([=AK-12U=]), shotgun ([=AK-12/76=]) and marksman rifle ([=SVK-12=]) are called [=AKU-12=], [=DBV-12=] (presumably standing for 'drobovik', the Russian word for 'shotgun'), and [=SVD-12=] (despite having no commonality with the Dragunov sniper rifle) respectively.

* RareGuns:
** In an example of rare guns being used for ShownTheirWork, [=BF4=] has multiple weapons that are based on the AK-12, but in completely different weapon classes. These include an LMG, a DMR, a carbine, and even a shotgun. These were all proposed alternate AK-12 variants which the AK-12 could become by switching out its modular components, including the barrel, rechambered in different calibers and used in different roles. The developers probably anticipated that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture Russia would fully adopt this family of weapons by 2021]], but unfortunately, the AK-12 model (and its proposed variants) seen in the game was scrapped in 2016 and replaced with a newer production version, which ended up with entirely different (though still related) weapons taking over for the other roles; although the carbine and LMG versions still exist in some form as the AK-12K and RPK-16, it's unlikely we will see an AK-12-pattern DMR or shotgun in the future considering the DMR role has essentially been filled by the Chukavin semi-automatic rifle, while shotguns play such a limited role in a military setting that Russia's Saiga-12s probably won't be replaced any time soon.
** The famously rare Mateba Unica 6 is a new revolver added in the ''Dragon's Teeth'' expansion. The weapon's real life production is known to be extremely limited but no actual numbers are known; what is known, however, is that the number of Matebas in North America is in the single digits.
** Similarly, the MP-412 REX revolver is an extremely rare Russian prototype and it's unknown whether or not it saw any substantial production. Only one video showcasing the revolver exists online.
** The extremely rare Magpul PDR prototype returns from ''Battlefield 3''.
** The Groza rifles featured in the game are also quite rare, as is the [=USAS-12=] battle pickup.

* AngryBlackMan: Irish. Most his dialogue is angry accusations, angry threats, angry swearing, and angry orders.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Irish is [[SirSwearsALot foul-mouthed]], [[AngryBlackMan blunt]], and is often rude and distrustful towards Hanna. However, he acts the way he does towards Hanna because she's: A) replacing Dunn, whom Irish and Recker had known for years; B) joining Tombstone under rather suspicious circumstances, which no one seems inclined to inform Tombstone themselves about; and C) from a country that is, at this point, basically at war with the US. [[spoiler:Once he realizes Hanna's motivations and that he was wrong about her, he does show a genuine desire to make up for his behaviour.]]

* NonIndicativeName: Irish doesn't drink, didn't go to Notre Dame and is pretty clearly [[AngryBlackMan not of Irish descent]]. He seems to be about to divulge the reason for his nickname, but gets fultoned out before he can say it. However based on him stating he hasn't had a drink in three years, his embarassment over the name's origins, and him saying "I have a-" before getting cut off he is probably meant to be a recovering alchoholic.

* AlternateRealityGame: The entire Phantom Assignment culminating with the Phantom Operative Assignment, which the requirements is spread out throughout the ''entire'' Final Stand DLC resulting in unlocking a compound bow, usable in your loadout.

** The Battlefield 4 Comunnity Test Environment's version of Paracel Storm brings back the Megalodon, this time leaping over the half-sunken aircraft carrier after triggering certain conditions.

** In an example of rare guns being used for ShownTheirWork, [=BF4=] has multiple weapons that are based on the AK-12, but in completely different weapon classes. These include an LMG, a DMR, a carbine, and even a shotgun. These were all proposed alternate AK-12 variants which the AK-12 could become by switching out its modular components, including the barrel, rechambered in different calibers and used in different roles. The developers probably anticipated that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture Russia would fully adopt this family of weapons by 2021]], but unfortunately, the AK-12 model (and its proposed variants) seen in the game was scrapped in 2016 and replaced with a newer production version. Almost none of the other weapon variants were physically built, although one could argue that the existing AK-12K and RPK-16 fill the carbine and LMG role, respectively. It's unlikely we will see an AK-12-pattern DMR or shotgun in the future considering the DMR roles has essentially been filled by the Chukavin semi-automatic rifle, while shotguns play such a limited role in a military setting that Russia's Saiga-12s probably won't be replaced any time soon.

* RegeneratingHealth: As per standard for a Modern Military Shooter. Notably, the HUD has an actual numerical health meter that shows your exact health, instead of simply relying on the standard [[VideoGame/DutyCalls Bloody Screen So Real]] (although the game has that too). This is rather unusual for a Modern Military Shooter single-player campaign, but it's been in the multiplayer for both ''Battlefield'' and ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' for a while. As in ''[=BF3=]'', the regeneration is also noticeably faster in singleplayer than multi (able to zip from single-digit health to a full 100 in about a second once it starts), so as to not obsolete most of the Assault's [[CombatMedic medical supplies]].

** In an example of rare guns being used for ShownTheirWork, [=BF4=] has multiple weapons that are based on the AK-12, but in completely different weapon classes. These include an LMG, a DMR, a carbine, and even a shotgun. These were all proposed alternate AK-12 variants which the AK-12 could become by switching out its modular components, including the barrel, rechambered in different calibers and used in different roles. Almost none of them were physically built, however, and the idea was dropped in the final AK-12 production version, with only the machine gun variation being planned as a separate weapon system, the RPK-16.

** The Armsel Striker is again called [=DAO-12=], as per series tradition. The Cheytac Intervention is called SRR-61, after the Jordanian army sniper team. The Heckler & Koch [=HK416=] is called [=M416=] as it has been since the first ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany''. The Beretta [=ARX=]160 becomes [=AR-160=]. Averted with the Ares Shrike machine gun - the [=AWS=] label is part of the Shrike's full designation.

* RevolversAreJustBetter: The .44 Magnum and the [=MP412 REX=] are the only revolvers in the game (unless you have DLC weapons), and usually kills enemies in 2 shots in both single-player and multiplayer depending on range. For comparison, most assault rifles, carbines, and submachine guns require an average of 4-5 shots to kill enemy soldiers. The drawbacks are the low ammo capacity and lack of range.

** Averted by the events of ''Videogame/Battlefield2042'' however, which despite revealing that Jin Jie's survival is canon, also reveals that just two decades after events of this game, China still collapsed along with almost every other nation in the world.

* NonIndicativeName: Irish doesn't drink, didn't go to Notre Dame and is pretty clearly [[AngryBlackMan not of Irish descent]]. He seems to be about to divulge the reason for his nickname, but gets fultoned out before he can say it.

** Also notable is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]]. Like the Striker, the Arctic Warfare Magnum is usually misnamed in ''Battlefield'' games as the [=L96A1=] (the British designation for the Precision Marksman). A later patch in ''4'' fixed the name, changing it to L115 (the [=AWM=]'s designation).

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: [[DiscussedTrope Addressed]]. In RealLife, double-action revolvers have a trigger delay, which was reflected in-game as a small delay between pressing fire and the revolver actually firing the bullet, [[http://youtu.be/zPPDGXtwBOY seen in this video]]. Unfortunately, this is hard to emulate in a video game where players expect the gun to fire immediately after pressing a ''button'' versus actually handling the gun and pulling the ''trigger'' to drop a hammer to fire. With the 2.0 update, this was removed entirely, making the game closer to its ''Battlefield 3'' counterpart.

** There is lots of unsubtitled Mandarin dialogue, though certain key bits are story-relevant[[note]]for example, [[spoiler:Hannah]] telling the Chang-aligned troops that [[spoiler:Pac]] is already dead so they should just grab [[spoiler:Irish]], one of the Chinese assault troops onboard [[spoiler:the ''Valkyrie'' during the final mission]] comming to other Chinese troops that [[spoiler:Jin Jie's still alive and aboard the ''Valkyrie'']], and even "''Chang''" actually being surnamed Zhang[[/note]]. However, the quality varies quite a bit, from being "very good" to "hilariously broken". The final story-important exchange on the ''Valkyrie'' is actually completely and [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign utterly screwed in its grammar]], becoming a minor meme on the Chinese community.

* BittersweetEnding: The ''best'' ending for the game sees [[spoiler:Jin Jie alive and announcing his presence to his "brothers", and since him ''even showing his face'' is enough to instantly convert a couple of hardened PAC commandos to his side, it's a safe bet that Admiral Chang will soon find his powerbase split and massively reduced. So, peace with China seems likely... but ''Russia'' is still not backing down from a fight, Chang still has potentially millions of soldiers under his command, and worst of all, you're forced to sacrifice either Hannah or Irish in order to destroy the warship on the verge of blowing the ''Valkyrie'' to pieces.]]

* JerkAss: Kovic, the cliche obstructive CIA agent, hasn't changed one bit since the previous game.
* {{Jerk with a Heart of Gold}}: Irish is [[SirSwearsaLot foul-mouthed]], [[AngryBlackMan blunt]], and is often rude and distrustful towards Hanna. However, he acts the way he does towards Hanna because she's: A) replacing Dunn, whom Irish and Recker had known for years; B) joining Tombstone under rather suspicious circumstances, which no one seems inclined to inform Tombstone themselves about; and C) from a country that is, at this point, basically at war with the US. [[spoiler:Once he realizes Hanna's motivations and that he was wrong about her, he does show a genuine desire to make up for his behaviour.]]

** A cable car being shot up by an attack helicopter and crashing down a snowy mountain, which conveniently [[spoiler:only [[RussianGuySuffersMost Dima dies from.]]]]

* AttackDrone: Several, both deployable by infantry and found as the new [[RandomlyDrops Battle Pickups]].

* BilingualBonus: You will hear a lot of ambient voice clips from soldiers in Russian and Chinese (and English too!). Including, rather amusingly, {{Foreign Cuss Word}}s when soldiers are hit or even {{Post Mortem One Liner}}s after killing an enemy.

-->'''US Announcer:''' It's not that way man, come on!\\

'''RU Announcer:''' Hey where the ''[[PrecisionFStrike fuck]]'' are you going?

** The emblem for the "Hitman" assignment features [[VideoGame/HitmanBloodMoney two M1911 pistols.]]
** An assignment involving Russian weapons is named [[Film/FromRussiaWithLove From Russia With]] [[IncrediblyLamePun Lead]].

* RememberTheNewGuy: Somehow, the game manages to do this with an ''actual'' reoccurring character in Agent Kovic, who comes back from Sergeant Blackburn's interrogation in ''Battlefield 3''. Problem is he's not recognizable by name because [[NoNameGiven the previous game never thought his name was important enough for the player to ever learn it]], and he's not recognizable by personality because his personality was/is that of a cookie-cutter ObstructiveBureaucrat who stubbornly refuses to entertain such silly notions as [[TwoDecadesBehind the Cold War having been over for two decades]] or that [[spoiler:a CIA agent known to have committed multiple atrocities, some ''on-camera'', could possibly be rogue]]. The best he's got is that they didn't change his voice and appearance on top of it, like with [[spoiler:Dima]].

* ShootOutTheLock: [[spoiler: Averted. On the ''Titan'', Tombstone comes across a pair of sailors trapped underneath a grate in rising water. When told to leave them behind, Irish attacks Kovic in anger and futilely attempts to shoot the grate open which doesn't work and then is forced to leave them behind without any further comment.]]

* LaserSight: At least more realistic than most that it help your accuracy while hip-firing - turn it on and you can see your crosshairs shrink. Also available in versions with a green beam, three beams at once, and toggleable between the laser and a flashlight. Like ''Battlefield 3'', it can be seen by other players though it no longer blinds enemy (or friendly) players that much when pointed in their face.

--> ''So... [[spoiler:Staff Sergeant Dunn]] was KIA for something we already knew?''

** The most amount of "earning" required is, of course, in air vehicle combat. First, you need to figure out how to fly your plane/helicopter. Next, you need to figure out combat maneuvers (e.g. for a helicopter, how to go on a strafing run and how to duck behind cover to break lock-ons). Then, you need to put all of that together when you're up against 32 enemy players, some of whom may be air vehicle experts or packing anti-air weaponry.

* RevolversAreJustBetter: The .44 Magnum and the [=MP412 REX=] are the only revolvers in the game (unless you have DLC weapons), and usually kills enemies in 2 shots in both single-player and multi-player depending on range. For comparison, most assault rifles, carbines, and submachine guns require an average of 4-5 shots to kill enemy soldiers in single-player, and about as much in multi-player. The drawbacks are the low ammo capacity and lack of range.

* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: [[spoiler: Many times the Valkyrie gets boarded by Chang's men. Depends on what you do at the end, it potentially get destroyed.]]

*** The [[http://lifesgreatadventures.com/wp-content/gallery/latest-pictures/the-milad-tower-in-tehran.jpg Milan Tower]], a background asset recycled from ''Battlefield 3'' stands-in (albeit badly) for the much shorter [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Singapore_Changi_Airport%2C_Control_Tower_2%2C_Dec_05.JPG Changi Air Traffic Control Tower]].

* FakeDefector: [[spoiler:Hannah]] is actually a [[spoiler:Jin Jie]]-aligned spook, but when things go belly-up in Singapore and Chang-aligned troops arrive, she [[spoiler:pretends to be a Chang-aligned operative]] and allows them to take [[spoiler:Irish and Recker]] captive, while [[BilingualBonus telling them in Mandarin that the other is already dead]][[note]]hence Pac's survival and reappearance in the final mission[[/note]]; when [[spoiler:Dima, Irish, and Recker]] make their escape from prison in the next level, [[spoiler:she's with two soldiers who take them captive, only for her to shoot them both in the back and join with the escapees]].
* FeaturelessProtagonist: Unlike previous ''Battlefield'' campaigns, the player character is never shown, nor is any detailed background information given about them other than the name "Recker." The game takes place entirely from a first-person perspective, and the player never speaks. The whole silent protagonist shtick stops working after you become squad leader but still never say a word. It gets pretty stupid when all the conversations happen through your second in command and even when making your "final decision" not a word is said. Even Pac complains about it after Irish decides on his own to bring in nearly four-hundred Chinese refugees the recently-EMP'd ''Valkyrie'' would strain even under the best of conditions to accommodate, stating that unit cohesion gets ruined when subordinates go against what the leader decides like that - not that Recker apparently decides that applies to Tombstone in any way, as he continues refusing to actually speak even after he's ''divested of command'' because of the above incident (only getting it back because modern military shooter conventions meant [[SurprisinglySuddenDeath the new leader had to die for no reason]]).

* MultipleEndings: There are [[http://allforgamenews.com/2013/10/07/battlefield-4-has-3-endings-revealed-by-its-achievementstrophies three endings available]]. The name of the achievement to see all endings is ''Patience is a virtue''[[hottip:*: Considering you have to go through the (not-short) final level 3 times to do it, it takes a while. However it's worth it just for the multiplayer weapons.]].

** Subverted as despite being nominally in command of the squad, Recker never gives orders beyond marking enemies for the team to shoot, and instead is ordered around by everyone, including those who are supposed to be your subordinates; apparently the sole justification for him being the squad leader is to justify the tactical binoculars and ability to mark targets for your teammates, something which you get to do ''before'' Recker is actually given command. Somewhat justified as, by the time Recker takes command, he's either working directly for a superior officer by radio, already has a specific mission objective, or [[spoiler: is working with the few allies/friends he has left to try to survive, by winging it]]. Squad members almost always follow his/your lead, though, and won't take the initiative unless ordered to, or until you do.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: If you take out more than 75% of an enemy's health, but someone else deals the finishing hit within a short period of time, your assist will be counted as a kill. This helps your KDR and in unlocking weapon attachments, which require kills.

** PlayedStraight however, would be the RAWR and the XD-1 Accipiter and/or UCAV; of the land and air variety respectively. The RAWR offers a [[MoreDakka remote-mounted M240 GPMG,]] with [[GrenadeSpam additional M203s]] attached to it. The XD-1 is straight-up DeathFromAbove with a touch of GatlingGood, while the UCAV has an explosive charge turning it into a [[RammingAlwaysWorks suicidal variant of the SUAV]].

** The Chinese voice is very accurately done[[note]]And for once they actually sound like native Mandarin speakers (with some very mild and true-to-life regional accents) instead of people from non-Mandarin speaking regions attempting to speak a butchered version of Mandarin[[/note]]. If you known Mandarin, you'd learn that their arsenal of quotes is about 50% ClusterFBomb (delivered with [[LargeHam ham]]), which were blasted out when they're hit, suppressed, or shit-talking. (the swears are notably very heavily slang-based and regional, so it's incredible that these were researched correctly)
* BorderPatrol: As with the previous installments, you are given 10 seconds to return to the battlefield or your character/vehicle will die/explode. Planes and choppers however are given a larger boundary then infantry so as to give them sufficient airspace to fly. Each respective faction's MissionControl still have colourful reactions to you exiting the map boundaries.

** ''Battlefield'''s staples like Helicopters and Jets are still around.
** Support class's M224 Mortar. Now even better than ''[=BF3=]'' version: You can now fire it remotely from anywhere on the map, allowing Support class to fight in the frontline instead of hanging back operating the mortar.
** Commander mode brings you gunships and cruise missile strike that can easily wipe out squads cluttered at control points if not warned.

** Some guns have terrible iron sights (e.g. FAMAS), and they're all you start with. You'll need to painfully make your way to 10 kills with them to unlock a serviceable scope to mount on them.
** Vehicular combat, especially in land vehicles, offers little respite for the new player. In their fresh, barely upgraded tank/IFV, they will be up against fully-upgraded enemy tanks/[=IFVs=] that can outright ''nullify'' their shots with Active Protection, easily spot them at virtually any range with Thermal Optics and not end up being disabled and a sitting duck after a single, solid frontal hit with their Reactive Armor!

** The MBT LAW, the starting Engineer rocket launcher. It only does 21% damage per hit to tanks and [=IFVs=], even if you fire it at the rear of a tank which for any other launcher deals greater damage. However, the rocket has little drop over range, automatically hits ''any enemy land or sea vehicle'' as long as it flies close enough to the target (making it surprisingly dangerous against light vehicles), and most critically, gives so little lock-on warning to the target that they will not be able to activate the vehicle's Active Protection in time!
* LaserSight: At least more realistic than most that it help your accuracy while hip-firing - turn it on and you can see your crosshairs shrink. Also available in versions with a green beam, three beams at once, and toggleable between the laser and a flashlight. Like ''Battlefield 3'', it can be seen by other players though it no longer blinds enemy (or friendly) players that much.

* QuickMelee: As with ''Battlefield 3''. But now melee attacks from the front will give your intended victim [[HoistByhisOwnPetard a chance to counter-knife you.]]
** SmashingSurvival: If you knife someone or attacked in melee from the front, you need to jam the melee key and whoever's faster wins.

* GoodGunsBadGuns: Compared to ''Battlefield 3'', which only had this for the starting guns for each class, this game hews closer to ''Bad Company 2''[='=]s example, where each class has one gun they start with regardless of side - Assault gets the Russian AK-12, Recon the Chinese [=CS/LR4=], Support the Singaporean Ultimax 100 and Engineer the Italian [=Mx4=] - and leaving other guns to be used regardless of side as well. Attachments still follow a model similar to ''[=BF3=]'', where a weapon unlocks attachments from one "side" through making kills (e.g. a Chinese assault rifle unlocks the "Coyote" red dot sight at the same number of kills an American one gets the [=RX01=] or a Russian one the Kobra; where this gets a little odd is that Singaporean and even ''Israeli'' guns are counted as "Chinese") and can only get attachments from the other two through [[RandomDrop the luck of the draw with Battlepacks]] (including the ability to get a mismatched version of an attachment long before you grind out the matching one).

** All classes now have explosive-based weaponry since the beginning. Assault retains their weapon-mountable grenade launcher, while Engineer gets the [=RPGs=] and other recoilless cannons. Support now starts with an airburst grenade launcher and can later acquire C4, while Recon starts with C4 after it was moved to the Support class in ''Battlefield 3''.
** Another addition in Engineer's anti-tank mines department is M2 SLAM that can be wall-mounted with lesser blast damage than M15.

* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: New to the series is the ability to create your own custom emblems through Battlelog, which is proudly emblazoned on your character's outfit, somewhere on every gun you use and vehicle you pilot, and in the killcam view for anyone you kill. Until you do make one, however, the game defaults to the flag of whichever faction you're currently playing as - to say nothing of the possibility of creating a different flag.

** The MBT LAW, the starting Engineer rocket launcher. It only does 21% damage per hit to tanks and [=IFVs=], even if you fire it at the rear of a tank which for any other launcher deals greater damage. However, the rocket has little drop over range, automatically hits armoured vehicles as long as it flies near it, and most critically, ''circumvents Active Protection''.

*** The nearest airports to the CBD are Sembawang and Payar Lebar Air Bases. Even so, the objective airfield is stated to specifically Changi International Airport, even further east of the city, a good 30 minutes travel by car, let alone a tank.

*** As Tombstone crosses the bridge, an overhead sign is seen with 'Payar Lebar' pointed in the direction of the city. Payar Lebar is an urban town located in the opposite direction to where the signboard points.

* LighterAndSofter: Than ''VideoGame/Batlefield3'''s serious campaign.