By far the best thing about the battlefield is the physics. Rather nice rag-doll physics are prominently on display, exaggerated to make common events spectacular. Bullets punch enemies off bridges and explosions hurl them through windows, often leaving them in humorous positions that anyone as immature as I will find hilarious. But this is small potatoes compared to the fact that the environments are completely destructible. Bullets punch through doors and walls, smashed glass sprays everywhere, explosions bite roaring great chunks out of structures. Bigger explosions can simply collapse entire buildings. This freedom lends an unpredictable air to every battle, and can often influence even scripted events. Can't get through that door without getting shot? Blow a hole in the wall with a machine gun and pitch a grenade through. Sniper holding the floor above you? Shoot up through the ceiling and make him dance the lead fandango. So it has a very real effect on the gameplay, always allowing you another option as the damage you do not only opens up sightlines for shooting, but also avenues for escape or advance. The drawback is that occasionally you do too much damage to a vital structure and it collapses, and it's Game Over, baby. Ixnay on the inway. But that doesn't happen very often.

Player actions and events have a persistent, global impact. A thoughtless act of violence in an isolated area, for example, may unexpectedly bring law enforcement or enemy reinforcements throughout that region. Regions can be explored and most can be visited (and revisited) as the player prefers, with new events triggered as the story unfolds.