History YMMV / Battlefield3

* VindicatedByHistory: When the game came out, it was very popular among [=FPSs=] gamer but after a few years, many dedicated fans began hating game due to the leftover playerbase only using unbalanced/broken weapons and turning most battles into chaotic meatgrinders were one team always curbstomps the other, this and the toxicity that formed around the game led to the game being remembered as a disappointment or even a dumpster fire by some and was considered the nadir of the series. But ask anyone who plays ''Battlefield 3'' today, and you might think the game is a classic instead of a mess, with many still playing it even after ''4'' and ''1'' came out.

* TaintedByThePreview: Leaked details and the trailer showcasing one of the maps for the Close Quarters expansion have been met with much disappointment, with accusations that "DICE is turning BF3 into Call of Duty!" not far behind.

* VindicatedByHistory: When the game came out, it was considered the nadir of the series. But ask anyone who plays ''Battlefield 3'' today, and you might think the game is a classic instead of a mess, with many still playing it even after ''4'' and ''1'' came out.

* HolyShitQuotient: Has it in spades. Both online and single player.

*** The F2000 received a similar nerf but made it just barely usable inside 20 meters or so using the Foregrip/Suppressor combo.

* VindicatedByHistory: When the game came out, it was the definite series SnarkBait. But ask anyone who plays ''Battlefield 3'' today, and you might think the game is a classic instead of a mess, with many still playing it even after ''4'' and ''1'' came out.

* VindicatedByHistory: When the game came out, it was the definite series SnarkBait. But ask anyone who plays ''Battlefield 3'' today, and you might think the game is a classic instead of a mess, with many still playing it even after ''4'' and ''1'' came out.
* WhatAnIdiot: EA had a genius idea and released ''Star Wars: The Old Republic'' and ''Back to Karkand'' on the same day (December 13th, 2011). Needless to say, the entire Origin system crashed and burned, preventing the vast majority of [=BF3=] players from playing the game. Even the ''password recovery system'' broke.

** [[TierInducedScrappy The USAS-12 with Frag rounds.]] It's basically a [[GameBreaker handheld IFV cannon]]. It's super accurate, has no "bullet" drop, kills in 2-3 direct hits, creates splash damage if it misses, and (since the USAS-12 is an automatic shotgun) extremely spammable. Anyone using it will be met with much gnashing of teeth, and it's so bad that it was severely {{nerf}}ed. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7rFGMatKLM This video]] is a good demonstration.

** Damavand Peak rush.

* MostAnnoyingSound:
** The lock-on tone. Get used to hearing it if you're going to drive any vehicle at all. *BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP*
** Hearing the US side talk about their "shit getting pushed in" gets old after the millionth time you hear it.

* CompleteMonster: See [[Monster/{{Battlefield here]].

* TheScrappy: Lt. Cole seems to exist solely to make astonishingly stupid decisions that put his subordinates in unnecessary risks purely for the sake of getting a promotion. The moment that sealed the deal however was ordering his under-equipped and outnumbered Marines to engage Russian paratroopers ''[[MoralEventHorizon completely unprovoked]]'' on an incredibly vague [[InsaneTrollLogic and outright insane suspicion that they were in cahoots with the arms dealer they were trying to bag.]] The results are [[NiceJobBreakingItHero exactly]] [[KillEmAll what you]] would expect. [[LackOfEmpathy And he doesn't care that all but three of his company are all that survived.]] [[spoiler:[[TakeThatScrappy Black and Dima do realize what a dumbass he is and waste him]], but by that point the damage is done and it's already too late.]] The ''really'' sad part is it's implied that this stunt '''[[IdiotPlot would]]''' [[IdiotPlot have gotten him the promotion he so desperately craved]] [[spoiler: if he wasn't dead]].

* MostWonderfulSound: If you are on the winning team during ''3'', just before your team has their victory, the game will start playing the Battlefield Theme.

* BetterThanSource: ''Battlefield 3: The Russian,'' the novelization, for some players, primarily because they say the story actually makes sense in the book due to them actually ''characterizing the characters''.

* BetterThanCanon: ''Battlefield 3: The Russian,'' the novelization, for some players, primarily because they say the story actually makes sense in the book due to them actually ''characterizing the characters''.

* FridgeHorror: In the campaign. [[spoiler:After chasing down the apparent nuke carrier around Paris only to find the case empty, you see the nuke going off far off into the distance. You suddenly realize the plan was to lure you away from the stock exchange all along in order to get your jammer out of range. Not only did 80,000 lives vanish in that instant, the life of your teammate could've been saved if you stayed in the stock exchange building in the first place (or left an extra jammer in there while you go on the chase).]]
** Once you boot up multiplayer and realize the Americans and the Russians are fighting each other, comes the horrific realization: [[spoiler:Everything you've done as Sgt. Blackburn and Dima were futile. The Russo-American War is now underway.]]
*** Now not only does [[spoiler:Dima have radiation poisoning and may have killed himself after the final scene, the fate of Sgt. Blackburn is also no better. Under the American federal law, he would be charged and will either be sentenced to life or death unless he has a presidential pardon. Since the Russo-American War is underway in the multiplayer, Sgt. Blackburn, the Russians, and everyone else involved most likely became scapegoats for politicians to start that war. In other words, so much for that pardon. Even though the nuke failed to detonate in Times Square, in this game TheBadGuyWins indeed]].
*** Well, at least the novel showed [[spoiler:Dima did not shoot himself, and the newspaper he was reading had the headline "Marine Hero Cleared of All Charges" so Blackburn probably escaped punishment]].
*** Also, Multiplayer component does not necessarily have anything to do with the Singleplayer canon. It can, but it can also possibly be an alternate storyline that's there just for the sake of pitting an American team against a Russian team because someone in the dev team thinks that Russian uniforms look cooler than PLR ones.

*** Not really. [[spoiler: There were at LEAST a dozen civilian witnesses to Blackburn's last showdown and someone's gonna find that undetonated nuke, crashed train, and look the security camera footage at some point, so hell, Black's probably gonna get a ''medal'' for saving New York while those two short-sighted retards that try to call themselves CIA analysts are heading nowhere but the unemployment line for what their incompetence almost caused. [[WhatAnIdiot Or not, because if the sequel is any indication, the CIA is probably that stupid after all.]]]]

* ScrappyMechanic: ''Battlefield 3'' was arguably the first DICE game to really have DICE's owners {{E|lectronicArts}}A pushing them towards EA's overall strategy. This resulted in Origin, EA's rebadged 'EA Download Manager' being forced to be used with [=BF3=]. It is a bloated and completely unnecessary rival to Valve's UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and is required to run the game even if bought as a DVD retail copy. Battlelog does not integrate with Origin except to launch the game, making it another pointless step done purely so that EA could try and wrest some control of digital distribution away from Valve. Needless to say, when EA yanked VideoGame/{{Crysis}} off Steam, and then confirmed that ''Battlefield 3'' would not be part of Steam, gamers were not happy.

** The F-35 in the ''Back To Karkand'' pack is horribly slow, turns like a tank and switches thrust modes seemingly at random. More specifically, it slows down quicker than conventional-flight jets and holding the "throttle down" long enough will cause the F-[=35B=] to switch from forward flight to "hover" mode... which can be a nasty surprise for Russian infantry and ground vehicles, but the Russian jet is a conventional-flight Su-35, which will frequently win a dogfight unless the US pilot is consistently good at forcing overshoots.[[note]]This is TruthInTelevision, as it was recently revealed the F-35 is really awful for dogfighting, albeit this is also overlaps with AccidentallyAccurate, as the game was released before many of the flaws of the F-35 were revealed.[[/note]]

* HarsherInHindsight: Though it's a year later than in-game, the mission "Comrades" (where [[spoiler:the PLR sets off a nuke in Paris]]) takes place on November 13. While it (thankfully) wasn't a nuke, a series of terrorist attacks in Paris took place on the same day in 2015, killing over 150 people. The similarities of the attacks are freaky, specially with the terrorists who attempted to attack the stadium and were stopped at the train stations, much like Battlefield 3's mission has you fight on a train station]].

** [[TierInducedScrappy The USAS-12 with Frag rounds]]. It's basically a [[GameBreaker handheld IFV cannon]]. It's super accurate, has no "bullet" drop, kills in 2-3 direct hits, creates splash damage if it misses, and (since the USAS-12 is an automatic shotgun) extremely spammable. Anyone using it will be met with much gnashing of teeth, and it's so bad that it was severely {{nerf}}ed. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7rFGMatKLM This video]] is a good demonstration.

*** Now not only does [[spoiler:Dima have radiation poisoning and may have killed himself after the final scene, the fate of Sgt. Blackburn is also no better. Under the American federal law, he would be charged and will either be sentenced to life or death unless he has a presidential pardon. Since the Russo-American War is underway in the multiplayer, Sgt. Blackburn, the Russians, and everyone else involved most likely became scapegoats for politicians to start that war. In other words, so much for that pardon. Even though the nuke failed to detonate in Times Square, in this game TheBadGuyWins indeed.]]

*** Well, at least the novel showed [[spoiler:Dima did not shoot himself, and the newspaper he was reading had the headline "Marine Hero Cleared of All Charges" so Blackburn probably escaped punishment.]]

* {{HSQ}}: Has it in spades. Both online and single player.

* TheScrappy: Lt. Cole seems to exist solely to make astonishingly stupid decisions that put his subordinates in unnecessary risks purely for the sake of getting a promotion. The moment that sealed the deal however was ordering his under-equipped and outnumbered Marines to engage Russian paratroopers ''[[MoralEventHorizon completely unprovoked]]'' on an incredibly vague [[InsaneTrollLogic and outright insane suspicion that they were in cahoots with the arms dealer they were trying to bag.]] The results are [[NiceJobBreakingItHero exactly]] [[KillEmAll what you]] would expect. [[LackOfEmpathy And he doesn't care that all but three of his company are all that survived.]] [[spoiler:[[TakeThatScrappy Black and Dima do realize what a dumbass he is and waste him,]] but by that point the damage is done and it's already too late.]] The ''really'' sad part is it's implied that this stunt '''[[IdiotPlot would]]''' [[IdiotPlot have gotten him the promotion he so desperately craved]] [[spoiler: if he wasn't dead.]]
* ScrappyLevel:
** There is almost universal disdain for the "Going Hunting" single player mission where you are given control of the weapons in a US Navy Hornet. Not actually flying them (Which would have been great, since you're not given a tutorial on how to fly jets). Just the weapons. Why it's hated is summed up adequately by this [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnn4bG1tj-E first impression video]] from Creator/TheCynicalBrit.
** Noshahr Canals is the least favoured multiplayer map for Conquest mode, [[InvertedTrope but one of the more popular maps for Team Deathmatch]].
** Operation Firestorm on Rush has a ridiculously long distance between the attacking base to the first set of [=M-COMs=]. You will not be able to make it on foot, forcing everyone to use vehicles. Because of this, all it takes is for one person to stick up a SOFLAM for the rest of the team to use Javelins to completely shut down the attackers.
** Seine Crossing's first stage ''B'' MCOM objective is one the hardest in the game. It is located in a small courtyard with three very small entrances. If the defenders get setup with spawn beacons there is no ability for the APC to influence this, resulting in the attackers throwing their tickets away trying to assault a near impregnable defensive position.
** Operation Metro has three strikes against it: it was played to death in the beta, it's hated by those who think DICE is pandering to Call of Duty fans, and it's nearly unplayable with more than 24 players. Full-on 64 players turns the map into BulletHell, and anyone not shooting wildly is either throwing frags or reloading their rocket/grenade launcher.
** On the co-op side, there's the mission "Drop 'em Like Liquid." Unless you and your partner have mics to coordinate your shots, successfully completing this mission is a crapshoot. The fact that the PC version has no built-in VOIP or even text chat makes it even worse.
* ScrappyMechanic: ''Battlefield 3'' was arguably the first DICE game to really have DICE's owners [[ElectronicArts EA]] pushing them towards EA's overall strategy. This resulted in Origin, EA's rebadged 'EA Download Manager' being forced to be used with [=BF3=]. It is a bloated and completely unnecessary rival to Valve's UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and is required to run the game even if bought as a DVD retail copy. Battlelog does not integrate with Origin except to launch the game, making it another pointless step done purely so that EA could try and wrest some control of digital distribution away from Valve. Needless to say, when EA yanked VideoGame/{{Crysis}} off Steam, and then confirmed that ''Battlefield 3'' would not be part of Steam, gamers were not happy.

* TearJerker: [[spoiler:Miller's capture by the PLR and subsequent death by televised beheading. Solomon's speech about Miller's son having to accept his father's death was just rubbing salt into the wound. Made even worse if you're wearing high quality headphones at the time, as you may be able to notice that Miller is quietly sobbing just before the cut]].

** When the March patch completely broke the M26 Dart, there were people who used nothing but that extremely overpowered, glitched combination on the smallest maps like Noshahr in Deathmatch or Metro in Conquest, with tens of thousands of kills with it.

** After DICE fixed the frag rounds, a programming error made the M26 Dart the new symbol of hatred.

** A server that doesn't meet the minimum player requirements is completely locked. Thus no-one can run aroud or practice flying unless they are in an active server.

** 3D Spotting. The so called "dorito triangle" that hovers above anyone's head if they are spotted. In previous battlefield games this would only show up on the mini-map as a red dot or small picture of a vehicle. In this game it's literally over their head, enabling anyone to shoot at them without any line of sight or actual knowledge, just aim a little below the triangle and shoot. This can also be disabled as well.

** After finally squashing the overpowered USAS and MAV Riding, DICE managed to introduce yet another stupid glitch/exploit. The M26 Dart, when used with a heavy barrel and an underslung rail, will give each of the 9 darts fired in a shot the same damage as the assault rifle it was attached to. It also massively increases accuracy, and shotguns do not suffer from suppression either. If attached to a G3 it generally ensures one-hit kills from medium-long ranges when it ordinarily would barely scratch a player. Conversely, using the M26 Slug with the same combination results in the slug having the damage of a single assault rifle round, making it entirely worthless except for CherryTapping a near-dead enemy.

* GoddamnedBats: [=MAVs=]. While it's easy to avoid its path, it can kill you in one hit if it rams you. Trying to get rid of one isn't easy; it's difficult to shoot down until it's almost on top of you due to the guns not being HitScan weapons, and Javelin and Stinger missiles will cheerfully hit the side of a building instead of the MAV in urban environments. After you finally take one out, another one will replace it thanks to a resupply crate.

* TheScrappy: Lt. Cole seems to exist solely to make astonishingly stupid decisions that put his subordinates in unnecessary risks purely for the sake of getting a promotion. The moment that sealed the deal however was ordering his under-equipped and outnumbered Marines to engage Russian paratroopers ''[[MoralEventHorizon completely unprovoked]]'' on an incredibly vague [[InsaneTrollLogic and outright insane suspicion that they were in cahoots with the arms dealer they were trying to bag.]] The results are [[NiceJobBreakingItHero exactly]] [[KillEmAll what you]] [[WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis would expect.]] [[LackOfEmpathy And he doesn't care that all but three of his company are all that survived.]] [[spoiler:[[TakeThatScrappy Black and Dima do realize what a dumbass he is and waste him,]] but by that point the damage is done and it's already too late.]] The ''really'' sad part is it's implied that this stunt '''[[IdiotPlot would]]''' [[IdiotPlot have gotten him the promotion he so desperately craved]] [[spoiler: if he wasn't dead.]]

** Telemetry [[note]]DICE's well-worn excuse for everything they do, whether it's releasing Close Quarters before Armored Kill ("Numbers show Operation Metro is the most popular map."), removing flags from Strike at Karkand ("Numbers tell us people hardly go to the back flags."), or denying problems such as the overpowered USAS-12 with frag rounds or the PS3's input lag ("It's like, no, this isn't a problem. You claim it's a problem. It's not a problem. The numbers tell me this is not a problem.")[[/note]]

* StopHelpingMe: Thankfully averted for the first time in the series. ''Battlefield 3'' allows a player to ignore the revive and 'tap out' to stop the revive.

* HarsherInHindsight: Though it's a year later than in-game, the mission "Comrades" (where [[spoiler:the PLA sets off a nuke in Paris]]) takes place on November 13. While it (thankfully) wasn't a nuke, a series of terrorist attacks in Paris took place on the same day in 2015, killing over 150 people.