Editor’s note: This review covers the multiplayer modes only – you can find our Battlefield 6 single-player campaign review here.

Battlefield 6’s multiplayer action is all about layers. You have an infantry layer, where teams exchange gunfire on foot; there’s the land vehicle layer, where tanks and armored cars reshape the front lines with powerful weapons capable of decimating infantry and bringing entire buildings to the ground; and then there’s sky layer, where a small number of flyers hold dominion over the air, with the potential to flatten ground forces outright. What’s impressive is not only that each layer is so different, but also so well constructed, and somehow they all fit together seamlessly. I’ve only had the chance to play in a handful of pre-launch launch sessions so far (plus the betas before that), and I have plenty more to see on the live servers before my final review, but those varied layers are a big reason why Battlefield 6 is already becoming one of my favorite multiplayer shooters of the year.

Most of the fighting happens between general infantry, and great moment-to-moment gunplay is the anchor of the whole experience. Weapons look and sound awesome, especially if you have headphones or a good sound system to pick up the deep booms and subtle details like bullet casings falling to the ground. Guns are accurate, but account for bullet travel and drop just enough to reward skillful shooting – though the modest recoil and bullet spread in most weapons also means you don’t need to be a hardcore shooter veteran to be able to land shots.

There are four classes to choose from, and so far I’m really impressed by how well balanced they are despite having very distinct identities. Running and gunning as the Assault Class is a lot of fun, but switching gears and focusing on keeping your team alive as a Medic is rewarding in its own right. Using your defibrillator to keep your team’s collective stock of lives from draining while simultaneously getting one of your fighters back in the action can help turn a match of attrition, even if you choose to be less involved in the actual combat. It’s great for ensuring that anyone can contribute by playing a role well.

When the vehicles, relegated to the larger maps, do get involved, all hell starts to break loose in the best way. A tank rolling down the street creates equal parts control and chaos. It becomes a focal point, able to send the enemy scattering as its machine guns and cannon erupt. As buildings explode and debris rains down, it also becomes the most important target to clear. Whether that means calling in a tank of your own, switching to the Engineer class and firing rockets with your next life, or something else entirely is up to you, but the way vehicles flip strategic calculus is extremely effective for keeping matches interesting. I also appreciate that, while not necessarily hard to use, tanks do have a higher skill requirement than fighting on foot. Being a good driver, knowing when to use defensive countermeasures, and when to push forward to seize territory or retreat and let friendly Engineers repair you means that a good tank commander stands out, and can make or break a match if handled correctly.

As a bit of an aviation nerd, I’m a sucker for the aerial layer. I love getting in a jet, winning dogfights, then strafing the other team, with some bombing runs mixed in for good measure. It’s fun to be in the skies, terrifying to be underneath, and so satisfying to shoot someone down with a well-placed rocket while on foot. It has the highest skill requirement, with a more complex set of controls and a more nuanced understanding of how aircraft operate in order to best utilize it. I’m ok with that in principle, but the lack of a good method to train or practice those skills also means it’s extremely difficult for newcomers to learn to fly. Only a small selection of the maps and gametypes offer aircraft, and of those that do, there is a safe bet that all the flyers will be taken almost immediately after the match starts. And if someone inexperienced does get a turn behind the controls of a jet or helicopter, but then dies, the negative impact on your team (or at least the perception of it) can be demoralizing. There’s a great firing range for trying out guns, and the lack of a similar option to practice flying means fewer players will be able to enjoy success in the skies.

There are nine maps at launch, ranging from the crowded streets of Saints Quarter, which is perfect for up close and personal action, to the enormous, vehicle-filled Mirak Valley. I haven’t played enough games on all of them to give a definitive verdict just yet, but so far I like what I’ve seen. Empire State is one of my favorites, with a great mix of open areas full of roads, buildings to duck into, and rooftops to snipe from. It’s a tactical advantage to learn the maps, and knowing that there is a fire escape on the back of a specific building opposite an objective point so you can reach the roof and wipe out an enemy squad from on high emphasizes the thoughtful nature of Battlefield 6’s combat.

It certainly helps that the maps look great, especially once you factor in their excellent destructibility. Chunks of cement rain down as bullets collide with buildings. Cars and buses explode, and cover can be erased in an instant with a well placed shot from a grenade launcher. Bring a tank to bear and you can crumble entire buildings (which is terrifying to be on the wrong side of), changing the terrain in ways that are meaningful, and never quite the same from match to match.

But the most impressive part is how all of it – the combat, the levels, the destruction – comes together. There was one moment where I was in a pitched battle for control of a zone in the construction sites of New Sobek City. The enemy was entrenched until I rode my tank in, smashing through a wall and a few support columns in the process. Dust and debris covered everything, but I ignored it as I sprayed gunfire from my machine gun, and my teammates mopped up the rest. It was gorgeous, and something you simply won’t find at this scale in any other game.

I still need to see how it all holds up once the floodgates open and I am fighting for my digital life in the launch servers, but so far, Battlefield 6’s multiplayer has been extremely impressive. Each aspect of it seems well crafted, wrapped in a wonderful layer of destructibility on maps that, so far, play really well. Once I get more time in to check out the progression, weapon customization, and how well the tech holds up, I’ll be able to give my final verdict with a score – but, for now, I can’t wait to return to the fight.