So are you hooked on Battlefield 1943 like I am? Like the other games in the series, this one is seriously addictive and well worth the $15 it costs to download from Xbox Live or the Playstation Network. But by now, even the novice players are getting the hang of it. So if you’re late to the party, here’s a few useful tips to help you survive.

• My favorite class? The Rifleman. The M1 Garand (available in both the Marine and Japanese kits) is by far the most balanced weapon in the game offering the perfect balance of power, range, and rate of fire. It only holds eight rounds, so be sure to reload after each engagement. For best results, crouch and peer through the iron sight view before squeezing the trigger. Also, let the rifle settle after each shot to combat the effects of recoil.
• Learn to Defend! Too many players simply race from one control point to the next, never leaving anyone behind to defend captured territory. As a result, the match resembles a game of whack-a-mole, with players wandering all over the map. Remember, your team only needs to hold three out of the five flags to bleed the enemy ticket count. So capture three control points and defend them!
• Tanks are absolute beasts, if deployed correctly. Don’t drive headlong into a swarm of enemy infantry; you’ll quickly get picked apart by explosive charges and anti-tank rounds. Instead, use tanks as standoff weapons during assaults. Hold back and shell a position, providing support while infantry move in for the capture.
• A tank’s front armor is the strongest, so keep it facing toward your enemy at all times. Likewise, look for opportunities to flank enemy tanks, targeting the weaker side or rear armor. The rear armor is the weakest, making it the most effective spot to hit a tank with rifle grenades and anti-tank rounds.
• Flak canons are great for taking out fighters and bombers…just be sure to lead them. But they inflict no damage against tanks. So if you see an enemy tank rolling toward your position, jump out of the flak canon and seek more suitable cover.
• Air raid bombers can be shot down by fighters and flak canons. So don’t let those enemy bombers reach their target. Shoot them down before they can drop their bombs.
• Always use the bomb sight view when controlling the bombers during an air raid. Steer the bombers toward the largest concentration of enemy units, as noted by the red icons on the HUD. Enemy held control points make decent targets too, as they’re constantly spawning fresh units. If targeting a control point, hit one near the frontlines, as most players spawn closest to the action.
• When strafing with a fighter, use the rudder to line-up your target. The rudder is mapped to the left analog stick and controls the plane’s yaw. Applying rudder during tight turns is also effective, sometimes allowing you to out turn a pesky bandit on your tail.
• Is your plane damaged? No need to land and repair it with a wrench. Simply fly over a friendly airfield or aircraft carrier. If you’re low enough, your plane will be repaired. For best results, cut the throttle and glide over the runway to maximize your flight time, ensuring your plane’s health is completely restored with one pass. However, you’re extremely vulnerable when performing a low speed fly over so make sure the airspace is clear of threats.
• The Japanese Zero is much more agile and maneuverable than the Marine Corsair so take this into account before charging into a dogfight. The Corsair tends to stall, so stay on the throttle while climbing and keep up your airspeed during tight turns.
• Use Squads! If you join (or start) a squad, you can spawn on your squad members’ positions. This is useful when launching an assault against a well defended control point. Have on squad member hold back and serve as the spawn point while the rest of the squad attacks. You can have up to four players in a squad.