In Battlefield 2, players take control of one of three military superpowers—the United States, China, or the Middle East Coalition—in massive online battles with over 100 players. The game features destructible environments that adjust in scale based on the number of players in each match and enhanced team play features like Commander Mode. Players increase their rank from recruit to General by achieving success in-game and unlock awards including new weapons, vehicle decals, medals, etc. The game engine and physics system make it feel more realistic than ever before; for example, the material penetration feature measures a weapon's ability to fire through barriers depending on what they are made out of.