The best modern shooter at its core, but lacking here and there.
But enough of the comparison. Bad Company 2 has earned its right as a successful game from more than just being better than the top. It combines the collective knowledge obtained from shooters of the era and integrates it into a working formula: health is low, but not too low; each class has more depth than just having a different gun; realistically behaving projectiles and destructible environments; and the right sized maps for both vehicle and infantry combat.
While being superb at gameplay, its artistic details are a bit sketchy. Battlefield's graphical style has always been questionable. It just doesn't look realistic for some underlying reason, even though it has very decent resolution for a game with such huge playspaces. Special effects like explosions, particles, and dust are very detailed, yet weapon models and character animations seem cartoony. BC2 surely has an odd hodgepodge when it comes to visuals. It is definitely not lacking when it comes to sound. The weapon-firing and action sound effects are the most realistic I've ever heard in any game.
BC2 has enough to put it on top of the boards, but it doesn't live up to its full potential. The campaign could have been given more substance. The story is a little plain and doesn't tie into BC1 other than the characters themselves returning. Each level feels stretched out and watered down. Other little peeves like not having a very large arsenal (only 2 or 3 weapons of each weapon-type), very little health, and a forced feeling instead of an adventurous feeling create just enough faults to make the campaign less than great. Multiplayer, the highlight feature, has its share of faults, but is definitely not ruined by them. BC2's gameplay comes into full-swing here as it seems it was designed for multiplayer. Every class has a purpose and every weapon feels different. Vehicles are not the prime killers but force multipliers. Although, the excitement is short-lived when you reach the last unlock relatively early in rank. After that, it becomes much less, but still enjoyable.
Another note I feel should be acknowledged is the so-called "downloadable content". This content is already on the disc and is unlocked (not downloaded) upon release date to VIP members. The whole point of DLC is for the developer to show support for the community by creating content AFTER the game is released. What DICE did was put aside content already created and in the game then sold it back. This is not the spirit of making DLC.
When looking back at the game, all I can say is that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is the epitome of the successful shooter. It has what a good game needs to deserve such a title.