Unlike most other multiplayer games, where players select game modes and maps separately, TF2 combines the two aspects. Each map has a built-in mode, like capture-the-flag, but some will have changing mission objectives. To keep up, players select classes before each round starts and have the option to switch into other roles during the match. Teams start in rooms with equipment closets, where players can replenish items and ammunition.

Soldiers and Heavy classes form the brunt of the offensive frontline. All characters move at a specific pace, and none have the ability to run. The Heavy, as its name suggests, brings in the most firepower but moves slowly. It also has the most health of any class, making it very formidable. Soldiers move faster and carry rocket launchers, and may perform rocket jumps to traverse long distances and gain access to different areas. While in mid-air, soldiers can also lay down a barrage of area damage against incoming enemies. Similarly, the Demoman (demolitions) carries a mortar gun and lobs bouncing grenades off walls to clear out rooms in a hurry.

Snipers perform their traditional role of eliminating single targets from great distances, though patience determines the effectiveness of their shots. Keeping the sniper scope trained on a target marks it with a red dot, indicating a sure kill. However, anyone on the field can see the dot, giving time for players to react. Conversely, the Pyro specializes in close quarters combat using a flame thrower or shotgun. Both need to watch out for the Scout, the fastest class in the game. Equipped with a small scattergun and baseball bat, Scouts dart across the field, avoiding most gunfire and taking out anyone they happen to pass by along the way towards retrieving a critical package. They can even double jump and change direction mid-air.

Spies can go into stealth mode and sneak behind enemy lines, where they can creep up on unsuspecting targets, or plant explosives to destroy structures. Other support classes include the Medic and Engineer. Medics dispense healing through a healing hose, which can be used around corners, making them perfect for following Heavies around. When forced to fight, they fend off attackers with bone saws handy. Heal for long enough, and a special power can be activated, making both the Medic and supported player temporarily invincible. Engineers have a unique function, comprised entirely of laying down support mechanisms like ammunition and health dispensers or teleportation units to quickly get soldiers to the frontline. Each Engineer can also set up a stationary gun turret, which can be upgraded up to three times for better firepower. Upgrades require metal, which requires a nearby dispenser, but they need to be placed in a safe location to avoid the risk of being destroyed. Multiple Engineers can help upgrade a turret and speed up the process, so with a little strategic planning, an entire defensive line can be set up to take out attackers.

The cartoonish graphics mask the utter carnage TF2 provides, with body parts and blood splatter. Developers at Valve have promised that support for TF2 won't end with its initial release, and that it will continue to come out with new maps and game tweaks after launch. Half-Life 2: Episode 2 might provide one of the most talked about single player experiences when it releases, but Team Fortress 2 will satisfy players craving intense multiplayer action.

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