There have always been video game 'wars'. Since the 80s and 90s when home consoles first gained popularity, there have been some games (or game companies) that have inspired rivalry in the fans.
Take Nintendo and Sega as a classic example. Their turf war was hard fought for almost two decades until Sega stepped out of the race. In fact, it says a lot about how far we’ve come by the fact that you can now buy a Sega game on a Nintendo platform. Heck, you can even buy a game that features Sonic and Mario together! That would’ve been unheard of back in the day. But here we are in 2011, and the world of gaming has changed a huge amount. Games are now big-budget spectacles that generate millions in profit, and there are several franchises that really dominate the market. Two are of particular interest right now: Call of Duty and Battlefield. With both franchises seeing a new instalment being released at basically the same time, which one should you dedicate your time to? Let’s find out…
The case for Battlefield 3
Since the release of Battlefield 1942 in the early 2000s, PC gamers have been enraptured by the series’ blend of first person gunplay and vehicular combat. The key point of difference for Battlefield games was that they allowed a huge number of players to compete at the same time in objective based gameplay. In essence, players would enter a battlefield (surprise, surprise), then fight with their teammates in an attempt to capture points or kill the enemy. This gameplay has remained the core experience for the multiplayer component of all Battlefield games, including the Bad Company instalments and even the futuristic Battlefield 2142. Classes have also played an important role in the experience, with players choosing how they’d like to play based on a character type: for example, a soldier or a medic. This element really makes for dynamic play and means you can enjoy the game in multiple ways, even within the same match. As for single player, Battlefield games have generally been focused on multiplayer, although in recent times this has changed. The Bad Company games, and the latest Battlefield 3, all have ‘real’ single player campaigns focusing on different theatres of war. Battlefield 3 in particular has a dense and highly enjoyable single player component that lasts a good few hours. It’s also very realistic, so not the best choice if you’re more interested in looking for the best cruises 2012. The graphics must also be mentioned, shining in particular on the PC version of the game.
The case for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The Call of Duty franchise shares its roots with Battlefield, in the early 2000s. The release of the original Call of Duty was a breath of fresh air for gamers. It allowed us to step into the shoes of multiple soldiers and experience a new narrative style in games. It also introduced the ‘aim down the sight’ style of gameplay which you’ll now see everywhere. The multiplayer element of Call of Duty didn’t really kick in until the fourth game, when it really revolutionised online multiplayer shooters. The perks system, the kill streaks, the XP – it all came together to create a hugely addictive experience. With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Infinity Ward are taking the series to the next level. The single player finishes up the story started in Call of Duty 4, while the multiplayer has added all sorts of new things – mainly building on what we’ve had before. For example, there are new kill streaks and perks, but there are also new game modes (some of which apparently let players work together, which is unusual). The setting of MW3 takes players all over the world, including New York and London, so it’ll be exciting to experience the campaign too.
Which game is for you?
So which one should you choose? Well, if you want to believe the video game purists, they’ll tell you that Battlefield 3 is the best choice. It’s certainly the more realistic option, and is the prettiest, but could be hard to get into (read: good at) for people who are new to the series. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, on the other hand, is a good choice for more ‘regular’ gamers. They’ve likely played a MW title before and will be right at home with the controls and multiplayer suite. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. And hey, you could always just rent both and see which you prefer!