This fall marks the legendary battle between two of the most recognized first-person shooter franchises in the gaming industry, Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3. There's been quite a lot of hype brewing over the past several months for both titles, and they'll both no doubt rake in millions of dollars, but the question is... which one will come out on top?
While I think it may prove to be a close race, Modern Warfare 3 will likely come out on top for several reasons. Before breaking it down for you, I want to make it clear that I am by no means a connoisseur when it comes to military-based first-person shooters. That said, my views will likely represent that of a more casual fan of this genre and in turn, the general mass market.
5. Fast Paced Action - Those itching to play a twitchy shooter with superb controls that have been refined over the past several years need look no further as Call of Duty is king when it comes to fast paced action. Any hardcore player will tell you that responsiveness and control is key when playing a first-person shooter, and the Modern Warfare series has this down to a science. While it may be familiar territory, it's a system thats tried and true. While there are loads of gamers well versed with Battlefield's controls, there is undoubtedly a larger audience on the other side of the fence. As a more casual online gamer, I find Battlefield 3's massive online offerings a bit overwhelming and intimidating.
4. Unparalleled Set Piece Moments - While it may be a bit over the top and weak in terms of story, the fantastic single player experience is sure to be an exciting ride. If the demonstration at Microsoft's press conference was any indication, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer are pulling out all the stops, delivering and epic package that is sure to wow gamers. On the other hand, Battlefield 3's mind blowing graphics are quite impressive along with the element of destructibility; however, nearly all the footage we've seen has been running on a super-powered PC. Sure, we got a glimpse of the game running on PS3 a few weeks back, but there's no doubt it won't run as smooth as Modern Warfare 3.
3. Frame-rate - Seeing as how I don't have a state of the art PC - along with the majority of gamers - and will be picking up both games on the 360, the graphical edge that Battlefield 3 has over Modern Warfare 3 will be marred by it's lower frame-rate. While cutting edge graphics is great and all, those who play online want the smoothest and most responsive experience possible. Call of Duty has the clear edge in this department.
2. Publicity - Activision is one of the biggest publishers in the industry. With the most recognizable franchise in all of gaming that has broken sales records for them year after year, it's hard to believe that this mega publisher will be outdone by EA's marketing. The Modern Warfare franchise is Activision's baby and they're going to do all they can to be sure everyone on the planet knows how awesome this game is. With the Call of Duty XP Event taking place in September and their Elite service already picking up steam, they're doing all they can to get gamers to forget that Battlefield 3 even exists.
1. Recognizability - I alluded to this a bit earlier, but there is no denying the power of brand recognition. People love their Call of Duty and there's little that can be done to change that. Year after year Activision shells out another sequel and reaps the benefits as each installment sets record breaking sales numbers. No one thought another series would be able to compete with the likes of Halo, but Call of Duty shocked us all with a robust multiplayer experience that improves year after year. While the changes may be incremental, the series has been carefully constructed to maintain the heart of what keeps people coming back for more. From kill streaks to perks, Infinity Ward has nailed the rewarding gameplay that incentivizes the player to keep playing. I may not be the most skilled player, but the constant rewards help someone like me gradually improve my skills and customize the experience to my liking without being intimidating. Unless Battlefield 3 has an ace up its sleeve that can pull millions of gamers off the Call of Duty train, there in for an uphill battle.
Agree? Disagree? Which title are you looking forward to more? Let us know with your comments below.
