Is an FPS better when playing as a squad or by yourself?

[dabronc7]

With Bad Company 2 coming out in 2ish weeks and the lead producer claiming to be going after Modern Warfare 2, I raise the question is a game better when you act as a squad to accomplish tasks or is it better when you can work more on your own and just slaughter another team?

That is all.

 

[Drexler]

Star wars republic commando was a awesome game. I'd rather have my squad.

 

[Evilbunny]

Working with a squad is more fun, but this is assuming you have a solid group of friends that do not suck. Trying to play as a team with random people on the internet can be very frustrating because half of them don't have mics and almost all of them are wholly unreliable.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Star wars republic commando was a awesome game. I'd rather have my squad.

oh god, good memories, besides the ending....

but yeah i prefer a squad so much more, in any game, sure it sucks if the computer AI sucks, but it just adds a weird comfort in my mind knowing i have a group, wether i can control them or not

 

[Avatar Roku]

Star wars republic commando was a awesome game. I'd rather have my squad.

Ah yes, the best squad FPS I've ever played. Definitely in the top 5 FPSs period.

Thing is, though, it depends on the game. Republic Commando worked so well with a squad because that was its express purpose; it was built with the intent of having a useful and likable squad backing you up. Some other games manage to pull of playing solo just as well because they were designed with that in mind. It all depends on how much focus the devs put on it.

 

[snow]

In a team, always, even when I'm playing on a random server, I try to figure out what the majority of my team is doing and do my best to help out. Usually I try to flank a lot, it really gets the job done and throws the other team off!

 

[Godavari]

It depends wholly on the gameplay aspects and your personal preference. Games like Borderlands almost require a squad. Games like...

I'm sorry, I can't seem to finish that thought. Squads it is, then.

 

[ucciolord1]

FPS games, to me, are best when playing LAN with buddies. Or singleplayer.

 

[SeksEin]

If it is solely online, then I prefer it to be more squad based. On the other hand, it is always fun to kill every alien in sight as the lone hero of Earth.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

You can't make me choose. I like squad based games. But I'll never shake that part of me that loves Quake and Unreal deathmatch.

 

[ShakesZX]

it really depends on the game. I've played the demo of BC2, and i have to say that when I had a competent squad with me, the game was much more enjoyable. However, other FPS games like Halo are much more fun by yourself. Sure having a team helps, but it plays the same either way. I would classify MW2 as somewhere in the middle where i can find reasons to play with other people and not to as well.

 

[bobknowsall]

It's nice to have a squad to help you when combat becomes a bit of a clusterfuck, but playing solo feels like you're relying purely on your own skill, so it's more satisfying. I guess each has their own merits.

 

[BabySinclair]

Try playing MAG when it comes out and try to solo, I have a feeling you won't last long. Competent (and there's the qualifier) squads always are more fun for me since I don't have to fill every roll at once

 

[MONSTERheart]

At this point in time AI programming is not good enough to make squad mates that are as effective as you. I'm all for it, but currently there are few games that have a working, effective squad system. Star Wars: Republic Commando, GRAW2 and Mass Effect first come to mind.

 

[azncutthroat]

Bad team work is usually worse than no teamwork. Nevertheless, I enjoy every second playing with a good squad, for they are too few and far in between...

 

[Snotnarok]

I'm going to say both, I like being alone in the games but games like ME2 it does kind of help...except when your squad gets you killed with bad AI. ME2 was less of that but ung, finding your 2 teamates stuck in a corner while you were getting filled with bullets doesn't make snot happy.