This is a series of comparitive reviews I will be doing for The Escapist fun. In these (massive air quotes) "reviews" I will be taking three games that cover a similar topic, belong to the same genre, or try to do the same thing and comparing each one's strengths, weaknesses, and overall style. This isn't a recommend/rent/avoid review, all of the games I compare I bought and enjoy. My motivation for doing this is that my personal tastes are so varied I enjoyed things as far separated as "Pokemon Pinball" and "Bioshock." So for you, The Escapist fun, Here it is.
Xbox 360 online FPSs
First, an intro:
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This was one of my favorite games of (editor, please insert a year here). It had a great story, moving characters, and great variety in the campaign, but is that why were here? NO! Right, shooting strangers over the internet is great fun, especially when it is through through two layers of aluminum siding, needless to say this had to be on the list.
Halo 3
This was half one of my favorite games of (Thanx editer agin!), and half a limp vestigial mass. It had a masterfully woven set of cliches and characters that could move, and lots of shooting while jumping, but while the campaign was not even as good as Assault Heroes, the Online half was top-notch. Shooting n00bs in the visor over the internet is great fun, especially while gliding gaily past treetops in low gravity, so it had to be here.
Team Fortress 2
This was my least favorite game on the Orange Box, but I don't think this is a major insult considering that it is roughly equivalent to saying that Team Fortress 2 is the slowest Kenyan marathon runner at the olympics. Whether or not this game can run is a question of whether or not you've looked at your 360 funny lately. [sup][small] This statement was for the purpose of humor and in no way should be misconstrued as a flagrant attempt to defy the will of lord Gates. [/small][/sup] But, Shooting cart00ns over the internet is always good fun especially when it's with a syringe to the face, so this had to be here as well.
So before the incredibles start talking with the holograms, lets get this train wreck going.
The Trifecta
With any review comes a recomendation, but really I've seen both people who think that Halo is the second coming in game form, and those who wouldn't give the time of day to a Bungie fan, so I'll outline the style for each and try to give you a more three-dimensional impression of these games.
Naturally, most everyone who is still reading is probably some sort of shut-in, thread trolling sociopath, but on the off chance you're an online shooter fan, this is for you. If you're wondering why CoD: WaW (that's Call of Duty: World at War for allu n00bs of you.) was omitted is because as a young(er) idealistic videogamer, I made a solemn vow upon the grave of creativity never to play a world war 2 shooter, ever. That being said, CoD4: MW is by no means completly original, but what is? Even sliced bread was based on regular bread, and if it's a hyper-realistic modern warfare sandwich you're craving than COD4 is for you. Some great highlights are shooting through walls, throwing back grenades, being rewarded with airstrikes for a five man killing spree, and shooting through walls. In infantry combat training, one of the first things you learn is the differnece between "cover" (things that block bullets) and "clutter" (things that only block vision unless in Far Cry). A few complaints are that the Ghillie suits (accent optional) the snipers wear don't conceal you at all, in fact, after playing for days on end, I and every other gamer in the game had memorized every vista in every map to the point that anything that stood out was immediately shot and killed. Trying to stealth about became impossible. So if you like sneaking in the grass, you'd better bring a headstone, because as sure as I'm a (insert depreciating humor here) you'll die. But If you like a game that can quickly change tides, one where it is easy to kill and equally easy to get killed than this is the game for you. Get it if you love a tactical approach to gameplay and can stand to go ten minutes without blood or dismemberment. COD4 is one of those rare online shooters where it is possible to be a one-man army, but teamwork works more consitently.
However, teamwork is required in Team Fortress 2. In this game you can play as one of nine classes each put into one of three categories, offense, defense, and support. Playing as the damage-soaking machine gun dude will serve to a point, but the true beauty of TF2 is not the ability to be a bullet-spewing BAMF (look it up) but paramount importance of teamwork. The importance of having a variety of roles on the field at once and the ability to switch between classes in mid-battle make certain that the team of eight Heavy weapons Guys is going to lose to the team with one each machine gun turret building engineer, exploding mine planting demoman, healing and buffing medic, fast moving scout, flame spraying pyro, concealed and hidden spy, long distance sniper, and rocket shooting soldier. The number of possibilities are much more than "use gun on man." Oh, but the downside, no slayer/deathmatch mode. (sorry halo fans) Pretty much all there is is territory control, capture the briefcase, and... well that's it. But for all you guys and gals out there in XBLand, if you don't mind a cartoony style owing something to the incredibles and the omission of grenades and deathmatch, then this is the game for you. Seriously, get it. The ENTIRE Orange box is only about $20 now. (in america)
One game that is not $20 now is Halo 3, the ridiculously popular Sci-fi shooter about a faceless green-armored giant named Master Chief who saves the world from bad aliens while making millions of dollars on his first day. I'm a Halo fan, but with the exception of the first Halo, I've been a fan because of the Online multiplayer. Now, the gameplay isn't as pulse-pounding as COD4, or as variable and deep as TF2, but where Halo really shines is in custom games. The ability to alter spawn points for players, weapons and clutter, over ten different game types (as compared to TF2's 2), and the ability to alter just about everything except for the geography makes Halo 3 the very best custom games online shooter I've played. Sure, some other games let you make you're own maps, but those are PC games, and none of them made the amount of money Halo did (the customer is always right (usually)). If you like being able to alter everything about a game that is already very funtional and varied, if you like colors in a shooter other than brown, black, and blood than Halo 3 (multiplayer) is for you.
The Rundown
Call of Duty 4:
Pros:
-Great single player comes along with it
-Amazing realism, and smooth gameplay
-super-intense, very tactical
Cons:
-stealth is largely broken
-some cheap perks (martyrdom, last stand, grenade launchers)
Team Fortress 2
Pros:
-huge character variety, very approachable, yet masterable
-endlessly replayable, flawless gameplay
-comes with the Orange Box (Half-life episodes & portal)
Cons:
-Few game modes, no deathmatch
Halo 3
Pros:
-massive customization
-many game modes, including zombies
-balanced weapons and vehicles, great maps, huge community
Cons:
-single player is lackluster and short
-core gameplay is at times cheesy
-many of the guns feel like pez dispensers on steroids
So whether you like tense tactial shooters, an emphasis on teamwork, or bombastic space marines, thre is something in at least one of these titles for you. After all, I bought all three, and loved them all.
Xbox 360 online FPSs
First, an intro:
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This was one of my favorite games of (editor, please insert a year here). It had a great story, moving characters, and great variety in the campaign, but is that why were here? NO! Right, shooting strangers over the internet is great fun, especially when it is through through two layers of aluminum siding, needless to say this had to be on the list.
Halo 3
This was half one of my favorite games of (Thanx editer agin!), and half a limp vestigial mass. It had a masterfully woven set of cliches and characters that could move, and lots of shooting while jumping, but while the campaign was not even as good as Assault Heroes, the Online half was top-notch. Shooting n00bs in the visor over the internet is great fun, especially while gliding gaily past treetops in low gravity, so it had to be here.
Team Fortress 2
This was my least favorite game on the Orange Box, but I don't think this is a major insult considering that it is roughly equivalent to saying that Team Fortress 2 is the slowest Kenyan marathon runner at the olympics. Whether or not this game can run is a question of whether or not you've looked at your 360 funny lately. [sup][small] This statement was for the purpose of humor and in no way should be misconstrued as a flagrant attempt to defy the will of lord Gates. [/small][/sup] But, Shooting cart00ns over the internet is always good fun especially when it's with a syringe to the face, so this had to be here as well.
So before the incredibles start talking with the holograms, lets get this train wreck going.
The Trifecta
With any review comes a recomendation, but really I've seen both people who think that Halo is the second coming in game form, and those who wouldn't give the time of day to a Bungie fan, so I'll outline the style for each and try to give you a more three-dimensional impression of these games.
Naturally, most everyone who is still reading is probably some sort of shut-in, thread trolling sociopath, but on the off chance you're an online shooter fan, this is for you. If you're wondering why CoD: WaW (that's Call of Duty: World at War for all
However, teamwork is required in Team Fortress 2. In this game you can play as one of nine classes each put into one of three categories, offense, defense, and support. Playing as the damage-soaking machine gun dude will serve to a point, but the true beauty of TF2 is not the ability to be a bullet-spewing BAMF (look it up) but paramount importance of teamwork. The importance of having a variety of roles on the field at once and the ability to switch between classes in mid-battle make certain that the team of eight Heavy weapons Guys is going to lose to the team with one each machine gun turret building engineer, exploding mine planting demoman, healing and buffing medic, fast moving scout, flame spraying pyro, concealed and hidden spy, long distance sniper, and rocket shooting soldier. The number of possibilities are much more than "use gun on man." Oh, but the downside, no slayer/deathmatch mode. (sorry halo fans) Pretty much all there is is territory control, capture the briefcase, and... well that's it. But for all you guys and gals out there in XBLand, if you don't mind a cartoony style owing something to the incredibles and the omission of grenades and deathmatch, then this is the game for you. Seriously, get it. The ENTIRE Orange box is only about $20 now. (in america)
One game that is not $20 now is Halo 3, the ridiculously popular Sci-fi shooter about a faceless green-armored giant named Master Chief who saves the world from bad aliens while making millions of dollars on his first day. I'm a Halo fan, but with the exception of the first Halo, I've been a fan because of the Online multiplayer. Now, the gameplay isn't as pulse-pounding as COD4, or as variable and deep as TF2, but where Halo really shines is in custom games. The ability to alter spawn points for players, weapons and clutter, over ten different game types (as compared to TF2's 2), and the ability to alter just about everything except for the geography makes Halo 3 the very best custom games online shooter I've played. Sure, some other games let you make you're own maps, but those are PC games, and none of them made the amount of money Halo did (the customer is always right (usually)). If you like being able to alter everything about a game that is already very funtional and varied, if you like colors in a shooter other than brown, black, and blood than Halo 3 (multiplayer) is for you.
The Rundown
Call of Duty 4:
Pros:
-Great single player comes along with it
-Amazing realism, and smooth gameplay
-super-intense, very tactical
Cons:
-stealth is largely broken
-some cheap perks (martyrdom, last stand, grenade launchers)
Team Fortress 2
Pros:
-huge character variety, very approachable, yet masterable
-endlessly replayable, flawless gameplay
-comes with the Orange Box (Half-life episodes & portal)
Cons:
-Few game modes, no deathmatch
Halo 3
Pros:
-massive customization
-many game modes, including zombies
-balanced weapons and vehicles, great maps, huge community
Cons:
-single player is lackluster and short
-core gameplay is at times cheesy
-many of the guns feel like pez dispensers on steroids
So whether you like tense tactial shooters, an emphasis on teamwork, or bombastic space marines, thre is something in at least one of these titles for you. After all, I bought all three, and loved them all.