Substance in Multiplayer

[jacilon]

Hello all you gamers out there!

Im here to talk about something that we have all seen a bit of and that is SUBSTANCE!
Lets take a look at Call of duty (no hate) and its bullet glass health system. Its your average day playing and your sneaking around a corner then BAM! your dead...

How did you die? Some guy saw you from afar and took 2-3 shots at you. Fret not loyal gamer, your back on your feat within a few seconds and swiftly shoot him twice as he moves closer to your base so now hes dead. *enjoy your self*

Quick and decisive (Not quick enough for you to retreat though, so its more of a hide and seek of death.) Once again i dont hate this. The combat is Short or moderately extended burst of action.

Now lets take a look at the guy with the Armoured boxers. Well if it isnt Halo. Hes a decent guy with a nice story to tell so lets listen to him. Once upon a time in a wide open place known as blood gulch there was a red spartan charging into the opposing base with a warthog but wait... OH NO! One of the opposing goons has a rocket launcher there's no way to avoid this, its an instant kill with no way to dodge it! The red spartan was determined and dumped the warthog as the goon fires at him. The red spartan uninjured then pulls out his pistol and begins firing at him. The goon gets agitated and retaliates with an energy sword! The hero likes a challenge so he pulls out his own too! Now its a climactic fight to death with last second dodging and quick wit and the victor has a great story to tell...

Sometimes lengthy and Filled varying styles of combat (Allows you to retaliate while under heavy fire or flee when getting shot at.) Based on a variable of long streams of action.

So we have seen two differing styles of combat Quick that relies on your skill using certain tools at your disposal (Cod)
Lengthy and filled with a whole array of things that might happen (Halo).

Another example could be how Street fighter and smash bros are different.

I normally tend to think games that have some sort of lengthy combat where anything can happen and have my imagination go wild with the many ways i can approach a situation are filled with substance. Smash bros, lost planet 2 (Those VS suits fighting each other are so cool), Unreal tournament, starcraft (maybe?)

But some people prefer the quick and deadly Cod. (Aim, Fire, Kill, die, Repeat.) They have kill streaks in there to mix it up a bit. (sorry for lack of examples) Im not saying this is bad im just saying how some people prefer the little bit of substance Cod has...

*end rant*

Whats your take?

 

[tippy2k2]

...I have no clue what the hell you are talking about. You gave us two stories (kind of?) and asked what's my take. What's my take about what? Call of Duty and Halo and how they're different? Could you elaborate a bit?

 

[WaywardHaymaker]

I feel like I just watched a movie where most of the climax was cut for time. And that the beginning was going to be for a whole different movie, but they didn't change it because of the budget.

But anything that leaves you with fun stories to tell versus robotic, automatic responses you learn is better in my book. And I can't tell you one single story from CoD that you haven't already heard.

 

[kouriichi]

Space Marines!
Lots of substance there. Fight like a Space Marine and live, or fight like a coward and die!

If your looking for a solid multiplayer that delivers what it promises, Space Marine is your game. You have plenty of health, without it being absurd. The health regen is extremely balanced. Its nto like CoD where you take cover for half a second and your back to full. It takes several seconds to even regen just your armor, and even longer for your health. And the only way to regen faster, is to use your perk slots.

The weapons are extremely balanced. No weapon truly outshines the rest, and it all come down to your playstyle. While the Bolter is the starter weapon, and the most standard, its also the most versatile.
But if you get in a head on fight with a Heavy Bolter, prepare to die. Because the Heavy Bolter has close to double the DPS. But if you want to use the Heavy Bolter to its full DPS, you have to stand completely still. ((You literally dig your feet in and go into a braced stance, which you have to toggle off.)) So anyone who gets to your sides or rear has a massive advantage on you.

Combat extends in this game. Shootouts dont end in a matter of seconds. Ive been in shoot out that lasted 3 minutes straight, with neither side getting more then 5 kills. I wont lie, both teams were EXTREMELY good.

If you want a game that delivers what it promises, Space Marine is your game. Its a feast for the ears and the eyes.

 

[Twad]

... Spess Muhreens? Isnt that beside the point? Anyway..

OP, i have a bit of a hard time to understand your post.. but from what i understand its about Emergent gameplay? Variety breed possibilities?

I prefer longer fights like Bad Company2 and Tribes. Since we don't die instantly (usually) i can take a bit of damage and keep fighting. I can move and reposition, gives me a bit of time to learn/adjust from my mistake and actually -play- the game, instead of looking at the respawn timer forever. In these games i can work and support my team efficiently even if im not too good at gunning down other players.

Then again, the games (tribes/Cod) dont have the same focus, COD feels very "individual" in gameplay, there isnt much in the way of teamwork possible beside comunication and shooting. its about the individual players putting their skills against eachothers, doing their own thing. Highly competitive.

While BC2 and Tribes have the "team" system that allow players to actively support eachother in many different ways (medics, remote spotting, refill ammo, repairs, deploying remote stations ect). Its competitive but the cooperative parts are important too.

So, Cod have little substance as the actions are pretty much about "i killed him, then him, then him, then died". While team-based ones add more verbs, like healed, restocked, piloted, revived, ect.

Did i make sense?