Battlefield 3

   If you look back two posts you'll read how excited I was for the upcoming release of Modern Warfare 3.  I had the hardened edition arrive from Amazon.com on release day and played it lot until realizing it isn't as good and refined as Black Ops.  MW3 lacked certain elements from Black Ops that should be in it.  The ability to join a friend and group up before entering a game lobby without the constant need of an invite is one.  MW3's graphics have a hazy (almost over fog) look to it in multiplayer. Compare this to Black Ops where everything is super sharp and nicely colored.  MW3 may play at a faster frame rate than Black Ops but if the colors are blending too much due to poor graphics than what's the point of 60 FPS.  Finally, the multiplayer maps all felt way too small (to force close quarter combat probably) and similar with too many forced choke points.
   Fast-forward to black Friday I see Battlefield 3 on sale for $37 so I picked it up.  My previous impression of BF3 was from the multiplayer beta demo and it felt underwhelming .  The full game doesn't feel this way in fact it can be overwhelming with so much to do and be apart of in the larger multiplayer maps.  I have played over 60 hours of multiplayer and not even close to tired of it in fact I still get excited every time I play.
   One week after I got my MW3 hardened edition I realized as well I didn't need the Elite code for access to the Elite stats app on the PS3.  Thankfully I didn't use any of the codes and I sold the hardened edition eBay for a small $10 profit.  Perhaps I may buy MW3 again if I see a really good sale just to see if anything has improved since launch but I'm not in a rush or hurry.  I can quite easily play BF3 for years and it has opened my gaming beyond Call of Duty much like MAG has.

Battlefield 3 (beta) Follow-Up Review

   As I was first playing this demo I liked it because it was different and fun, however the more I played it the more I found I didn't really like the game as much.  The game has a slower pace but it feels like it wants to be faster than it is when it shouldn't be.  Unlike MAG where reviving teammates is almost a core aspect of the game, Battlefield 3 doesn't really emphasize this as much as it could or should.  The biggest disappointment with this game (and game series) is the small squad size, only four, this means I can only connect and talk to four friends or teammates.  Sure I can be in the game or team as all my friends but this limits the fun.  By comparison MAG has a squad size of eight and Call of Duty has a team size of at least six and in the lobby one can hear and talk to everyone else. 
    I have made a decision on what game to buy on release day and that is Modern Warfare 3.  The more I watch youtube videos of MW3 the more fun it looks.  I just hope it is as much fun to me as Black Ops has been, Black Ops has been and still is my favorite Call of Duty yet.  I have preordered the hardened edition (which include one year elite membership as well as some other add-ins) on Amazon which has no sales tax and $0.99 release-day delivery so I should have release day without leaving home.  Besides, I tried Best Buy and Gamestop and they were both sold out or hardened edition preorders, but this Amazon option turns out to be better after all. 

Battlefield 3 (Beta) Review

   Just like MAG the new public beta for Battlefield 3 give me the feeling of attacking or defending.  I get a real sense of "kill confirmed" fragging enemy players playing this game.  The one map available doesn't feature vehicles to drive which would've been nice.  It is however very varied with the bright park in the first section and dark-lit subway tunnels in the next. Defending is naturally easier but attacking gives an accomplishment feel because you know it's tougher.  For a public beta (or demo as I see it) it is running very smoothly, I have seen no player lag or skipping which is what I was expecting with so much interest in this game.  It is a fun game and could be a very good change of pace from Black Ops.