This was a hands-on demo, unlike the MW3 one, and I got to see for myself how smooth and fast the gameplay was. Changes in BF multiplayer design were evident, too. You’ll be able to earn teamwork points by supporting your buddies in skirmishes. So, if you’re playing as a heavy gunner and suppressing enemy assailants moving on your comrades’ positions, you’ll get points when they kill the bad guy.
“Thunder Run”–a BF3 tank-driving mission–also rolled out during E3 and attendees could see both depth-of-field and massive destructibility the Frostbite 2 engine enabled. Thunder Run gave a different vantage point on what present-day conflict looks like, with fearsome tank platoons facing off against each other, firing artillery shells and missiles in either direction.
Along with the “My Life” section shown in March, the levels spotlighted at E3 proved that EA and DICE are aiming for variations of scale in the BF3 final product.
It’s already apparent how different both games will be in trying to deliver playable takes on contemporary armed conflict. If you want a thrill ride, then Modern Warfare 3‘s your game. It’s trying to create a military action drama that unfolds all over the globe.
Players wanting a bit more tactical strategy should look into Battlefield 3. The previous games in the series always tended to be a bit more simulation-based in their approaches and BF3 continues that trend. It’s not just run-and-gun. Also, Battlefield 3 draws on the biggest differentiators for DICE’s war games: multi-modal gameplay. A typical Battlefield game lets you seamlessly go from an on-foot, soldier’s-eye view to larger-than-life vehicular combat.
Activision surely has more to reveal for on both campaign and multiplayer, but based what we’ve seen so far, Battlefield 3 has the edge.
Advantage: Battlefield 3
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