Since the announcement of the release of Battlefield 3 (BF3), a first person shooter game, there has been a growing debate between fans of the new game and fans loyal to Call of Duty, which has been around for 8 years and has gathered a loyal following. On the other hand, Battlefield games are underdogs in comparison. The games’ release datesare only separated by a couple of weeks, and there is increasing competition between the two for sales.

Battlefield 3’s creator, DICE, built the game from the ground up with the new game engine, Frostbite 2. Frostbite 2 is a revolutionary game engine, allowing for more expansive gameplay and better graphics. The game includes advanced infantry combat, along with the use of vehicles, which is usually a turn-off in games, due to the poor execution. Battlefield 3 has a history of excellent incorporation of vehicles into their games, with the latest edition being jets. The game also boasts advanced building demolition. The new game engine allows for realistic bullet holes, partially destroyed walls, and gaping holes in a building. The sniping in the game relates to somewhat real-world scenarios, forcing the player to account for bullet drop based on distance. Melee combat is also a bit more realistic. In this game, a knife or hatchet is standard equipment and more than one swing is required to kill an opponent, followed by a rivalry system based on melee killing an enemy and stealing the player’s dog tag. This has no real meaning, but a chart is made of all the dog tags a player has collected for bragging rights. Senior Trey Neely, a fan of the Battlefield 3, stated, “I logged many hours on the beta and the game seems promising.”

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3), on the other hand, has revolutionized its gameplay. The team, Infinity Ward, along with Sledgehammer games, has spent many hours working on updating the mechanics of the game. New online game types were added from Black Ops to increase variety, games such as Gun Game and One in the Chamber. The perk trees were revolutionized and all game ending perks were removed. The perks were separated into three separate groups; support, recon and assault. The assault is the typical one from MW2, but the other two are completely new. Recon is made for snipers, the perks are made to increase efficiency and after the player scores an eight kill streak, all of the perks are unlocked together. Support allows for the player to give his teammates upgrades, like flack jackets. The guns were modified to allow for dual scopes and multiple attachments, since the team wanted the weapons to better represent guns used by Special Forces in current wars. Senior Darin Bottger, claimed, “Modern Warfare 3 should be the first person shooter of the year.”

Which game is for the prudent gamers who prefer to only buy one game and stick with it? Based on graphics, Battlefield 3 takes the cake and runs with it. The graphics for MW3 are a repackaged and barely modified upgrade. The graphics for BF3 are cutting edge and widely considered the best available for consoles. The game engine for BF3 is more gauged to mimic realistic war. The ability to destroy buildings, actually dying after a few bullets, and move in groups to take or defend positions in BF3, makes it a game for more experienced players. Most people prefer MW3 for its simple pick-up-and-play game style. The style makes it easier to start and master.

Personally, I prefer BF3 over MW3. MW3 looks like a repackaged MW2 with some new features and an extended storyline. BF3 is a completely remastered game that has been in the works for years, MW3 has had about a year and a half of work, and hasn’t really been changed. The work that DICE put into Battlefield 3 puts it far ahead of the curve, and the game is better for a challenge. So, go cancel your Modern Warfare 3 preorders and get Battlefield 3, a game that requires more than a fast trigger finger.