Master Chief, the console first-person shooter poster-boy and mass-market juggernaut may have some serious competition at the hands of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
It was bound to happen. 2007's biggest shooters are in a battle for console supremacy. On one side, you have Microsoft's Halo 3, the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. On the other, stands Activision's Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare. If you can afford both, then by all means, but if money's tight, read on to see which game emerged victorious.
Story
Halo should win this round since it concludes a trilogy and has a rich history that goes along with its settings and characters. However, we can't get Halo 2's cheesy narrative out of our heads, especially since it bled into the third installment. Master Chief and his former arch nemesis, the Arbiter still hold hands throughout the adventure, working together to destroy common foes. This unfolds with little tension, and support characters such as the preachy Cortana get on our nerves. Call of Duty 4, on the other hand, features an expertly woven narrative dealing with current struggles in the Middle East and some maniac in Russia. It features the same American bravado that appears in most war-based games, but it also makes us appreciate the hard work that goes into being a soldier. Plus, we really dig the mission briefings. Yet, it's hard to ignore the Halo novels.
Winner: Tie
Audio
The babbling from a battlefield full of Grunts is no match for the thunderous atmosphere of the front lines in Call of Duty 4.
Although Halo 3 sports an excellent soundtrack and decent voice acting, the weapons aren't nearly as loud and thus pretty lame sounding. Call of Duty 4's guns shake our floors and make me feel more badass than I am. When it comes to first person shooting, it is the guns, not the characters that are the stars.
Winner: Call of Duty 4
Visuals
Both games pull even when it comes to graphics. Halo 3 excels with creepy aliens, humongous explosions and a lush jungle setting. Call of Duty 4 looks equally gorgeous, with destroyed Middle Eastern cities, tanks firing through walls, life-like animations and thousands of bullets ripping up the countryside.
Winner: Tie
Single Player Campaign
Both games feature linear missions and a seven to ten hour quest, but Call of Duty 4's single player just barely edges out Halo 3's, thanks to a phenomenal presentation and excellent pacing. Microsoft's game sputters to a cheesy conclusion without the option of killing the main bad guys. Call of Duty 4 feels like a quality thriller, a nail biter that had us on the edges of our seats right up to its thrilling finale. Bottom line, I beat Halo 3 because I had to, but I defeated Call of Duty 4 because we wanted to. Huge difference.
Winner: Call of Duty 4
Multiplayer Campaign
Halo 3's deathmatch holds its ground steadily, but Call of Duty 4 gives it a run for its money.
Both games offer a competitive and intense multiplayer experience. On the Halo front, you get to dual wield weapons, command a host of vehicles, record videos of your performances and share them online. You can even rearrange the locations of items in Forge Mode. At the same time, Call of Duty 4 offers more realistic combat in which enemies drop after a few rounds, and the ability to level up your soldier and unlock a host of goodies, including equipment, weapons and various perks, will keep you playing for months.
Winner: Tie
Marketing
Master Chief easily wins this category, seeing as how his face appears on just about everything, from specially marked cans of Mountain Dew to numerous toys. Hell, Microsoft even created a custom Halo 360, complete with controllers and a headset. If you want to immerse yourself in all things Halo (and drain your savings account in the process), go nuts. As for Call of Duty 4, there's only the game.
Winner: Halo 3
And the Winner Is...
I dig Master Chief's space shenanigans, but Modern Warfare hooked us with its slick presentation and insane firefights. Whereas Halo 3 feels like more of the same, Call of Duty 4 pushes its genre forward by trashing most of if not all war based games that came before it. You'll have fun no matter which game you buy, but if you want a glimpse the future of first person shooters, Call of Duty 4 comes highly recommended.
Winner: Call of Duty 4
