Unfortunately these days it is difficult to pick contenders for best gameplay for the simple reason that this core, crucial game component is often neglected. Instead, the focus is shifted towards graphical tweaks, small physics enhancements or a flashy new feature. Take Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 as an example- that was sold simply off the back of a few new game modes, weapons and perks. Other than that, practically identical as Modern Warfare 2. Worth spending £40 on? Apparently so, as it is the best selling videogame to date. For me fancy gimmicks are not what makes a game. Unfortunately your average gamer will be drawn in by these shiney new features like a magpie. Thats right, a magpie. Dangle a new big name title in front of them and they will peck away at it for a few weeks, then a short time down the line they will forget about it and do the exact same thing with the next title. Like some form of horrific goldfish-magpie hybrid. Anyway enough about gene splicing and back to Call of Duty.
Yes- despite the shamelessly ham-fisted approach to marketing deployed by Treyarch, or Infinity Ward,or whoever the hell is owning the CoD franchise these days- you cannot fault the CoD series for gameplay. They are by no means the best around, but as far as fluidity and ease of movement is concerned, its hard to beat CoD. By means of Comparison, the console Battlefield titles (prior to Battlefield 3) feel somewhat... bloated. Simply walking around feels like you are at a constant struggle against gravity, almost like you are wading through treacle. I understand if its an attempt at achieving a feeling akin to carrying tons of battle equipment, however it feels as if your soldier soiled himself during the previous firefight and as a last ditch attempt to compensate for the embarrassment and trauma decided to down 6 litres of vodka. CoD on the other hand has always ran rather smoothly, running and gunning is infinitely more possible in CoD titles. Battlefield has always pushed me towards hunkering down with a machinegun and holding off an area or sniping from a kilometer away because the simple task of walking is such a headache. Thankfully this issue has been mostly fixed for Battlefield 3, and I am generally impressed with how it plays. CoD still comes up trumps for fluidity, but not much else.
Herein lies the problem faced by CoD. The pros do not outweigh the cons. The smoothness is fine and all, but when you considder the singleplayer campaign has become so obsurd that you expect Bruce Willis to smash through a window at any given moment handing out vests and one-liners to all involved, then the main selling point is obviously the multiplayer. And as usual boys and girls predictability is the name of the game in this little dance- after the first few weeks the brain dead masses will have worked out the cheapest and easiest weapon- perk combo thus ruining the experience for everyone that wants to play to their own style. I would rather spend a week poking myself in the eye with a lemon wedge than give these individuals the satisfaction of padding their stats. So alas, CoDs gameplay is not award winning material in my books.
Getting down to business, I would have to say that the winner for this particular category would be Half Life 2. A fairly simplistic title with no perks, gimmicks or superpowers. You just point at anything you want to die, and click away. The story is not exactly groundbreaking either- just your standard dystopian future. War of the Worlds inspired walkers, over friendly face-hugger style aliens, and space Nazis. Naturally. Bizarrely, the enjoyment of this game is vastly improved through one simple feature. Namely, the gravity gun. A device that allows you to launch every day objects at lethal velocity with reckless abandon. It amazes me how much amusement can be had at the expense of something so basic. I guess it caters perfectly for the inner need to smash objects into other objects. The interaction that can be had with your surrounding environment is unbelievable in Half Life 2, this feature alone was enough to spawn an entire game- Portals- in which you can create cross dimensional portals to solve puzzles in a bizarre mix of pure enjoyment and brain fuckery. But for me, the gravity gun is where its at. Launch a harpoon at a bad guy, laugh maniacally as it impales him to a wall. Fire a tin of beans at his friend, receive a 12guage slug to the face because you just tried to commit murder with groceries. Totally worth it.
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