I play both Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4. I like them both. I'm starting to get friends though that are taking sides one way or another. Here's my take on it.
HALO 3. HALO 1 and 2 were my all-time favorite first person shooter games. Halo 3 continues that tradition and brought some added features sweetening the deal even further. Heavy weapons, customizable maps and game variants. It's got a lot going for it. The campaign version of the game was pretty good, but the online multiplayer is where it is at. In my opinion, the matchmaking system is damn near flawless. It is easy to navigate, join friends and get into games. The only drawback is that you can't randomly join custom games.
While filled with a thousand vulgar juveniles, HALO 3's matchmaking came prepared and is more enjoyable by using the mute function so you can only hear your teammates. Heavy Weapons, as I'd mentioned before, really enhanced the H3 experience. Being able to pick up a large weapon and move, albeit slow as hell, around the map providing heavy support. The other great aspect of H3 is the vehicles. I love driving the Warthog. The Banshee is a bit broken this go around. One Banshee can dominate a map with its speed, maneuverability, rapid firing guns, bombs and ability to splatter ground troops. They need to tone it down a bit. Otherwise, all of the vehicles are great this go around. They add an element that is just unmatched by other FPSes.
Call of Duty 4. I played COD2 and liked it a lot. Unfortunately the multiplayer matchmaking was abysmal and that ended the experience for me shortly after completing the campaign. I skipped COD3 because i heard it was just more of the same. Upon raves and positive reviews, I decided to grab up COD4 when it was on sale for only $40. I'm glad I did. The game is amazing. It has a much more realistic combat feel than H3 and so far the players I've encountered haven't been as obnoxious. With the last couple of games I've played though, they're getting there. Hopefully that was just a couple bad experiences.
As far as the campaign of COD4 is concerned, it is what HALO 3's campaign should have been. The ever stoic Master Chief and the grizzled tone of Johnson and Hood did nothing to get the blood pumping and the adrenaline rushing. The only emotion came during the cut scenes where you witness main characters being killed. Sad, but you seem very disconnected from it since you aren't in control. It was still a decent story and was well worth working through. I am glad H3 came out before COD4, otherwise I would've really disappointed by its campaign. COD4 has an amazing campaign. A great show. It's like living a movie. Emotions run high as you feel invested in the goings on. At one point, a character you are playing gets killed by a nuclear explosion. The whole pacing and drive of the game puts you in it. It is short, but still one of the finest experiences I've had playing through a video game.
The multiplayer aspect can either be frantic and fast or slow and stealthy. You can't just run and gun and hope to make it through alive. You have to be aware of your surroundings and use your UAV or airstrikes well. Sure, that shrub might shoot you from 300 feet away, but it's actually some ghillie suit wearing sniper. hiding in there. The only problem I have with the multiplayer is the perk where if you are killed you drop a grenade. It is such crap and a cheap way to get a kill. Often, I kill someone and am in too confined of a space to get out and get to safety or there is another unsuspecting teammate blocking my escape. The other thing that could have been done better is the map design. It is very well constructed and looks pretty realistic, but there isn't any great landmarks that help differentiate between one side or the other. I wouldn't want anything too obtrusive, but maybe some propoganda posters, graffiti or flags on the map to give some point of reference. Without it, it makes pointing out enemy positions rather difficult.
In conclusion, I like them both. I think both have great aspects and are a worthwhile play. While Call of Duty 4's campaign takes the cake, hands down, HALO 3's use of vehicles and tactical team communications in multiplayer give it the advantage. Granted, this is my opinion based upon my likes and dislikes. I can fully understand why someone would like COD4's game play better in multiplayer. I just like the vehicle additions and the easier to navigate maps of H3. There is also more emotion and satisfaction gained from playing H3's multiplayer for me.
I will say H3 needs Neutral Flag back!!!
Of course neither of them have anything as cool as the Assassin's Creed glitches.
