game house

Battlefield has been somewhat of a niche series that has historically only been appreciated by those who already know its awesomeness. And with almost five years since the last numerical release of Battlefield, it's easy to forget about it. But if you are sleeping on Battlefield 3, it is time to wake up! We were recently able to participate in a closed-door presentation and subsequent gameplay session, and let's just say Battlefiled 3 may be one of the best playable games on the E3 2011 show floor. Yeah, it's that good.

What is initially striking about Battlefield 3 is the size and scope of the world. The mission we were on had us fighting our way through Paris and hitting several rally points throughout the world. However, though it is possible to run and gun through each level, we actually took some time to explore the city of lights. Unlike other shooter franchises, Battlefield aims to create a warzone that consists of more than linear stages with checkpoints that dot the landscape. You can approach targets and checkpoints in any way you want, and the feeling of freedom in the game is something that is certainly rare in shooters. The open world makes Battlefield 3 feel like an experience unlike any other shooter out there

Battlefield 3's world wouldn't be as impressive though without Frostbite 2. By now you've certainly heard about DICE's new engine that brings realistic animation and unprecedented detail to the world of Battlefield. However, you can't really appreciate the game's new engine until you see it yourself. Everything in the world of Battlefield is rendered amazingly, from dilapidated subway tunnels to the streets of Paris. Oh, and everything is destructible too, which makes your combat possibilities endless

Although it is nice to talk about how beautiful the scenery is, and how much we love to walk around, the point of Battlefield is to shoot and kill enemies. And in case you were wondering, the shooting is fabulous. We played the game on PC, which I'll admit I wasn't immediately proficient with (I'm a console gamer), but once I got used to playing with the keyboard and mouse controls, I was able to really get into the game. Like other Battlefield games, you are able to pick one of four classes with their own loadouts. I was able to play as the run and gun medic class, as well as a support class that gave me extra ammo to share. Though I never really used my ability as an ammo cache, when I had the medic ability I was able to chuck health packs at teammates who had been gunned down. We played in teams of four, and while everyone was kind of going their own way, it is admittedly cool that even while we were splitting up everyone was able to get to the checkpoints and take out enemies. If you are a strategic player, Battlefield 3 will give you plenty to work with, as there are an infinite number of ways you can approach simple, complex, or just plain brutal combat situations. And because things on the Battlefield can change so rapidly, having options is crucial to the gameplay and makes playing Battlefield feel more like an active experience rather than just more "going through the motions."

.

Battlefield 3 is an extremely impressive game, and if you are a military shooter fan, it will likely be the best game you'll play this year. The open levels, destructible environments, and of course the incredible visuals make this a can't-miss game. I know all the buzz is about Modern Warfare 3, but if you are looking for a higher class of shooter that is unafraid to do things a little differently and has enough technical advancement to feel like a true sequel instead of an annual cash-in, then Battlefield is your game. Yeah, I went there. Look for it this fall.

.

It's no exaggeration to say that the Call of Duty series has become a signature franchise for this console generation. It has sold the most units, is almost synonymous with online gaming, and has garnered a following that can't be rivaled with anything else we've seen thus far. With that in mind, we look to the third iteration of Call of Duty's Modern Warfare series to bring us a cinematic style of gameplay that will hopefully move the series forward with amazing gameplay, visuals, and, of course, an unforgettable multiplayer experience.

We recently got the chance to preview some early gameplay footage behind closed doors at a press-only Activision event, and we can definitely say that from what we've seen, Modern Warfare 3 is going to live by the mantra "Bigger is Better". 

The Modern Warfare series has always taken place on a global scale, and this trend is certainly continuing in Modern Warfare 3. We were able to watch a playthrough of two early levels—one in the United States, and one in England—and were told that there would be many more locations revealed at a later date. If you want to do some virtual globetrotting, it looks like Modern Warfare 3 will help you do just that. The game takes place directly after Modern Warfare 2, and the gameplay we saw in the American location takes place very early in the game's timeline. It's pretty intense. The player's objective is to get across the streets of New York and into the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. However, with the city burning around you, it's easier said than done.