The new installments of Halo and Call of Duty (CoD) are expected for release around the same time this fall. This means that there will be a debate about which game is better for online play. This debate occurs because both games can be played competitively, as well as getting picked up by average players. Most of the debate is over the weapons that are used, and the ease of death. The games should not be compared straight up like most people try to do; instead a person should look at both games’ potential pros and cons.

Halo 4 is coming out November 6 and will most likely be similar to the other Halo games that have come out with a few small tweaks. The same thing is going to be true about Call of Duty Black Ops 2; the game will not stray far from the COD roots. The roots of Halo are, giving players weapons on the map along with vehicles. CoD relies on a leveling system that gets you new weapons with no vehicles or weapons on the map. Another key difference between the games is the amount of health the players start with; Halo has always given players a fair bit of health, while CoD keeps health at a minimum.

With Halo, having weapons on the map dictates where the fighting is going to take place. When you include vehicles, the fighting locations change again. The weapons allow players to change strategies mid game. With the vehicles, more teamwork is required for the vehicles to be productive.  The other difference is, health makes players last longer and so they can be more productive for their team, thus making teamwork more important.

CoD is coming out November 13 and will be very fast-paced, just like the other CoD games. The reason that it is so fast-paced is so the players will spawn with good weapons. The good weapons come from the leveling system that CoD has. This also means that as a player gets better, they get better weapons. The lack of vehicles makes the game less reliant on their teammates.

The largest difference between the two games is most likely the special call downs that a player can do during a game. A player can get more ammo, or call in helicopters to kill other enemies. These call downs give players major advantages when they are able to reach a kill streak long enough to unlock the abilities. 

The one thing that we can compare straight up is the leveling systems. Both systems reward players for playing a lot, and playing for an extended time. The major difference between the systems is that Halo’s leveling system is purely cosmetic, while the CoD system gives game rewards. This is still not set in stone; it is however, what has happened in the past.  With Halo, the longer you played the more armor you unlocked, allowing the player to customize their look.  With CoD, the higher level a player was, the better weapons they got. I personally think that a player’s game time should not give them an advantage, because they have the practice that newer players don’t have. However, I also feel that some recognition should be given to the players who have played long and hard; this is why I think the Halo system is fairer.

The difference in game play mechanics changes the way Halo and CoD are played.  Halo is a more team-focused game that allows for a lot of changing strategies throughout a single game. CoD is more focused on a single player and builds in the team aspects indirectly.  Both games are going to be fun to play, but I feel that Halo 4 will be more newbie-friendly due to the lack of restrictions on weapons. For people who prefer a faster-paced game, CoD will most likely be the game for you. Halo will be better for people who tend to prefer team games. Nevertheless both games will be great.

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