Tactical vs. Fun

[ploop4444]

War games are my forté.
I pretty much don't like any other sort of game, except maybe the odd sports game.
Having said that, there are several aspects to war-style games that people seem to overlook. You see, take a game like Socom III for example. A flat-out great game. Good graphics, good factual accuracy. Good online play, etc... Now, take a game like "Medal of Honor". Also, a great, great game. However, these two war games are very different aswell as extremely similar. Let me expand. You see, in a game like Socom (much like in the new Xbox 360 game "Gears of War") it's all about tactics. Sure you can run into the enemy base shooting wildly and throwing grenades left and right, but that will only earn you a loss of the mission. The Socom series is all about strategizing the attack, visualising the outcome, and thinking about the consequences of your decisions. (i.e. Sure I can run to that ridge, but with my men behind me, the enemy will see them and they'll be sitting ducks.)

Now, onto Medal of Honor. I have nothing bad to say about this game series. However, it is a very different style game than that of Socom. You see, where Socom is tactical, Medal of Honor is Rambo. Basically, you're defeating the entire German/Japanese army by yourself, with some very unhelpful help from your teamates.

To summarize pretty much all that I've just said, There are two different style of war games. One tactical and strategic, the other, Rambo. So, if you're looking for some cheap fun where you get to take out countless amounts of guys meanwhile getting shot in the head but only losing an eighth of your life, then pick up a game like "Medal of Honor" or "Call of Duty". If you're looking for a game that will teach you the basic and, sometimes even, the complex aspects of war, then pick up a game like "Socom I-III" or "Ghost Recon"

To close, I'd jsut like to ask if anybody has any other suggestions for games of either genre!

Cheers,

Justin

[Cpl Rootes]

actually Call of Duty has a thriving TR community, with TR (tactical Realism) mods so that tere is no more spraying and jumping out of 2nd story windows etc. I've written a post about it somewhere

[drgslyr]

I'd rather play the Axis & Allies board game. It is much more about strategy, which is what I am interested in.

[ploop4444]

Well, thanks for your opinions.
I'd like to retort on what Cpl. Rootes said, though.
You see, you say that Call of Duty is veering more into TR, and I totally agree. You see, the way I see it, the games that are usually the tactical ones are usually in TP (Third Person). Now, I realize that that's not always the case, but it most usually is. And, contrary to that, the ones that are incredibly non-realistic are usually in FP (First Person). So ya, the way I see it, Call of Duty has combined two excellent ideas and made a great, solid game out of those ideas. I mean, I agree that, in Call of Duty, you can't just crash land in Berlin, run out and kill the eliminate the entire German Army, but, when it comes to the AI (Artificial Intelligence) in that game, you have to admit that it is anything but realistic.

Again, don't think that I'm trying to put down any of these games, they're all awesome, but some are CERTAINLY more realistic than others.

Anyways, tell me what you think!

Cheers,

Justin