Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 is one of the most anticipated shooters of the year. Powered by Dice’s new Frostbite2 engine, Battlefield 3 looks to be one of the most graphically advanced PC games to date. This is the first true sequel to Battlefield 2, with the last two releases in the Battlefield franchise being in the Bad Company storyline. So, does Dice deliver the multiplayer gameplay that die-hard fans desire? Or will a conventional, rehashed campaign prevent it from delivering the best first person shooter experience.

When you shut down Battlefield 3 and let the Frostbite 2-powered dust settle, it certainly has some problems. But DICE’s adoration of and expertise with the online experience permeates every aspect of its multiplayer. Regardless of the narrative missteps or the occasional glitches, Battlefield 3 offers an unforgettable, world-class multiplayer suite so fun that it more than makes up for the package’s shortcomings.

Battlefield 3's single player campaign checks all the required boxes, but fails to better the offerings of its competitors. Multiplayer is where the game finds its purpose, offering a raw experience that's both technically outstanding and masterfully balanced.

When it comes to presentation, Battlefield 3 is no pushover as the graphics are spot on, bringing a lush variety of colour and light to the warzone that really helps set the atmosphere. I can tell you that even on the console editions, the game looks gorgeous. While it’s easy to see that our modern consoles are showing their age (can I get a bit of anti-aliasing please?), there is something to be said about the way light shines through windows or the resulting smoke and dust from leveling a building. It’s impressive to see a breath of fresh air coming from these machines. Character animations ...

There is one last thing that, due to words spoken and gauntlets thrown, everyone’s going to want to know: who’s won the war of the FPS this year. Whilst Battlefield 3 is an incredibly strong contender, it’s a little bit rough around the edges, and some facets of its make-up may not be able to stand against the competition. Call of Duty does do what it does extremely well, it has to be said. But at the end of the day, they both kind of cater to different crowds anyway. If you’re lookin...