One of the biggest rivalries in gaming is the competition between Call of Duty and Battlefield. The latest Battlefield title, Battlefield 4, was released on Oct. 29 on current consoles, while Call of Duty: Ghosts was released for the same platforms on Nov. 5. Both games will also be launch titles for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when those consoles are released. Many are quick to compare the two, but which game is better on the current consoles?
On Metacritic, with a Metascore of 84, Battlefield 4 seems to be winning, while Call of Duty Ghosts has a Metascore of 75. However, this does not tell the full story, as both games have different advantages. In addition, these reviews reflect the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of the game, so opinion could change for both games based on their PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game.
In terms of graphics, it looks as though Battlefield 4 has the advantage. Some reviews for Call of Duty: Ghosts, such as US Gamer's critique, note that the game and Call of Duty engine are starting to show their age, especially considering the impending launch of the next-gen consoles. While some technical hiccups are reported for Battlefield 4, overall the presentation is much smoother.
For multiplayer, both games do a very solid job of delivering what is expected. Simply put, if a user is a fan of the multiplayer from either series, they will enjoy the multiplayer for Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts. Call of Duty: Ghosts adds some bolder changes to the mode, such as new game modes, but some gamers may be disappointed at what was left behind from Black Ops 2. Battlefield 4 adds some new experiences to the multiplayer portion of the game as well, but critics found that the game refines the previous experience more rather than innovate it like Call of Duty: Ghosts.
As far as the single player campaigns for both games, they offer some impressive moments to marvel at, but the actual stories leave a lot to be desired. Both have fairly standard action movie plots that are mostly excuses to watch things explode. Call of Duty: Ghosts may have a more original plot, and offers a more varied experience when playing solo.
So which game is better? It depends on what users are looking for. Call of Duty: Ghosts will please many fans of the series, and offers many different changes to the game that may or may not please gamers. In comparison, Battlefield 4 is a very polished game, and offers a strong enough experience that could justify more casual gamers giving it a shot over Call of Duty: Ghosts.