I don't understand how the most successful franchise in video games that has made Activision money hand over fist can't beta test the game properly to make sure the spawning system is decent. Heck, we've been complaining about this since BLOPS but it only seems to get worse every year.
So from the responses thus far I'm guessing most people would say BLOPS2>MW3, correct? Assuming this, the next question I have is how does this game stack up to Modern Warfare 2? Clearly it is more balanced thanks to the pick 10 system and decreased emphasis on getting crazy killstreaks. Still though, is it fun? Do you find yourself genuinely enjoying the game the majority of the time or is BLOPS2 mostly frustration with a few moments of fun sprinkled in here and there?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really torn about picking this up or not.
Activision will never, ever allow another beta test for the CoD series. That started and ended with CoD4 once they realized the revenue the series could take in, ensuring nothing can jeopardize sales or badmouth the game before release.
Personally, I'd say this is the worst CoD in the series. The witch hunt on camping has ruined it and essentially made the game an SMG run-n-gun title. The sneaking/stealthy approach is completely out, as is the support approach for players looking to support others (support class that MW3 introduced). If I absolutely had to rank the series it'd be CoD4 > MW2 > MW3 > Blops > Blops2.
My biggest gripes are:
-Lag compensation is disastrous and all over the place. Just read through this topic and it's hands down the #1 complaint.
-The spawns need some serious serious serious serious work. Right now it's nothing but revenge spawn - kill someone and they will spawn in the vicinity directly behind you. There's a 75% chance the person you kill is the person who will shoot you in the back approximately 10 seconds later.
-The maps are incredibly small like MW3, but they added several rooms (multi-layered; floors) and flanks to each room to make the maps 'feel' big. It didn't work.
-Stop the camping witch hunt. It resulted in a gimped ghost which is only available at level 55 (this is a 50/50 fight in the community), counter UAV also being a high level unlock, UAV being the most used and abused scorestreak, attachments that either allow players to see through walls (MMS) or highlight enemies (target finder), and absolutely no sounds for footsteps.
Basically, if you're a stealth player who likes to run up on people from behind or set 'traps' (make noise and have someone walk into a claymore), this is not the game for you. If you are the kind of player who loves sprinting 24/7 around the map, using a shotty or firing an SMG at the hip, you will fucking love the game. Scorestreaks are very rare aside from UAV or those obtained via care package. This is the most difficult CoD to date and staying alive is a huge challenge; been playing since launch and have yet to see the opposing team earn something crazy like a VTOL, dogs, or swarm without it coming from a care package.