Ok so some people debate which games are better and i've seen so many people saying how some game is better because COD requires no tactics and is all about fast-paced run n' gun action etc. therefore labelling the COD players as the more "noobish" gamers. But am i the only one who thinks that is wrong?

I mean, fair enough, some games like Battlefield: Bad Company demands more decision making at times with the attack vs defend style and the huge maps etc but what about COD?

In my opinion, it can sometimes be even more tactical than any other game. And i have a few reasons why i think this.

• Pretty much the main thing about online is the perk system. And the perk system is all about tactics! Players need to think carefully and select their perks, and combine them to create useful advantages during gameplay.

• To me, possibly the biggest and most important thing about COD is learning the layout of the maps. Being kind of small and well designed, i think a huge part of being a success is down to knowing everything about the map. Most times when i've dominated a match, is when i anticipate where the enemy will come from and what tricks they will like to try, and also being aware of my position at all times by knowing exactly what's what in the map e.g sniping positions.

• Gameplay - Who says you can't take a more tactical approach when playing? The Dead Silence perk, Claymores, C4s, Smoke Screens, silencer attachments etc and the ability to go prone all aid this.

I know that i need to think and plan my moves a lot more in COD compared to in any other game i've played, even if i do need to plan that move quicker due to the pace of the game. So from that view, i think it's more tactical.

There's probably more, but im tired.

So what are your thoughts? Does COD require much tactics compared to other games? Because i think it does, probably more actually.

It's probably a good middle ground between the extremes of Halo and BF.

MW2 is Mall Ninja tactical. Action Movie tactical.


Not realistically tactical.

All those features you listed are more of a fun factor, variety, and customization than of tactical use.

I wouldn't consider CoD4 tactical at all. I would consider hardcore Halo 3 players tactical, but in CoD4 it is just run and gun.

All games can be tactical or not tactical it is really how you play them and how you play with. Adding a mic and talking with your team is a huge aspect of being "Tactical" and this is lost in many of the games.

Halo 2/3 LAN Tourny is Tactical compared to Xboxlive CoD4 which is fun run and gun.

While I wish it would be more tactical I doubt that will happen.

quote xVasilijex

I wouldn't consider CoD4 tactical at all. I would consider hardcore Halo 3 players tactical, but in CoD4 it is just run and gun.

Halo is tactical if you're playing with hardcore MLG players. Other than that, Halo gameplay boils down to "*bleep* my teammates, I'm running to the Battle Rifle/Sniper Rifle/Rocket Launcher/Spartan Laser".

Halo is more like "I'm gonna run away and throw grenades behind me and there's nothing you can do about it other than let me get away - or die!"

CoD requires tactics, or else if you run out there you will die instantly. None of this Halo crap where it takes like 5 years to kill someone and they have plenty of time to run away like a pussy.

Sometimes COD requires tactics, sometimes it does not. Like search & destroy is more tactical than team deathmatch.

It also depends on your opponents, playing with good players its likely to be more tactical. Playing with new players you can usually rush in all guns blazing and get an amazing k/d ratio and loads of kills.

Knowing the maps is also a tactical element, like has been said. There are lots of ways into buildings through top windows etc to avoid claymores.

Some things with maps are more known as glitches, like on crash you can get onto the roof by jumping onto the lamp post. I don't see this as a glitch though, anyone can do it its just about knowing the map and practice. Admittedly once your up there its hard for anyone to kill you. All these little things make COD amazing though for me.

It's tactical to a degree I am not going to dispute there isn't some level of tactics involved. I mean all games require some form of tactical gaming hell Viva Pinata out of everything requires intense planning and tactics to get the Pinata to live together and evolve. I know that is a silly example but it goes to show all games require tactics to some level.

Now where the argument comes to play is that Call of Duty is a very arcade like experience but it still requires tactics. Not to the same level as games like Operation Flashpoint 2 and ArmA II as they need unparralel use of teamwork and tactics to merely stay alive, let alone kill people. It depends what you are into and ultimately what you like to play, to me Call of Duty is a mindless arcade shooter full of noobs that would rather glitch a kill than do it fairly, but I am a hardcore war simulator fan I am not happy unless I am calibrating bullet dip and counting off bullets in my magazine but thats me.

At the end of it all if you enjoy Call of Duty and think it's a very tactical experience then enjoy it as that. Just because some elitest FPS fans tell you otherwise doesn't mean they are necessarily right. It is merely their opinion but even though I think Call of Duty is full of glitch noobs I still find Call of Duty fun enough to play. I just prefer far more tactical war simulators.

But you can't call all COD players glitch noobs - only a handful of players want and try to glitch. And you can't say the game isnt tactical because of the players, that doesn't make too much sense. You can say that about any game. Operation Flashpoint there are some noobs, but that doesn't make the game need less tactics. And also because there are a lot of players like me who use tactics to succeed in a Team Deathmatch for example whether it's based on awareness, anticipation, stealth or just generally thinking up more clever tactical decisions to kill an enemy.

And like i said, what about the perk system? It makes online gameplay tactical because you need to use your perk advantages to be one better than your enemy.

quote LegendaryLegend

But you can't call all COD players glitch noobs - only a handful of players want and try to glitch. And you can't say the game isnt tactical because of the players, that doesn't make too much sense. You can say that about any game. Operation Flashpoint there are some noobs, but that doesn't make the game need less tactics. And also because there are a lot of players like me who use tactics to succeed in a Team Deathmatch for example whether it's based on awareness, anticipation, stealth or just generally thinking up more clever tactical decisions to kill an enemy.

And like i said, what about the perk system? It makes online gameplay tactical because you need to use your perk advantages to be one better than your enemy.

First off I think that the players do make the game tactical. As the dude mentioned above you, any game can be made tactical through sheer player will to try harder by using elements like teamwork, map knowledge, etc etc.

That being said, I really don't think the perk system makes CoD4 more or less tactical, it is simply there. If you want to win you use an M16+Red Dot / 3 frag/RPG/Bando / and Steady aim. In reality the amount of tactical decisions are just not used because in 99% of the situations the M16 red-dot is the best bet.

If the game were tactical then it would truly make every weapon shine in their element. That means an SMG / Shotgun would dominate closequarters, but that isn't the case. The weapons are more about fun factor than tactical factor, the perks are about fun. If the game were tactical you would need to think out your moves and weapon set up and perk set up to maximize your efficiency. And, as I mentioned earlier other than deciding if you want RPG 3xFrag or Bando and the color of your Red Dot M16, you don't need to do any deliberating over what would be better in what situation.


This game is not inherently Tactical although that is not to say that players can't play in a tactical way. Same goes for Halo 3, the game is NOT tactical, but the way that a few select groups of players play it can be extremely *bleep*ing tactical ie High-end MLG Lan and even on Xboxlive you run into it a lot more than on CoD4 you see things such as callsigns timers roles teamfire teamtalk in H3 with good players present.

I don't think that CoD will really ever be more tactical until we start getting placed in games through player skill which will force the players to either evolve into better players so that they make tactical decisions and win or don't and sink. Competition and forced progression would garner much more than the current CoD mulitplayer where anyone can play anyone regardless of player skill. (I am not for changing this around. I like the way it is, I am just saying that the tactical element won't change till then, if ever)

This message was edited by xVasilijex on Nov 06 2009.

Yep, I agree.

Like I said.....MW2 is a Mall Ninja's dream of materials and stuff.

But players who work together make the experience tactical or not....as well as those they play against.

Having a formation and assigned positions and duties does nothing if the other team just lobs tons of grenades.

COD is quite tactical, more than say Halo.

It's just very unrealistic, mainly because it's so fast and encourages running and gunning.

Of course COD is tactical. Any game is tactical. Some tactics are controversial: camping is a form of tactics. But some people are running and gunning whilst others stay back a bit more. And the perks add to the tactical side of this game cos you may go all out attack with stopping power or the silent approach with UAV jammer

I think they made it so it can be both. If you play solo with no mic you can still achieve kills and complete objectives. If you play as a team (party or not) you can communicate well enough to force a bit of tacticality into how you play by setting up choke points, funneling the enemy through you or surrounding the whole map so they find it difficult to move far once spawned.

MW2 is good fun but it's nowhere near tactical. The game was designed with run and gun in mind, that's pretty much how all Call Of Duties were made.

I mean, watch a Modern Warfare trailer and then watch a Bad Company 2 trailer. They are two seperate styles of games.

MW is hella fun but it's not tactical because of the way it's meant to be played. Sure, on the highest difficulty with only a pistol, you might be a bit more cautious about running into a group of 2-3 enemies. But that's not being tactical, that's common sense.