Help me find a new Multiplayer Obsession

The Game Room
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I’m rather bored with all my video games right now. I have both the XBox 360 and PS3, and a decent PC. I like the replayability of multiplayer games, but find that a lot of them are too much the same… I don’t know what games out there have the kind of multiplayer that I like, so I thought I’d call on the collective wisdom of the Straight Dope for help!

Things I like: Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto IV multiplayer - especially Free Roam in RDR and non-Deathmatch modes in GTA 4; I like being able to prowl around in a shared world rather than having to rush, rush, rush, shoot, shoot, shoot like COD games… Although I do like some of the competitive modes in RDR, I prefer the Free Roam experience of cooperatively taking out hideouts, etc. In GTA IV I prefer the Mafiya Work mode, which involves completing missions, not killing opponents - driving and strategy are at least as important as killing the enemy; you could win a game without ever shooting at one of your human opponents. I like Assassins Creed Brotherhood MP, but its awfully limited. If they had an AC:B free mode like they do in RDR or GTA IV I’m not sure I’d ever leave home again. I enjoy both Left 4 Dead games, so co-op versus the PC is good if its well done. On the other hand I can’t stand Borderlands.

Things I don’t like: Most deathmatch modes, especially if its a constant killfest. I don’t care for them that much, and I’m not that good at them. I used to like things like Unreal Tournament and Wolfenstein multiplayer, but I’m not sure what has changed… likewise I enjoy racing games like Need for Speed, but I’ll never be good enough to compete so there’s no real point in spending the time trying.

I haven’t liked any of the MMO style of games that I’ve tried so far (which isn’t a huge amount, to be sure). I recently tried the demo of DC Universe online and hated it. I bet there’s an MMO game out there for me, but I haven’t had any luck finding it so far.

I’m thinking something like the Battlefield games might be appealing - sounds like they have larger maps and more involved strategies. I’m really looking forward to Brink, which has a large multiplayer component…

Any ideas?

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There are a bunch of great titles out there that do online. Hell, any of the AAA titles that have multiplayer are generally worth playing. I know some folks love Battlefield, but I haven’t waded into those waters. To me, the gold standard for the online experience is Halo. Black Ops isn’t bad either.

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Ever tried WoW? I have yet to introduce someone new to mmos to WoW who didn’t actually like the game. Some of them didn’t end up subscribing for other reasons (couldn’t afford it, didn’t have enough time to feed their self-described “impending addiction”). It’s a great game with truly massive appeal. There are options to do things in a massive setting (like 40v40 battlegrounds) or solo or anywhere in between, depending on your mood. Very casual and newb-friendly, and once you get more advanced it’s not difficult to find a home in a hardcore environment.

There’s a free 10-day trial which can acquaint you with the game. Trial accounts are fairly limited (limited to level 20, can’t make one of the newer races, can’t trade with other players, use the auction house, or talk in general channels–which was done to limit gold spammers more than for any other reason). But if you like the trial, you can upgrade to vanilla WoW fairly cheaply. That raises the level cap to 60 and you can talk in channels, trade with other players, and use the auction house. Still can’t make the newer races though, those are part of the other expansions (burning crusade, wrath of the lich king, and cataclysm).

It’s not very like a shooter game, though, if that’s the kind of multiplayer game you prefer.