You know whats funny? The same thing happened with this game and Halo 3 for me that happened with Battlefield 2 and Halo 2 on the old Xbox..
I played the -shit- out of Halo 2 and thought it was the greatest game ever.... until I played Battlefield 2 when it came out on the Xbox.. and got like, real tanks and real aircraft, and even stupid flatbed trucks. But C4 and silenced weapons, no shields? You could fall for ten feet and die. Realistic to a degree. Trumped Halo 2 for me..
This game just blows everything out of the water in my eyes. I sold Halo 3 for this, without a second thought. $32 cash trade in cant be beat. I got bored with slow halo 3 anyway.. matches took too long to find, I could only stomach a few battles anyway. This game though, I can sit there and play for hours at a time, just trying to max out as many challenges as possible. My room mate and I switch off, he does the rifles and sniper rifles, I did the shotguns and SMGs, we split up the LMGs and get whatever other challenges we can done. And we're both pretty good, he's better than I am, but i've broke 32 kills a few times. He usually gets upwards of 25 or so kills per match though, bastard. I hate his guts. Anyway.
The realism plays a big factor to this games appeal. I have a friend who just recently came home from Iraq and he said the game makes him feel a little uneasy, as its "a little close to home". Holy shit, i'm not joining any armed forces branch or going to Iraq, but I can play this game and get a tiny taste of that horrendous action? Thats a pretty good wartime simulation.
The Level Up thing is nothing new, but presented nicely in a manner anyone can understand. We got to 55 and did prestige, and we're at about 48 right now, I think. Maybe 49, cant remember. I didnt read over the thread much, sorry, but if you get 55 again, and take prestige again, does it net you any other symbolic stature? or should we just forgo prestige a second time around and max out the challenges?
I digress. This is a badass game. I'm gonna go play -right now-. Adieu.