Battle Carnival vs Planetside 2
Battle Carnival
Battle Carnival is a unique MMO shooter game that attempts to combine the strategy that goes into character-switching in character-based shooters like Overwatch with the somewhat arcade-like gameplay that the fans of the age-old yet iconic franchise, Counter Strike, might be very familiar with. Featuring 7 early access characters that you can access right from the start, the game puts a lot of emphasis on the roles these characters can play and how by switching some of them up, your team may be able to counter the enemy's lineup. Of course, knowing how to aim is still a crucial skill needed in any MMO shooter.The game provides 2 game modes at the moment - Demolition and Domination. Demolition is the clear favorite since the 5-vs-5 matches there are usually pretty fast-paced - 3 mins per round and the game can be won simply by winning 5 rounds. Domination, however, is slower-paced and features the "capture and hold the area" gameplay. It's a 6-vs-6 match that can last up to 12 minutes or so. The maps are all very well-designed with multiple flanking and outflanking routes, though some may complain that the maps are confusing and "maze-like".
Battle Carnival is currently in early access and as such, the game does have plenty of problems that need to be fixed, areas that need improving and of course, more features and content that need to be released. The player population is a bit on the low end as well. Regardless, the game does seem to have a potential to fill a niche that buy-to-play shooters have hogged and with changes, it can be better. In the meantime though, you might still want to give the game a try, just so you can let the developers know about your feedback and help them turn the game into a game you'd want to stick around in.
Planetside 2
Planetside 2 is a sci-fi-themed MMOFPS game that's the explosive sequel to its predecessor, Planetside, which was released back in 2003. In a way, the game is more inclined towards the extravagant and yet is still rather down-to-earth mainly because it features massive battlefields where hundreds to even thousands of players can battle it out for their faction. In fact, the game has an exciting gameplay which may bring to mind the games in the Battlefield franchise albeit the futuristic sort.Not to mention, Planetside 2 has an actual war playing out on the map where players who won a certain battlefield will essentially "claim" the land for their faction. The tug-of-war-like power struggle between factions help to bond the players in a way that resembles the deep rift between the Alliance and the Horde in World of Warcraft. The game is also developed by Daybreak Games which is in pretty good company along the likes of EverQuest 2, DC Universe Online and Lord of the Rings Online.
So, if you're looking for an epic MMOFPS game to fully immerse yourself in, then Planetside 2 is your best bet. If not, there are plenty of other casual shooters out there, but you can definitely expect that none of them can measure up to the faction-vs-faction tension, which usually erupts into another battle, offered in this game.