Halo 2 gets bumpmapping, online play... and mad fun gameplay improvements. Doom 3 is for scaring the shit out of yourself, Halflife 2 is for the mod community, and Halo 2 is like a party game you can just pickup and go when you feel like it.
If you wanna see the rating system gone bad, play NWN. I was shocked by the pulpy red messes I was bombarded by after having read that it was rated teen. Frankly it's probably got more or somewhat equal gore to Quake.