The Call of Duty Modern Warfare series has become a world-wide phenomenon. It’s one of the best selling games of all time and has truly dominated the first-person shooter market for quite some time. Its multiplayer has always withstood the test of time and its campaigns often leave something to be desired; but is this also true for the new game? Enter Modern Warfare 3 – the third installment and could-be finale to this epic series. Is World War 3 a must-play spectacle or is it too much of the same?
The graphics in this game are old, let’s be honest. There’s nothing groundbreaking here and the engine, although slightly enhanced, is nothing in comparison to competitor, Battlefield 3’s Frostbite 2. With this being said, this game pushes this older engine to its very limit and the results are passable. Nothing looks photo-realistic by any stretch, but still holds up well. The lighting and textures are very smooth, it runs at 60 frames per second, and the amount of action taking place on screen at one time can be heart-stopping. It takes what works in the previous games and makes it better, not by much, but it’s noticeable.
The music in this game at parts is absolutely brilliant. A thriving score that really embodies the action on screen will really make you soak in the moment like you’re the star of an epic war movie. It’s actually in a lot of ways better than the music from a lot of other games, and this is saying something. The ambiance is chilling and nothing beats fighting off waves of oncoming Russian soldiers while a haunting melody plays paving the way for victory. It’s very impressive. With this being said, the weapon sounds and voice acting in some areas need a lot of work. There are some lines that are ultimately cheesy.
The story in MW3 takes off directly where Modern Warfare 2 left us. So, what you’re getting is a whirlwind of events piled onto another whirlwind of events that manifest together in a way that’s hard to overly care about. The Russians are coming. Countries all over the world are under attack. It’s World War 3. Hey Germany, looks like you broke the cycle!
Speaking of Germany, you’ll be fighting there and all across Europe, Africa, The United States and more. The story may be quite bland and its cinematics explaining the conflict aren’t anything special, but the actual missions, although short, are incredibly fun and bring out the best the series has had to offer. Fighting on Wall street in New York, a London subway, through a sandstorm and even watching the Eiffel Tower fall before your very eyes are completely out of this world and are set pieces you’ll love. I just wish the engine was updated a bit more to truly capitalize on this global conflict.
Without a doubt, the campaign in Modern Warfare 3 is the absolute best the series has ever had. It may even be the best five-hour campaign in the history of first-person shooters, and this alone warrants a very high recommendation as a rental if you’re not up for playing online.
It’s very important to note that Call of Duty has settled into the realm of arcade-type action. It’s not like a game such as Rainbow Six where squad mechanics make up the core of the gameplay, or a game like Halo or Gears of War where team work reigns supreme. In Call of Duty, points are everything and, like previous incarnations, lead to kill streaks and bonuses designed for demolishing the opposition.
Online is more fun than ever while still maintaining its glory from previous incarnations. Modern Warfare 3 focuses mainly on tight close-quarters combat which make things like camping and sniping minimal, but still noticeable. New modes such as “kill confirmed” where, after killing an enemy, you must retrieve his dog tag to maximize your points, are refreshing. This new gametype isn’t entirely new to first-person shooters, but it works very well in Call of Duty.
The new ‘survival’ mode takes you and a teammate and places you against countless waves of enemies. This new mode is very similar to horde mode from Gears of War or the Zombies from Black Ops, but it’s still fun. Regardless, I wish zombies would have made a return, because putting zombies in any video game is awesome.
With all this being said, Modern Warfare 3’s online play is much of the same from previous games. It’s a lot like Black Ops and MW2. And while this is a good thing for fans of the series, those hoping for something fresh will ultimately be very disappointed.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 wraps up its story quite nicely with its campaign mode and its multiplayer is slightly rehashed with some new modes and maps thrown into the mix. It’s what we’ve come to expect, and I can only hope this is the last time this engine is used for a big Call of Duty game, as all things considered, Infinity Ward is just milking this engine for all it’s worth.
So, what’s the verdict? Overall, Modern Warfare 3 is much of the old, some new features such as Call of Duty Elite specifically designed for hardcore gamers, and a fantastic – although short – campaign that alone is worth a rent.
8/10
In the end, the game is good. It’s the best Call of Duty has ever had to offer, but this feels like too much like a cash-in and not a full sequel. It’s still a very good arcade-styled first-person shooter, but it leaves something to be desired in the long run. However, once again, the campaign is riveting.
May the force be with you.
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