3 out of 5 stars
After the two main developers at Infinity Ward departed, many did not have high hopes for Modern Warfare 3. However, for fans of the series, there’s more of the same game to be enjoyed in the third edition.
Upon starting up the latest addition to the Call of Duty series, I launched spec-ops and tried out the highly-anticipated survival mode. While it’s disappointing that this new addition to the series is only two-player, it is highly satisfying and still enjoyable to play.
The ability to replenish ammunition, buy weapons, kill streaks and explosives makes the different waves of enemies a challenging addition to gameplay and provides a fun experience. Also, ranking up in survival mode can allow the player to unlock certain attachments for weapons and different kill streaks to make the boss waves a little easier to complete.
The online multiplayer is pretty similar to games earlier in the series, though it seems to add a little flare to differentiate it. Now, not only players rank up, but so do their weapons. It is a new way to have the gun complement the playing style.
Further, the guns have a certain weight to them that Call of Duty: Black Ops did not deliver. It takes fewer bullets to kill an enemy, which is highly satisfying.
Unfortunately, the maps are a huge problem. Most are extremely generic and offer no tactical planning or scenic brilliance. Black Ops had maps like Hotel, Firing Range and Nuketown , each offering something different to the experience. The maps were unique, something that is in short supply with the new game.
Every single map in MW3 is plain, boring, gray and lacking in interactivity. Due to a lack of recognizable landmarks on the maps, it is very hard to familiarize yourself with the layouts.
Complementing the multiplayer component is the single player mode. The campaign is action-packed at the very beginning, filling the player with a desire to kill anyone in sight. The missions come together to offer a beautifully-constructed, excitement-filled thriller.
Sadly, it is a very short story, with only about five hours of gameplay. Again, this sequel fails to live up to the bar set by its predecessor. The Black Ops campaign was around nine hours and was incredibly captivating. The story was told through flashbacks, in which the player ultimately comes to question the sanity of the narrator.
In comparison, MW3 is very flat in its campaign. While old characters are brought into play, there is no connection to them. The storyline had a great deal of potential, but the end of the story, while fun to play, is disappointing.
The graphics are nothing great. The game looks exactly like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 did two years ago. I wanted to be blown away by the graphics, but because of the company issues of Infinity Ward, the development team had to use an old engine, which explains why the graphics aren’t extraordinary. Overall, the visual style remains strong, but leaves the mark of another missed opportunity upon the title.
Thankfully, MW3 has four-player local multiplayer, and also missions to complete in spec-ops as well as having survival mode. Although the online multiplayer maps are not the most satisfying, everything else seems up to par with the franchise.
In the end, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is just like its predecessors, a common complaint against the franchise. However, if you were a fan of the series in the past, odds are you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this year’s installment.
