Review – Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3

The setting for Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3 is on different European locations during World War 3. After Nikolai and Price killed General Shepherd, they have to find medical help for “Soap” and attempt to escape the country amidst a horde of enemies from Makarov’s forces. As you traverse through a different country, you have to think fast on how to kill Makarov before he commits more death to innocent people.

The Good News About Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3

Developer Infinity Ward seems to remember the mistakes it made from Modern Warfare 2. In this game, players won’t have to be like a whipped dog hiding behind walls while the enemy closes in. The fewer safe havens means more challenge for the players to work hard in not getting killed. The killstreaks that have been trademarks of the game are now divided into two. One is for kills while the other one is for your team. Now, you can have unmanned aircrafts that can be caught by the other team’s radar.

There is a plethora of weapons, tools, and perks to unlock. Your weapon will be upgraded every time you use it to kill more and more enemies along the way. Each level comes with a variety of proficiencies, attachments, and camouflages that you can earn. Aside from giving you more choices for your arsenal, you would be more engaged in the game because of the weapon leveling system.

Screenshot from Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 3 (Credit: Activision)

The Bad News About Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3

The series has five hours of intense drama and action as players move from ruins to ruins in hot pursuit of the evil Makarov. But like other Modern Warfare games, it can easily be viewed as a map pack if you spend some time in the team deathmatch. Imagery is still the same as before including the weapons. Even if the gunplay sequences are thrilling, they feel repetitive and predictable. If you have played the other titles, you would easily know how to assemble a team or gain a killstreak reward.

For the first few hours, you don’t get to know much about what is happening around you except that Makarov is a dangerous man that needs to be eliminated. It just gives Modern Warfare 3 the excuse to have you go to the New York Stock Exchange and blast its floor or give protection to the Russian leader on a jet. Then there is the chemical onslaught in Paris as well as an involvement with a “No Russian” quest from Modern Warfare 3 that seems senseless.

Even if Infinity Ward obviously cashed out big for this title, the storyline is quite bland. Powerhouse casts include William Fitchner, Timothy Olyphant, and Idris Elba. But the lines and sequences are just generic and cliché. The elements from the previous Modern Warfare games are also here such as fighting on foot, sniping people, and the like. Maybe writer Paul Haggis thinks it is better off not remembering the plot after a week of playing it.

The Bottom Line

Modern Warfare 3 is better than its predecessors are but it seemed to be the most boring to play. All the shooting and looting has lost its sheen. Maybe it is time to move on to another better brand. But for loyalists, the multiplayer core elements are still a classic that deserves their time and effort.