Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 delivers the typical run and gun action that series fans have come to expect. The gameplay feels a bit more open this time around with plenty of room to maneuver and multiple paths to explore.
It’s also got some cool set pieces and sequences to get your adrenaline pumping. You’ll hijack a submarine, fire a gunship from the sky and even chase a train in London.
Campaign
When the Modern Warfare scion of the Call of Duty franchise branched out four years ago, its electrifying campaign and addictive multiplayer set a new mold for first-person shooters. The series has since been refined, shamelessly imitated, and widely adored.
This year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t stray far from its formula, but lead developer Sledgehammer Games is promising “a new innovation that empowers player choice” in the Campaign. Specifically, the campaign will feature Open Combat missions that allow players to choose whether to approach scenarios stealthily with silenced weapons or run through swarms of hostiles guns-blazing.
Narratively, the game picks up immediately after MW2 left off, with Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov dragging Task Force 141 (Price, Soap, Ghost, and Gaz) into a new conflict. The story takes an expertly paced roller-coaster ride through several urban environments, capturing the exhilarating blend of on-foot firefights and tense vehicle sequences that have defined past campaigns.
Multiplayer
The Direct sequel to MW2 offers the same electrifying campaign and breakneck competitive action, while introducing new elements that further refine the formula. This includes the addition of open combat missions that put more player choice on offer, as well as a variety of weapons, attachments and operator proficiencies to unlock as you play.
As with past Call of Duty titles, the campaign often plays around with environmental design, using a mix of tight and open spaces to shake you up or thrill you out of your seat. This is evident in missions such as a jet flight or chase through the streets of Paris and works well, with the game often throwing you into situations that require your quick thinking.
But as a whole, the campaign lacks the dramatic punch of MW2. It is still a fun ride that will leave you feeling satisfied when it’s over, though.
Zombies
Since its introduction in Call of Duty: World at War, Zombies has become one of the most popular game modes within the series. With the arrival of MW3, fans have been curious to see what kind of zombies experience Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games would put together for the mode.
According to Activision, MW3’s Zombies will feature the largest zombie map in the series to date and allow up to 24 players to team up on a squad. The mode will be reminiscent of Outbreak, but with some differences.
The story takes place in the Exclusion Zone, where players will battle both undead and living adversaries. The non-player characters – such as Delta Force operatives Sandman and Truck, as well as Sergei Ravanov from Black Ops Cold War – add depth to the undead conflict, while Pack-a-Punch weapons and weapon rarities will make an appearance. Moreover, perks like electric, frozen, and brain rot will also be back in action.
Special Ops
When Modern Warfare first launched four years ago, its electrifying campaign and addictive multiplayer forged a new mold for shooters. Since then, the franchise has remained a consistent force, delivering explosive campaigns and breakneck competitive action.
The campaign starts off slow and methodical, but picks up steam with big shootouts and scripted stealth sequences. There’s plenty of drama here, and some scenes will tug at your heart strings (opting to skip over disturbing content is a smart move).
Special Ops, the co-operative mode in which players work together to fight off escalating waves of bad guys, provides a solid alternative to the standard multiplayer experience. Teamwork is crucial, and communication between players is key to success. In these open combat missions, players can deploy lethal and tactical equipment, vehicles and drones. Each mission’s area of operations is sizable, and the ability to maneuver around a battlefield gives players ample opportunities to approach objectives from different angles.