Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Feels Like Treading Water | Video Games


And here’s where things get tricky. The launch maps rule. Certainly more than the launch maps for the last two releases. They’re classics for a reason, and the biggest problem with the multiplayer offerings in recent “CoD” editions has been map design. So, yes, it’s all overly familiar and over-priced, but it’s also a better launch version of the most important multiplayer game in the world than the last few years. Put aside the sense that Activision is charging their fans more than they should for something they already have and “Modern Warfare III” can be enjoyable on its own explosive terms, although I understand why so many are refusing to put that aside.

You know what would have helped? A rocking campaign. The single-player, story-driven experiences in recent “Call of Duty” games have been decent—more focused on chaos than character or plot—but if they knew that “MW3” was going to be a multiplayer retread, the developers could have put more effort into the campaign. Let’s just say that didn’t happen. Not only is the campaign here one of the shortest, it’s ridiculously unambitious and clunky in its design.

The campaign unfolds after the events of 2022’s “Modern Warfare II,” opening with a raid on a Verdansk prison to break out the terrorist Vladimir Makarov, who is maybe an ally now based on a cut scene in a last year’s multiplayer season? Wait, what? (That’s just one time the storytelling here gets, to be polite, muddled.) A Russian company named the Konni Group, who is seeking nuclear material, was behind the breakout, and the rest of the campaign plays out like a Mad Libs version of this kind of narrative. It’s uninspired and remarkably short, but its most annoying trait is the inclusion of several missions that are open combat—less story, more freedom of movement, weapons/perks found in the environment. In theory, this allows for more authorship on the part of the gamer, but they just add to the sense that this is another part of the “MW3” experience that’s unrefined and incomplete. It should also be noted that fan favorite Zombies mode returns in a tougher iteration that most fans have been mixed on. Even that aspect has been called underdeveloped by fans. It feels like nothing here was designed in a way to impress as much as hold gamers over for at least a year.

The truth is that “Modern Warfare III” started life as an expansion pack for last year’s game, but that was shut down roughly 16 months ago, forcing the developers to rush this release into existence. It’s not hard to see what happens when a game like this has such a short development time. And it’s further evidence to suggest that maybe the teams behind “Call of Duty” should take a year or two off.

That’s simply not going to happen, and not just because around a million PlayStations would get dusty. This is one of the most profitable entertainment franchises in existence, and no one would shut it down for a full year. However, it’s interesting to see how the once too-big-to-fail world of the MCU has at least started to crumble. Could that happen to “Call of Duty”? If Activision keeps taking this fan base for granted, they will eventually leave. They should really make an effort to bounce back with next year’s release, giving fans the same degree of sharp map design but in new environments and with new toys to play with. And maybe they should take a couple years between campaigns to really make them pop. If the next edition didn’t have a campaign but really rocked its multiplayer offering but then 2025 came back with the best campaign ever? Fans would understand. Especially the ones who don’t know what other games can do.

The publisher provided a review copy of this title. It’s now available for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

You can view the original article HERE.

N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
Kneecap to headline alongside CMAT, English Teacher and more
Kneecap to headline alongside CMAT, English Teacher and more
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards