Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Although the original Modern Warfare 3 from 2011 already recycled mechanics from previous installments, it did so with much more feeling, unlike its 12 years younger “successor” from the reboot series. The result is a dynamic and polished game for its time. The action is fast-paced and probably a bit harder for everyone. However, it’s certainly not without tactics, and despite what many players believe, you need to engage your brain to play successfully at a reasonable level. Modern Warfare 3 is about choices and options. It offers a range of game modes graded from pure reflex action and precision aim (free-for-all) to the slower-paced struggle to blow up a location with a bomb, in which you can’t revive yourself within rounds (search and destroy).
Balancing Realism and Frenzy
The game is an interesting mix of older and new games of its time in its own good way. It is somewhere between the traditional Battlefield, Counter-Strike, or Quake titles. It offers frenetic action in a real-world setting with real weapons. However, the developers aren’t aiming for a title that comes close to reality; the unrealistic concept is also enjoyable. In fact, blaming Modern Warfare 3’s gameplay mechanics focused on frantic pacing would probably be as silly as saying that Conan the Barbarian isn’t a Jedi Knight and doesn’t use a lightsaber. Matches full of “tactical” waiting, sneaking, and slow progress will offer different games. On the other hand, Call of Duty is a pleasant alternative that doesn’t take the real-world setting so seriously.
Player Customization and Weapon Perks
Various numbers and signs appear on the screen, making the whole thing pleasant. The developers don’t forget that it’s “just a game” and all about having fun. Thus, you can respawn immediately after death in most game modes and customize the gameplay style by modifying weapons and various perks. Therefore, he can choose to have more stamina when running, faster weapon draws, or less damage from explosions. Weapons will then offer, for example, more damage to enemies when shooting through materials, less recoil of the gun after firing, and the addition of a grenade launcher to the stock. It is, therefore, possible to build a weapon with almost no bullet scatter when fired or create dynamic combinations suitable for both long and short-range combat.
Motivation Through Progression
However, increasing the player’s level also requires gaining experience points for the weapon. These unlock additional options and lead to creating your own play style. The developers thus successfully motivate experimentation and changing the use of the firearm. The player chooses a primary weapon and a secondary weapon for his arsenal. In a few cases, for example, I fought with only the secondary rifle for several levels to unlock additional options for it. This gives you a potent melee weapon, for example. Add a perk that speeds up weapon changes, and you can wield an arsenal of might in very different situations. However, this system is two-sided. On the one hand, it encourages you to continually change your play style and experiment with new combinations. At the same time, it creates an inevitable inequality between players based on the number of hours spent on the game. However, some improvements don’t seem to offer such a significant advantage, and the title can still be played successfully from the start.
Contrasts With Battlefield 3
However, we can’t avoid a brief comparison with another action titan from these times, which is Battlefield 3. Both games are set in a modern war-torn world. Still, Battlefield 3 is a little closer to realism and focuses more on spectacular battles in open spaces. This is supported by a variety of vehicles, tanks, and fighters. In contrast, Modern Warfare 3 offers infantry battles on small maps full of smaller alleys and short distances. Therefore, the pace and style of play are very different in both cases. In the case of Modern Warfare 3, however, the reward system for killing multiple enemies without dying yourself is questionable. In fact, some of the rewards absolutely slaughter the battlefield, and in the case of evenly matched fights, can be a significant advantage.
Map Design and New Game Modes
The game uses individual maps for all game modes. These are mostly intelligently designed levels that offer positions on different levels of the map, with most locations accessible from multiple sides. Clearly, more advantageous positions are almost non-existent, and initially, without knowledge of the maps, the openness of the levels can cause minor difficulties. However, recycling levels in the various game modes work more to the players’ advantage. This is because you can change between game modes frequently and, thanks to your knowledge of the map, always have a clear overview of the situation. Also excellent is the then newly added Kill Confirmed mode, in which two teams fight against each other. This is a variation of the traditional Team Deathmatch, where a dog tag appears after each player dies. Only by picking up the enemy’s dog tag will you confirm the kill and increase the team’s score. If, on the other hand, you pick up a fallen teammate’s dog tag, the enemy team will not score points for that teammate.
Team Play and Strategy
It’s a simple concept, but in practice, it turns into a brisk and addictive action. Running headlong for the enemy’s tags can mean a quick death, and often, it is necessary to proceed with caution or, if the player is too severely injured, to leave it alone. At other times, a player may sacrifice himself and go to a certain death, but in the process, he will gain three or more enemy tags and thus help the team greatly.
For lone wolves, several combinations of weapons, upgrades, and perks are clearly better. However, the game reveals an additional tactical advantage for organized teams and offers interesting combinations. For example, one player can choose a bulletproof police shield instead of a primary weapon, which makes it easy to take positions on the map.
Teammates can then cover that player from a safer distance. Instead of a support grenade, a radar jammer can be chosen, for example, which makes your team invisible to the enemy on the minimap. In tense situations, a smoke grenade can be used to take a position for a change, and a mine can be used to defend it. The fun of the title is thus increased by the number of organized groups of players.
Visual Limitations
The biggest weakness of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is probably the graphics. Although the game’s visuals are solid, it can hardly stand proudly alongside the graphically excellent titles of its time. Some textures are downright wretched, while others are merely a tribute to the outdated engine that powers the game. However, rendering textures is poor compared to other games when viewed up close or imitating 3D flat textures. This is no different for particles such as sparks flying off burning cars. These look downright old compared to Battlefield 3.
However, the game’s low-performance requirements on the computer or the Playstation 3 console on which I reviewed Modern Warfare 3 speak in its favor. The console didn’t have the slightest problem. I didn’t notice any fps drops or overheating in roughly 50 hours of playing multiplayer and co-op survival mode against waves of AI enemies. I also didn’t experience any problems during the approximately 10 hours of the story campaign. However, the game’s outdated graphics cannot be forgiven entirely, especially since it is one of the biggest brands in the gaming industry. It seems that the game’s publisher was simply trying to maximize profit.
Conclusion
Still, Modern Warfare 3 is the title where the player is happy to turn a blind eye to today’s older graphics and enjoy some genuinely refined and addictive action. It’s a title that artfully combines elements from both the old and new game worlds. It’s fun and fast-paced and doesn’t forget that games are mainly pure fun. I recommend this game to fans of similar titles, especially those of previous installments.
About the Game
Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Type of Game: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Reviewed on: PlayStation 3
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 digitally or physically on: