Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Infinity Ward/ Sledgehammer Games
Activision Publishing
In case you’ve been living under Scotiabank Place the last few months, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has finally arrived.
Co-developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, the most anticipated video game in history promises to deliver on excitement and a new approach to the tired scene of the multiplayer first-person shooter.
There are those who complain that the game is visually akin to MW2. While the art style does remain the same (it doesn’t have to change every time a new game comes out), the visuals are exceptionally more detailed, texture is more impressive — all exceeding a liquid-smooth 60 frames per second. This is more than I can say about a certain other, to remain nameless, game.
Having put almost 20 days of game time into the previous installment, the new layout is more balanced than ever — so much so that it’s noticeably more difficult to embarrass players on reaction time and weapon choice alone.
The maps, while attempting to reduce camping (being a scumbag and not moving from one spot), have inadvertently inspired good and bad players alike to be afraid to venture out anywhere the sun touches.
Naturally, the first few weeks are rocky as players learn the maps and use the same weapons. Gradually, gameplay will level out and going 30-2 consistently will be realistic.
One gripe is the first five or six assault rifles. With the exception of the Type 95, an unstoppable beast of a three-burst weapon, all the rifles have very similar non-distinguishing stat performance.
Of course, as you level in to the late 50s you will have more diverse options. The combat is very much gun-based now — something that’s been missing in the shadow of “noob” tubes and chopper-gunners.
Sound design has always been a key component of immersion for game developers. The previous Call of Duty release, Black Ops, left much to be desired in the way of proper sound architecture, with choppy footsteps and some guns using the same sound file when fired.
Modern Warfare 3 has some of the best sound design I’ve ever seen. Guns sound like they pack a punch. Firing 5.56x45mm rounds rattle your nerves, as they should. With great attention to background ambience, the environments sound expansive.
Modern Warfare 3 is a test of first-person shooter skill at the fundamental level. While not adding anything revolutionary, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer expanded on an award-winning formula.
Call of Duty has yet again shown players that new physics engines and vehicles are often over-hyped and that sticking with simple gun fights, tactical kill streaks, and new non-linear maps bring new challenges and a refreshing change to the series each time.
