PGC NEWS

The 2023 gaming landscape witnessed Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a move that sparked legal battles and hearings across continents. At the heart of the controversy was the Call of Duty franchise, a critical player in the ongoing antitrust debate with Sony, fueled by a dedicated player base loyal to the series. With Call of Duty now under Microsoft’s banner, Modern Warfare III serves as a crucial test for the franchise. Developed under a tight, 16-month deadline by Sledgehammer Games and Treyarch, this latest installment raises questions about whether rapid development has compromised quality. Let’s dive into our review.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

A Disconnected Experience

The rushed development of Modern Warfare III manifests in several jarring issues that fragment the player experience. After a lengthy 124GB download and installation, players are bombarded with numerous legal agreements and customization screens before being forced to restart the game. Furthermore, accessing the Campaign requires another relaunch into a separate interface, highlighting a disconnect between the single-player and multiplayer components. This lack of integration feels unpolished and detracts from the overall presentation.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

Sandbox Gameplay Falls Short

Following a brief introductory mission in the Gulag, the campaign abandons the traditional linear narrative in favor of a sandbox approach. Instead of a cinematic, story-driven experience reminiscent of previous titles, players are dropped into open maps with sequential objectives, fighting endlessly respawning enemies. This departure from established Call of Duty campaign design makes Modern Warfare III feel unfamiliar and exposes its weaknesses early on.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

The gameplay loop involves traversing large maps, completing objectives while contending with enemy reinforcements arriving by land and air. However, the AI is rudimentary and struggles to react dynamically to the sandbox environment. Enemies remain passive until the alarm is triggered, allowing players to easily bypass or even walk over them undetected. This lack of responsiveness undermines the sense of challenge and immersion.

The level design attempts to blend a Far Cry 6-style outpost clearing with Hitman-esque stealth mechanics, encouraging players to utilize silenced weapons and melee attacks to avoid raising alarms. This hybrid approach further distances the game from the tightly designed, cinematic action of previous Call of Duty campaigns, sacrificing the thrilling, escalating tension that characterized those missions. Furthermore, the lack of checkpoints within missions forces players to restart from the beginning upon death, a frustrating design choice that penalizes experimentation and adds unnecessary repetition.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

While Modern Warfare III isn’t entirely devoid of engaging moments, the lack of polish in scenario design and enemy AI prevents it from reaching its full potential. The opening mission, “Operation 627,” effectively utilizes close-quarters combat, showcasing the series’ strengths. However, subsequent missions revert to sprawling Warzone-style maps, diminishing the impact of the initial promise.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

A Lackluster Narrative

Beyond the disjointed gameplay, Modern Warfare III suffers from a weak and fragmented narrative. Despite bearing the Modern Warfare name, the campaign lacks the thematic depth and intricate plot twists that defined earlier entries. The story draws heavily from Hollywood action films like Sicario and Extraction, focusing on small-scale conflicts and heroic interventions against heavily armed terrorist groups.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

While the game attempts to recreate the shocking impact of Modern Warfare 2‘s “No Russian” mission with its own controversial level, “Passenger,” the execution feels shallow and lacks the nuanced storytelling and emotional resonance of its predecessor. The original Modern Warfare games were lauded for their Tom Clancy-inspired narratives, featuring complex plots and unexpected twists. In contrast, Modern Warfare III opts for a more straightforward, action-heavy approach, sacrificing narrative depth for spectacle.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Game Review

Conclusion

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’s campaign ultimately disappoints due to its disjointed gameplay and underdeveloped narrative. The rushed development clearly impacted the final product, leaving players with a fragmented and ultimately unsatisfying experience. The departure from the series’ traditional strengths in favor of a sandbox approach and a less nuanced story ultimately hinders this installment’s potential.