Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign continues the thrilling story from its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2. We see the return of Captain Price’s iconic Task Force 141, as well as the introduction of a new major antagonist, Vladimir Makarov. The campaign kicks off with a bang and promises an intense experience.
However, it falls short in certain aspects, including pacing issues and an underwhelming ending.
Campaign Gameplay: Linear vs. Open Combat Missions
The campaign opens with Operation 627, a mission that showcases the classic Call of Duty linear style. It immerses you in a visually stunning world and offers intense gameplay.
This traditional approach sets up the threat posed by Makarov effectively. These linear missions have been a staple of Call of Duty games and are known for their cinematic tension and urgency.
Open Combat Missions:
Modern Warfare 3 introduces new Open Combat missions that aim to provide players with more freedom and choice. While this sounds promising on paper, these missions disrupt the overall pacing and atmosphere of the story.
They offer an expanded playable area and various options for loadout customization but sacrifice the cinematic tension found in traditional missions.
Impact on Narrative and Emotional Depth
The inclusion of Open Combat missions creates a disjointed narrative flow. Emotionally charged scenes lose their impact when followed by casual open-world gameplay segments.
In comparison, scripted missions in previous games allowed for better expression of emotions and maintained a sense of urgency.
Shock Value vs. Storytelling:
Modern Warfare 3 includes impactful moments like terrorist attacks, but these instances often feel like cheap thrills rather than serving a greater purpose in storytelling.
While they showcase Makarov’s ruthlessness, they lack depth and fail to contribute meaningfully to the overall narrative.
Lack of Memorable Set Pieces
Unlike previous Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 3’s campaign lacks memorable set pieces that players have come to expect.
The absence of high-speed chases, stealthy missions, and intense hostage rescues leaves a void in the gameplay experience.
Lackluster Mission Variety:
Although Open Combat missions offer some degree of flexibility in playstyles, they fail to provide the same level of fulfillment as iconic missions from earlier games.
These missions lack the impact and variety found in classics like “All Ghillied Up” from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or last year’s sniper operation in Recon By Fire.
Length and Multiplayer Disconnect
Modern Warfare 3 boasts a total of 14 campaign missions but falls short in terms of duration. With an average completion time of 4-5 hours, the story feels brief unless players extensively explore the open areas present in Open Combat missions. Consequently, there is little motivation to revisit the campaign once completed.
Disconnect Between Campaign and Multiplayer:
Traditionally, Call of Duty campaigns served as an introduction to the multiplayer mode. However, Modern Warfare 3’s multiplayer disappoints with its lack of new weapons and remastered maps that do not align with locations from the campaign. This disconnect between the two modes undermines the overall cohesion of the game.
Final Notes
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign fails to live up to expectations. Pacing issues, a disjointed narrative flow, and a lackluster ending contribute to its status as the weakest entry in an otherwise strong reboot series.
While it still showcases impressive graphics and offers moments for nostalgia, these highlights cannot compensate for the overall shortcomings. We encourage players to explore other aspects of the game beyond the campaign for a more fulfilling experience.
Launch Date: November 10, 2023
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400
- RAM: 8GB
- Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32GB
- Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 / GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 470
- Video Memory: 2GB
- Storage: SSD with 149GB available space (78GB if COD HQ and Warzone are already installed)
Maximum
- OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64 Bit (latest update)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
- RAM: 16GB
- Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32GB
- Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080Ti / RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT
- Video Memory: 8GB
- Storage: SSD with 149GB available space (78GB if COD HQ and Warzone are already installed)