Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, was just released recently on PlayStation, Xbox, and Windows and it has been everything short of amazing.
MW3 is reportedly a rushed and unoriginal product that has failed to live up to the expectations set by the previous games in the series.
So, what exactly went wrong?
Unoriginality in The Works
One of the most disappointing aspects of Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is its campaign mode, which features a mixture of linear and open-world missions that are supposed to provide more player choice and freedom.
Many reviews referred to the game as “shallow” and “dull”, with IGN saying “...[MW3] plays less like the greatest hits and more like underbaked cover versions of missions past.”
The campaign is boring, repetitive, and uninspired, with poorly written characters, dialogue, and plot. It recycles many elements from the previous games, such as locations, enemies, and set pieces, without really adding anything new.
“The story, a loose retelling of the Makarov story from the Modern Warfare 2 (2009),” said Morgan Park of PC Gamer.
Ultimately, the game’s campaign doesn’t improve much and reeks of “copy and paste” vibes.
New Game, Old Maps, Same Multiplayer
We get to see 16 maps from the original Modern Warfare 2 (2009) included in this game. Sure, the old maps are great for nostalgia and satisfy some fans playing the game, but is it worth the $70 price tag?
Modern Warfare 3 was reportedly rushed and released in a year and a half and was meant to be a map expansion pack.
Regardless of the maps, many players have found the multiplayer stale, unbalanced, and buggy. Not to mention its many issues, such as lag, matchmaking, and cheating. Even the new level-up system gets dragged for how unappealing it is.
One positive review in the multiplayer department is the long-awaited movement correction that fans have been complaining about since the release of Modern Warfare 2 (2022). Movement has been improved in every way. Slide-canceling has returned, the mantling time has improved, and even the tactical sprint reactivation time after slide-canceling has been improved.
Best Things in Life are Dead
The newest addition to the Modern Warfare franchise is the new zombies mode. Zombies debuted in Call of Duty: World at War and have come a long way from sitting in a building while zombie hordes hurdle at you.
Zombies mode, co-created by Treyarch, features an open-world map where players can team up with other squads to survive and fight against hordes of the undead. The mode also has a new story, missions, secrets to discover, and core zombie features such as perks, pack-a-punch, and easter eggs.
The mode has received mixed reviews.
On one hand, it is well-received by fans and critics, who have praised its scale, variety, and challenge. However, many have said that the new mode has flaws, such as technical issues, a lack of content, and high difficulty.
Park writes, “Modern Warfare 3’s zombies mode tries to do too much, and ends up being a messy and inconsistent experience. The mode suffers from bugs, glitches, and crashes, as well as a lack of maps, modes, and customization. The mode is also too hard for casual players, and too easy for veterans, with little balance or progression.”
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) doesn’t live up to the legacy of previous games in its franchise. The game is rushed and unoriginal and it does not offer a campaign, multiplayer, or zombies mode that fully satisfies the fans. It has many technical and design issues that require more innovation and creativity to live up to the originals that captivated audiences.