Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 a Good Game? A Deep Dive
Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) a good game? The answer, unfortunately, is complex and not a simple yes or no. While MW3 boasts a plethora of content, including a campaign, multiplayer, and zombies mode, its execution and overall quality are inconsistent, leaving many players feeling underwhelmed. The game struggles to live up to the high bar set by previous entries in the series and, for many, falls short of being a truly good game. It’s not a complete disaster, but its shortcomings are significant enough to warrant serious scrutiny. Let’s unpack what makes this a controversial release.
A Disappointing Campaign
A Rushed and Underwhelming Experience
One of the biggest disappointments of Modern Warfare 3 is its single-player campaign. The narrative, intended as a direct sequel to 2022’s Modern Warfare II, is widely considered rushed and poorly assembled. The story, which should have built upon the previous game’s foundation, feels like a patchwork of poorly conceived open areas, linear missions that lack innovation, and a meaningless and convoluted plot. The much-anticipated return of Vladimir Makarov, the iconic antagonist, is handled in a way that many find uninspired and ineffective, failing to capture the menace and complexity he is known for. The overall feeling is one of a campaign that was hurried to market, lacking the polish and depth that Call of Duty fans have come to expect. The campaign’s lack of originality and engaging gameplay makes it a forgettable experience, even for hardcore fans.
Multiplayer: A Mixed Bag of Old and New
Familiar Modes with a New Coat of Paint
The multiplayer mode in Modern Warfare 3 presents a more complex picture. On one hand, it delivers the core gameplay that Call of Duty is famous for, with modes like Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Gun Game returning, alongside larger scale battles in Ground War and Invasion. The inclusion of new modes like the 3v3v3 Cutthroat attempt to add something fresh, but don’t quite revolutionize the experience. The return of the minimap and classic perk system are welcome additions, answering criticisms from previous entries.
However, while these are positive points, many issues prevent the multiplayer from reaching its full potential. Some players feel the maps lack the unique layouts of previous games, and the gunplay, while solid, doesn’t feel as refined as it could be. Weapon balancing has also been a point of contention, with some guns emerging as clear “meta” picks, leading to less variety in loadouts and playstyles.
Gunsmith Customization and Weapon Variety
The Gunsmith customization feature does offer a deep level of personalization, allowing players to tweak their weaponry to suit their preferred playstyle. The sheer number of weapons, 114 at launch, is impressive, providing numerous options for experimentation. However, the weapon progression system has been criticized for being a bit grindy, potentially requiring significant time investment to unlock all the attachments and camos. The carry-over of base camos from Modern Warfare II is a nice touch, allowing players to use their progress from the previous game, although completionist camos do not carry over to new weapons.
The New Zombies Mode
A Unique Twist on the Formula
Modern Warfare 3 introduces a new Zombies mode, which is a significant departure from the traditional round-based survival experience. Developed in part by Treyarch, who have long been synonymous with Call of Duty Zombies, this mode is a hybridization of the DMZ experience and Cold War’s Outbreak mode. It features a gameplay loop similar to DMZ, with players completing objectives and extracting from a large open map, incorporating elements of the classic Zombies gameplay with its hordes and special enemies.
A Matter of Preference
While this new take on Zombies is a creative experiment, it might not appeal to all fans of the mode. Some find the more objective-based gameplay less engaging than the classic survival rounds, and others believe the open map format loses some of the intensity and focus found in the smaller map designs. Despite these criticisms, the new Zombies mode does offer a unique and potentially refreshing experience that is worth trying.
Technical Aspects and Download Size
A Huge Download
One of the most significant hurdles for Modern Warfare 3 is its hefty download size. Players can expect to download anywhere from 80 to 90GB for the initial pre-load, and an additional 100+GB for the full game. This means a considerable amount of hard drive space is needed to play the game, and this can be a major drawback for those with limited storage or slower internet connections.
Technical Performance and Stability
While the game generally performs well on modern hardware, some players have reported technical issues such as crashes, bugs, and UI problems, especially in the initial days after launch. Activision has released a number of patches to address these problems, but some players still experience sporadic issues. Offline play is now more reliable, but some users have cited that these technical flaws detract from the overall experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a game with both strengths and weaknesses. Its multiplayer can provide familiar thrills and a vast array of content, while the new Zombies mode offers a unique, if somewhat divisive, experience. However, it’s ultimately held back by a poorly executed campaign, technical inconsistencies, and a general lack of innovation. The game doesn’t seem to quite measure up to the high standards set by other franchise installments. It’s not the worst game in the franchise, but it is a significant step down for a series that has been a genre leader for many years. Whether MW3 is a “good” game is ultimately subjective, but it is likely to be a polarizing release. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ll probably find reasons to enjoy it, but if you’re a casual player, there may be better options available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How big is the download size for Modern Warfare 3?
The initial pre-load for Modern Warfare 3 is around 80 to 90GB, with an additional 100+GB required for the full game download. This makes for a significant download size on any platform.
2. Does Modern Warfare 3 have a single-player campaign?
Yes, Modern Warfare 3 has a single-player campaign, but it has been widely criticized for being rushed and poorly designed.
3. Is Gun Game available in Modern Warfare 3?
Yes, Gun Game is one of the many multiplayer modes available in Modern Warfare 3.
4. Is Modern Warfare 3 a sequel or a remake?
Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is a direct sequel to 2022’s Modern Warfare II. It is not a remake of the original Modern Warfare 3 from 2011.
5. Is there a Zombies mode in Modern Warfare 3?
Yes, Modern Warfare 3 features a new Zombies mode, which is a hybrid of the DMZ and Outbreak experiences.
6. Who developed the Zombies mode in MW3?
The Zombies mode in Modern Warfare 3 was co-developed by Sledgehammer Games and Treyarch.
7. What is considered the best gun in Modern Warfare 3?
The Pulemyot is often considered one of the best guns in Modern Warfare 3 due to its excellent time-to-kill, fire rate, and low recoil.
8. How much does Modern Warfare 3 cost?
The Cross-Gen/Standard Edition of Modern Warfare 3 costs $69.99.
9. What are some of the new features in MW3?
New features include the return of the minimap and classic perk system, over 30 weapons with unique camos, and a Gunsmith customization feature.
10. How many guns are in Modern Warfare 3 at launch?
There are 114 weapons available in Modern Warfare 3 at launch, including primary and secondary weapons.
11. How many copies of Modern Warfare 3 were sold in the first 24 hours?
Within 24 hours of release, Modern Warfare 3 sold 6.5 million copies in the US and UK, grossing $400 million.
12. Can I use camos from MW2 in MW3?
Yes, you can equip Modern Warfare II base camos on Modern Warfare III weapons, and vice versa. However, completionist camos (Gold, Platinum, Polyatomic, and Orion) can only be applied to the MWII weapons they were unlocked for.
13. Who is the main villain in the Modern Warfare 3 campaign?
The main villain in the Modern Warfare 3 campaign is Vladimir Makarov, a Russian terrorist leading the Ultranationalist party.
14. How does the MW3 Zombies mode differ from previous entries?
The MW3 Zombies mode is a hybrid of the DMZ experience and Cold War’s Outbreak mode, featuring a gameplay loop similar to DMZ with Outbreak’s bosses and progression systems.
15. Is Modern Warfare 3 an online or offline game?
While it is primarily an online game, Modern Warfare 3 allows for offline play after the initial Activision account setup, with save data integrity and loading issues being fixed in recent patches.