Reviews// Modern Warfare 3

The amendments that have been made are subtle but only serve to improve. Killstreaks have been replaced with Pointstreaks. This means that it's not just kills that earn bonus attacks or support boxes. You now earn points by completing objectives and capturing bases now counts towards activating UAVs and Airstrikes.

We're also treated to two new game modes. Although 'Team Defender' just seems like a new VIP mode, 'Kill Confirmed' is genuinely a hell of a lot of fun. In this mode you'll drop dog tags when killed which can then be picked up by the enemy confirming the kill, or a team mate saving your blushes. It's a little frantic but turning a corner to find five or six dogs tags laying on the floor after a Mexican stand-off can be massively satisfying if a little unskilful.

Along with the additions, there have also been a few things removed that Call Of Duty Black Ops introduced, most noticeably the Diving to Prone. I always enjoyed this as it made defending while advancing to a target a lot more fluid.

Hitting the deck when you see the enemy worked far better and, although some exploited it, I'm sure there wouldn't have been much work needed to balance the move out. It's a shame then that it's been removed completely.

At a base level MW3 is still a CoD Multiplayer game, and these new bells and whistles won’t be enough to entertain those who have already grown tired of the series. It's the masses that Activision wants to please, though, and with Modern Warfare 3 the company has done exactly that.

Thank God, For Spec Ops
“Spec Ops” was one of my favourite elements of any Call of Duty game – and it was absent from Black Ops and I was absolutely gutted. Spec Ops is an absolutely fantastic mode that pairs you up with another player either online or by split screen to take on missions of various difficulties. Thankfully Modern Warfare 3 has welcomed the mode back with open arms.

Whereas Modern Warfare 2 had some hit-and-miss missions, I've yet to play one mission here that is below par. Each seems almost impossible to complete at first attempt but good old fashioned teamwork will see you improve with every attempt until you're an expert, gliding through to the objective with each of you knowing your role and sticking to it.

A survival mode has also been introduced and although it's a little bit behind the likes of Gears of War in terms of what it can offer, it's still fantastic fun and will hold your attention for long enough to warrant its existence.

Engine Trouble
Visually there's not much to complain about when it comes to Modern Warfare 3, but the engine that runs it does start to feel dated, especially when compared to Battlefield 3's Frostbite 2. It never looks bad, but it falls short of looking good compered to today's standards.

Animations suffer the most, making characters look almost robotic in movement. Animations in video games have come a long way since Modern Warfare, and it's a shame to see that the team that defined an era has been left behind in this department.

Still, it's extremely solid with next to no slowdown or popping issues, which in the later life of the home consoles is a rarity.

The audio could use some work too. If animations seem dated, the sound seems ancient. Competing games are so far ahead with how their games sound that it's a little embarrassing, and unfortunately I'm not just talking about the cheesy rock music you hear while being promoted.

Mission Complete
One thing that isn't in doubt is just how much of a complete package this is. There really is something for every type of gamer. Single players are treated to a really entertaining and fun campaign. Competitive gamers have a fantastic, if a little 'safe', multiplayer game, and those who want to play amongst friends have the option to customise every option in the multiplayer game or can go co-op with the wonderful Spec Ops.

This is not only a great game, it's a complete package. One that will treat fans to the best CoD has ever been, but will fall short of converting those who no longer enjoy the series.


Conclusion
Pros:
+ A fantastic and exciting single-player campaign
+ An established and entertaining Multiplayer mode
+ Spec Ops. Oh god, it has Spec Ops
+ As solid as any polished game out there

Cons:
- Doesn't offer much that we haven't seen before
- Those who are finished with the series won’t return with this effort

SPOnG Score: 9/10

Read David’s Battlefield 3 review here.