There comes a time in seemingly every franchise’s life when things start to get stale. As Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 proves, not even the hottest video game franchise in the universe is an exception to this old adage. While it’s meant to be the epic conclusion to Infinity Ward’s branch of the franchise, it ends up feeling like just another one in the pile despite its best efforts.
I started out with the campaign, which picks up where Modern Warfare 2 left off. Makarov got away, Soap is dying and World War 3 is about to begin. From here, the standard issue formula commences. You will assume the role of multiple soldiers fighting on different fronts through a non-stop barrage of enemy troops and explosions. Also, each of the game’s story points feel as nonsensical and glued together solely to string together action sequences.
Even when they up the ante on shooting dudes or setpieces, it can’t shake the fact that this is essentially the same one note that we played years ago. From the outset, an unnerving sense of deja vu hit me and didn’t let go. Save for a few cool moments, I don’t think this game comes together in a way to provide the thrills that its predecessors did.
One aspect of the game that also ain’t what it used to be are its graphics. This is still running off of the same engine and it’s really starting to show its age. This clearly isn’t the prettiest belle at the ball anymore. Even the once rock-solid framerate takes a dip later on during its most hectic sequences. Maybe tightening up the art direction could breathe a bit more life into the proceedings, though the series has clearly seen better days. To its credit, I thought the sandstorm level ends really nicely with how the lighting is done. Moments like that however are fleeting.
I recognize the fact that Infinity Ward was under a lot of turmoil during the development of this game, but it’s not a reason to provide sympathy for the final product as a paying consumer. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comes off as an uninspired effort that treads too closely on familiar territory. While it is by no means bad, it failed to spark any enthusiasm out of me save for a handful of setpieces. I don’t know what it’s going to take to make Call of Duty feel fresh again, though it’s clear that they can’t keep going on like this forever.
In Third Person 