Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Campaign (PS5)

Modern Warfare III picks up where its predecessor left off, following the exploits of Captain Price and his iconic Task Force 141. The main antagonist in this installment is Vladimir Makarov, a familiar face from the original Modern Warfare franchise. The campaign opens with Operation 627, a thrilling mission that sets the stage for the intense action that awaits. However, as the story progresses, the pacing becomes disrupted by the introduction of Open Combat missions, which offer player freedom but detract from the overall narrative coherence.

One of the notable additions to the Modern Warfare III campaign is the inclusion of Open Combat missions. These missions aim to provide players with more freedom by allowing them to choose their approach and complete objectives in any order. While this concept initially seems promising, it ultimately falls short in execution. The open nature of these missions sacrifices the atmospheric tension and cinematic experience that are hallmarks of the Call of Duty franchise. Instead, players are left with a less immersive and less memorable gameplay experience.

One of the biggest disappointments in the game’s campaign is the absence of memorable set pieces. Previous Call of Duty games have been praised for their exhilarating missions, such as high-speed vehicle chases and intense hostage rescues. In contrast, Modern Warfare III fails to deliver these standout moments. The lack of variety and innovation in mission design leaves players craving the excitement and adrenaline that the franchise is known for.

While the narrative of Modern Warfare III has its moments, it fails to reach its full potential due to the disjointed nature of the campaign. The first half of the story effectively establishes Makarov as a ruthless extremist, but the Open Combat missions disrupt the narrative flow and dilute the impact of emotional scenes. Additionally, the character development suffers as the limited interaction between the player and AI teammates hampers the sense of camaraderie that was a defining aspect of previous Call of Duty campaigns.

Despite its shortcomings, Modern Warfare III does excel in certain areas, particularly its gunplay mechanics. The controls are smooth and responsive, providing a satisfying shooting experience. The graphics are impressive, with detailed environments and realistic character models. However, these strengths are overshadowed by the overall lack of engaging gameplay and mission design.

Traditionally, Call of Duty campaigns have served as an introduction to the multiplayer mode. However, Modern Warfare III falls short in this regard as well. The available weapons in multiplayer largely come from its predecessor, Modern Warfare II, and the lack of original maps in the multiplayer offering is disappointing. The integration between the campaign and multiplayer modes feels disjointed, further contributing to the overall underwhelming experience.

One area of opportunity That sticks out with Modern Warfare III is the length of the campaign. While there are 14 missions, the campaign can be completed in approximately four to five hours. However, the open-ended nature of the open combat missions can extend the playtime for players who choose to explore every corner of the maps. Nonetheless, the lack of compelling gameplay and memorable moments diminishes the replayability of the campaign.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a single-player campaign that leaves a lot on the table compared to its predecessors. The introduction of Open Combat missions, while an attempt at innovation, ultimately disrupts the pacing and narrative cohesion of the game. The lack of memorable set pieces and underdeveloped characters further contribute to the overall disappointment. Despite its impressive gunplay mechanics and visuals, Modern Warfare III is a shallow and unremarkable campaign that leaves players wanting more. This installment falls short in comparison to the strong reboot series it follows.