The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 campaign falls short of expectations, delivering a disappointing narrative that fails to live up to the legacy of the Modern Warfare series. While Modern Warfare 2 (2022) was considered mediocre, Modern Warfare 3 (2023) takes a step back, offering a genuinely underwhelming story. This is a rare misstep for a franchise known for its bombastic and engaging campaigns.
A Story Devoid of Shock and Awe
Modern Warfare 3 puts players back in the boots of Task Force 141, tasking them with hunting down Vladimir Makarov, a Russian ultranationalist intent on global chaos. The plot echoes the original Modern Warfare 2 (2009) with Makarov orchestrating terrorist attacks to frame the fictional nation of Urzikstan. While the narrative touches upon General Shepherd’s arms dealings with Urzikstan from Modern Warfare 2 (2022), it fails to explore this potentially compelling thread.
Unlike the original Modern Warfare 2, where the “No Russian” mission triggered an immediate Russian invasion of the US, Modern Warfare 3 lacks consequential escalation. Makarov’s successful attacks feel inconsequential, diminishing the urgency and threat he poses. The game shies away from lingering on uncomfortable moments, teasing larger ideas without committing to any meaningful exploration. Even a mission involving an active mass shooting feels shallow, prioritizing shock value over impactful storytelling. The game’s restrictive mechanics, such as instantly failing the mission for accidentally harming civilians, further undermine the tension and weight of these scenarios.
The game’s instant fail state for civilian casualties removes any sense of player responsibility. A more nuanced system, penalizing players for excessive civilian casualties, would significantly increase the tension and moral ambiguity.
Innovation Falls Flat
Modern Warfare 3‘s promising opening prison break sequence quickly gives way to a series of underwhelming “Open Combat Missions.” These sandbox-style missions, touted as a key feature, ultimately feel like glorified and clunky Spec Ops missions. The narrative stalls during these segments, replaced by generic objectives and exposition-heavy radio chatter. The absence of squad interactions and memorable set pieces further detracts from the experience.
The AI in these missions is simplistic and predictable, even on higher difficulties. Enemies exhibit limited tactical awareness and rely on predictable grenade spam, making them easy to manipulate. The sandbox environments themselves feel constrained, offering limited strategic options beyond weapon and location choice. Unlike games like Hitman or Far Cry, Modern Warfare 3 lacks dynamic systems and emergent gameplay.
The limited interactivity of the Open Combat Missions restricts player agency and prevents emergent gameplay opportunities. The environments lack the dynamism and responsiveness found in other sandbox titles.
One standout mission involves navigating a multi-story apartment building, offering a tense and maze-like experience reminiscent of the film The Raid. This level showcases innovative level design, but it remains a lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable campaign. Even traditional missions lack the spectacle and memorable moments that define the series.
The Burden of Nostalgia
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 presents a hastily constructed and often nonsensical narrative that plays it safe. The campaign ends abruptly just as the story begins to gain momentum, leaving players unsatisfied. The game relies heavily on nostalgia, hoping players will project their fondness for the original trilogy onto this underwhelming entry.
While it’s commendable that Call of Duty has managed to avoid a campaign this flawed for 20 years, it’s disappointing that it happened to a storyline featuring beloved characters and established lore. Modern Warfare 3‘s campaign isn’t a celebration of the franchise’s history; it’s a missed opportunity.
Rating: 2 out of 5
A PC review copy was provided by Activision for this review. A full multiplayer review will follow its release.
