Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) reintroduces the traditional Call of Duty we all know and love.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) makes it back in the form of a complete game after playing the beta last month, and we couldn’t get enough of it because of how much fun it was. As mentioned in the article not too long ago, Modern Warfare 3 (2023) isn’t perfect, but this game will be the reason why Call of Duty is well and truly back. But stick around, and in this review, you’ll understand why this is the case. We’ll also look at where Modern Warfare 3 (2023) multiplayer is going wrong.
Firstly, we have to discuss the gameplay. The return of faster arcade gameplay, featuring older mechanics like slide cancelling and mini maps, has brought back the excitement to multiplayer. Multiplayer plays better partly due to better movement and is reminiscent of the much older Call of Duty games that brought the franchise to very high prominence.
Also making returns to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) are the memorable multiplayer maps you loved 14 years ago. You’re initially getting far-remastered versions of these maps strictly from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II game. Having to replay in maps such as Skidrow, Highrise, Afghan, Terminal, and Sub Base takes me back to the good times in Call of Duty. Yes, this includes Shipment’s considerably larger counterpart map, Rust. And we get to choose what maps we wish to play with map votes returned.
We get to strictly enjoy these maps until season one for four new maps that’ll arrive around December. To add to the nostalgic maps, as days go by, maps from Modern Warfare II are being transferred to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023).
The same goes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)’s weapons, game modes, and more, on top of the ones Modern Warfare 3 already has. To be clear, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it would’ve been better to enjoy the new game’s content, at least for a little while, then bring the features from the previous game into it.
If you were to go and use the last game’s weapons, I highly recommend you use the MCW weapon. It’s reminiscent of the classic ACR weapon from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and just like that gun, it has virtually zero recoil, giving you possibly the most accurate shots from a weapon. The weapon is an animal. The only problem is that you have to reach rank 45 to obtain the weapon.
In the meantime, try these two other great weapons you can get much earlier. One is the equivalent of the UMP 45 SMG weapon from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, which is called the Striker. The other is the battle rifle called the Bas-B, a monster weapon. A few shots and the enemy is a goner, regardless of the range. You’d probably like it and use it more than the MCW. But because the weapon is so powerful, one might wonder if it’ll get nerfed in the future. Hopefully not.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) has a whopping 23 killstreaks for you to choose from and welcomes one of the largest, if not the largest, killstreak list in Call of Duty history. Everyone’s different, but there are about four that I will be using throughout my time with Modern Warfare 3 (2023) multiplayer.
Thank goodness we’ve returned to the classical perk system, where you have all three perks available throughout your matches, instead of last year when you had to unlock them as the match progressed. The concept of the new design didn’t make sense, and it was rightfully panned almost unanimously by the community. It’s great that the classical system is back. Only this time, for a more realistic approach, the perks are in gears instead of icons.
The ever-loving dead silence perk has returned. And if you are familiar with this perk, you’ll be happy going back to not having your footsteps being heard, even against players with the best headsets. It’s great that they’ve gone back to this system.
Skill-based matchmaking (or SBMM) is still a thing, and it’s in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023), and the app is stronger than ever. This is one of the most controversial topics in modern online gaming: whether it should remain or be removed. If you’re unsure what SBMM is, it’s a system that emphasises balancing matches by placing you in matches based on statistics like score per minute; time played, kill/death ratio, etc. In layman’s terms, the system puts you against players that are on your level.
Let’s say you had a couple of great kill/death ratio matches. The system will then place you in tougher lobbies. On the other hand, if you have somewhat unpleasant matches, then the opposite happens. However, the controversy comes in the first part about being placed in tougher lobbies.
Some players have emphasised that they don’t want to feel like they’re playing in Call of Duty tournaments almost every game. And it’s gotten worse now that the system has heightened. Whereas others, have explained that they like the challenge. Despite the apparently heightened SBMM, it does not really impact the experience, and the multiplayer is still fun.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) has more than enough game modes to entertain you. As expected, more game modes will be arriving. For now, you get to enjoy much of what you’re used to, such as quick play, 24/7 multiplayer, and more. There is a new game mode you definitely need to check out. It’s called Cutthroat. Why battle against one team when you can take on two? Modern Warfare 3 (2023) brings a team-based triple threat mode where three squads go head to head to head.
Now, despite Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)’s astronomical improvements, it isn’t perfect, and there are a few issues as to why this is the case. Firstly, they’ve implemented the armory unlock system for some reason. With this new system, instead of simply ranking up to unlock certain weapons, perks, field upgrades, killstreaks, and so on, they have to complete assigned daily challenges to unlock them.
How this works is you’ll look at what armory you wish to unlock and activate them. Then, each of the certain armories requires you to complete several daily challenges to unlock them. For example, if you wish to acquire the Semtex, it displays that you must complete three challenges, and you must complete all three set challenges to unlock it. It seems like this is their way of encouraging more players to complete daily challenges and provide more incentive to win matches.
Some players might like the new system, but some may view this approach as forceful, and they’d be right to think that way. Moreover, it feels more like a chore to unlock the features that require a much simpler process. This system does not make sense; hopefully, this is the last Call of Duty game to have this.
Another major issue to worry about is the spawn system. Mainly, what happens is that you’ll spawn right near the enemy that just killed you, and this also shouldn’t be happening at all. Funnily, this problem can also be a blessing because it could add more kills to your stats, but regardless, this shouldn’t be happening.
Finally, the price of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is unjust. A sequel with multiplayer heavily relying on nostalgia to revive the franchise shouldn’t cost this much. Again, the multiplayer concept of Modern Warfare 3 (2023) itself isn’t a bad thing because of the many happy returns of certain features. However, if you’re a player who was around in the original Call of Warfare II era, it might not sit well that you’re paying a full retail price to enjoy playing on features that were designed 14 years ago. As well as receiving content from last year’s game.
Despite the few glaring issues, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) surpasses Modern Warfare II in every possible way. This is Sledgehammer’s redemption for the multiplayer of their last game, Call of Duty: Vanguard, which had plenty to be desired. Clearly, going old school with the maps was the juice needed to finally replenish the franchise. Additionally, as the gameplay and content are much more exciting, immersive, and engaging, this feels like the traditional Call of Duty we all know and love. So, is Call of Duty back? You bet it is. Great job, Sledgehammer.
