That is evident virtually from the off in Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III’s marketing campaign. After a flashy opening stage that tells the story of how Makarov returns to wreak havoc on the world as soon as extra, you’re thrust into a brand new mission kind that’s not been seen in a Name of Responsibility marketing campaign earlier than: Open Fight Missions. For these missions, you might be dropped right into a large-ish open atmosphere the place it’s good to supply your weapons and tools on-site and work via a listing of targets. On paper, this sounds prefer it may very well be fairly enjoyable, however in actuality, it’s an absolute bore fest and solely actually serves these with stealthy playstyles. There are six of those missions all through the marketing campaign, and it is clear that the concept behind them has been lifted straight out of Name of Responsibility’s DMZ mode, besides you don’t really get to do the enjoyable little bit of DMZ and extract with the loot you’ve discovered. Nor are there any thrilling and bombastic set items right here; you simply go in, tick off just a few containers, and the mission ends.
It feels as if these Open Fight Missions are there to pad out Trendy Warfare III’s pathetically quick marketing campaign. It took me 4 to 5 hours to finish the marketing campaign, and actually, I don’t bear in mind a lot about it. Certain, it seems attractive, and the animations and sound design are unequalled, nevertheless it’s a misfire relating to each gameplay and story. Acquainted favourite set items return, comparable to being a gunner in an AC-130, however these are nothing new and really feel like the best hits of issues we’ve seen in earlier Name of Responsibility video games. It’s due to these uninteresting ranges and quick marketing campaign that Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III completely doesn’t deserve its ending. You spend far too little time with the characters to essentially care about any of them, together with the large unhealthy Makarov. The story doesn’t transfer on the overarching Trendy Warfare plot in any significant manner and is essentially a waste of the participant’s time, which is a disgrace as a result of the voice actors, animations, sound, and visuals are all wonderful all through.
Fortunately, Trendy Warfare III’s multiplayer is fairly good, supplied you’re not in search of a lot new content material. Whereas I didn’t thoughts Trendy Warfare II’s multiplayer, this yr’s launch has improved on the final gameplay in just about all areas — motion is quick and fluid, time-to-kill has been lengthed due to elevated well being, and the mini-map has returned (hallelujah). On high of this, the gunplay feels punchy and is deeply satisfying, although I discover that’s at all times normally the case with Name of Responsibility.
![Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III review: an epic misfire](https://www.trueachievements.com/imgs/143602/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-review-an-epic-misfire.jpg)
As for maps, Trendy Warfare III options all 16 of Trendy Warfare 2’s multiplayer maps, which supplied me with a giant hit of nostalgia when leaping again into the likes of Terminal and Highrise. Whereas it’s nice to have these unbelievable maps out there to play as soon as extra, they’re, once more, older content material that’s been revamped for this launch — some new maps at launch would have been good.
The identical may be mentioned for multiplayer recreation modes. Trendy Warfare III introduces only one new recreation mode referred to as Cutthroat. Right here, three groups of three go face to face, and the winner is the crew that reaches a goal variety of spherical wins. Whereas it’s not probably the most unique concept, it’s numerous enjoyable and does present some tense moments once you’re the final particular person alive in your squad. Except for Cutthroat, there isn’t something you haven’t already seen earlier than — Struggle mode from Name of Responsibility: WWII returns, although that is presently restricted to only one map and shortly turns into repetitive.
Trendy Warfare III’s tackle Zombies is not fairly what I hoped when Activision first introduced the mode can be coming to a Trendy Warfare recreation for the primary time. MW III ditches the confined, round-based Zombies mode for a totally open-world expertise. Whereas it’s good to see Sledgehammer making an attempt one thing new right here, it’s clear that the DNA of Zombies has simply been grotesquely mashed into DMZ mode to utilize its risk-reward system. A number of groups of three are dropped into the upcoming new Warzone map Urzikstan and work cooperatively to finish targets earlier than extracting with as a lot loot and high-powered weaponry as potential. The map is very large, and with no PvP between different groups, it feels virtually protected numerous the time. There’s by no means any actual urgency or strain on you and your crew due to this lack of PvP — it’s totally as much as you to make up your individual enjoyable, which is a really completely different expertise from earlier iterations of Zombies.
![Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III review: an epic misfire](https://www.trueachievements.com/imgs/143601/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-review-an-epic-misfire.jpg)
Areas of the map are sectioned off into completely different menace ranges, and the chance turns into higher the additional inward you progress, however so do the rewards. Do you progress into the Risk Degree 3 space in hopes of a higher-tier weapon, or do you play it protected in a quieter space and extract with what you’ve? Risk Degree 1 is fairly tame and sort of boring consequently — ranges 2 and three are the place you’ll have probably the most enjoyable. It’s in these areas the place issues can get actually frantic, and also you’ll must improve your weapons at Pack-a-Punch machines and seize your perks if you wish to keep alive for various minutes. I like these areas of various enemy issue as a result of when you’re not paying consideration, you and your squad can simply develop into overwhelmed by what appears like a whole bunch of zombies or AI troopers. Nonetheless, they do considerably hinder the general expertise, too, as most of your time will likely be spent looting, finishing targets, and grinding for gear to get your self outfitted sufficient to tackle the larger and badder enemies. That is most egregious once you die and lose all of your gear.
Whereas Zombies does have some chaotic and exhilarating moments within the latter phases, supplied you’ve pushed your self to go there, all of it simply feels a bit underbaked and, for me, doesn’t provide a lot when it comes to immediate replayability in comparison with the Zombies of outdated. You’ll in all probability get a good quantity of hours out of this mode whereas taking part in with pals, however when you’ve seen and accomplished all of the completely different goal sorts, taken on a stronghold or two, and shot a zombie within the face for the billionth time, there isn’t a lot left to get enthusiastic about, particularly when you’ve to take action a lot work to get to the enjoyable stuff. There’s a story to uncover in Zombies mode, nevertheless it’s buried beneath one million mini-missions (open 25 Loot Crates, sluggish ten Hellhounds with Cryo Freeze Ammo, that kind of factor), which simply doesn’t attraction to me in any manner.
![Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III review: an epic misfire](https://www.trueachievements.com/imgs/143598/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-review-an-epic-misfire.jpg)
As for the Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III achievements, it is a rattling disgrace to see Sledgehammer and Activision decreased the checklist to only a DLC pack for the brand new Name of Responsibility launcher. Placing that to at least one facet, although, the checklist is fairly robust. You have bought an excellent mixture of marketing campaign and Zombies achievements, and whereas the marketing campaign achievements look enjoyable, the Zombies achievements are going to be a grind, particularly when you’re a solo participant and don’t love matchmaking with different randoms.
Abstract
Cobbled collectively from components of earlier video games, Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III is among the worst entries into the collection. From the vapid marketing campaign with these woeful DMZ-like open fight missions to the Multiplayer that depends on nostalgia for something attention-grabbing and the toothless, uninspired Zombies mode that’s simply an ungainly model of DMZ, Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III completely nowhere close to justifies its $70 price ticket.
* Sean spent round 16 hours taking part in via Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare III’s marketing campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies mode on an Xbox Sequence X. The writer supplied a recreation code for this evaluation.