Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Campaign: A Rushed Disaster

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Campaign: A Rushed Disaster

Modern Warfare 3 upsets gamers over its uninspiring and boring campaign missions


Call of Duty games each year do not come with the expectation of setting a new standard for the industry. At this point, they are just lazy cash cows for Activision and, very recently, for Microsoft. While the free market economy allows for companies like these to exploit mindless consumers by robbing them of their hard-earned money for the same game (but only slightly different) every new year, what is absolutely not okay is delivering less-than-acceptable content in the name of a COD campaign and charging $70 for it.

Modern Warfare 3: Why the Campaign Fails to Deliver

For years, fans of Call of Duty have been accustomed to getting a new full release every year. However, rumors started surfacing that 2023 would be different and that the game would only receive a campaign DLC instead. This news came as a relief to many fans who were looking for a change of pace. But fans were skeptical when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was announced a few months ago. 

The game's reveal only added to the skepticism, with the confirmation that no original 6v6 maps would be included at launch, and most of the guns were carried over from Modern Warfare 2. As more details were revealed, fans grew increasingly concerned, especially about the game's campaign, which failed to live up to the legacy of the original Modern Warfare series.

2011 Campaign Leaves the Newest Addition to Dust

Call of Duty Modern warfare 3 Campaign: A Rushed Disaster
Credit: Activision Blizzard

Released in 2011, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 received mixed fan reviews. While some appreciated the game's cinematic single-player campaign and intense multiplayer mode, others criticized it for not innovating enough on the formula established by its predecessors. Many fans consider it one of the weaker entries in the Modern Warfare series and the franchise.

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2011 Modern Warfare 3 had a decent multiplayer mode, an enjoyable campaign, and a fun Survival mode. However, it could have lived up to the high standards the critically acclaimed games set before it. Instead of being an innovative next step, it felt more like a series continuation. Despite this, Modern Warfare 3 was still a much better game than the 2023 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, particularly in terms of its campaign, which was more engaging and immersive.

The 2023 campaign faced numerous issues, with its lack of originality being the most significant. Despite the criticism that 2011's MW3 received for not bringing anything new to the table, it still managed to deliver moments like the Paris terrorist attack and the showdown with Makarov, which continue to be etched in players' memories even after a decade. However, the same cannot be said about the 2023 version of Modern Warfare 3, as its most gripping missions have been borrowed from previous games in the franchise.

Fans of Modern Warfare 3 have expressed their dissatisfaction with the game's campaign, which is notably shorter than previous installments, clocking in at approximately four hours compared to the usual six to eight. Many are also criticizing the overuse of small “Open Combat Missions,” which they see as evidence that the game was rushed and lacked the usual development time given to the series.

This sentiment is echoed on the game's official subreddit, which is currently filled with disappointed fans sharing memes and expressing bewilderment at a CoD title that doesn't quite live up to their expectations.

Throughout the observations for the MW3 campaign, Warzone has been a recurring topic due to the striking resemblance of Sledgehammer's Open Combat Missions to the mini Warzone missions. These missions comprise nearly fifty percent of the campaign and stand out due to their minor sandbox nature, breaking away from the series' usual type setpieces. They are solo, cooperative missions. While they seem enjoyable, it is concerning how heavily the campaign relies on them to carry the weight.

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Red Flags Are Painfully Obvious

Let’s have a look at what the MW3 campaign has brought to the table being a $70 game:

  • The game Modern Warfare 3 includes all the weapons and cosmetic items that were present in its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2.
  • Upon its launch, Modern Warfare 3 will feature a peculiar set of maps as it will solely comprise remakes from the 2009 title Modern Warfare 2.
  • Lack of a co-op mode: Instead, they’re delivering a zombie mode, which Treyarch has developed. Wait, that’s not all; the new zombie mode features a reused version of the Warzone map.
  • Once installed, the game is accessed through a new feature called the CoD HQ, which is essentially the updated version of Modern Warfare 2. Therefore, to play Modern Warfare 3, the player must first launch the CoD HQ within Modern Warfare 2. Apparently, despite charging $70, the devs can’t make sure a title doesn’t feel like it’s a DLC to a previous entry.

Although campaigns may not be the primary focus for many Call of Duty enthusiasts, they hold significant importance, especially considering Activision's recent move to release them a week before multiplayer. Campaigns set the stage and give an idea of what to expect in the game ahead. Therefore, it is totally reasonable for the devs to aim for higher standards when it comes to delivering COD campaigns. 

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Campaign: A Rushed Disaster
The Old One
When he's not sighing at sub-standard teammates in Dota 2 and CS2, The Old One is writing about those two games (among other things). If you see his name around the site too many times for your liking, well, the guy just never stops writing. Yes, we've tried an intervention.