Game Review

by Will Pipes

Staff Reporter

 Just like many teenagers, I couldn’t wait to play Modern Warfare 3. When        I finally got my copy and finished the story, however, I couldn’t shake the feeling that some thing was missing. I didn’t know why; I got what I’d expected. And that was the problem. The game met every one of my standards, but didn’t exceed them. MW3 stays on the exact same scale as MW2, and the game lacks identity because of that. The story of the game is fast paced when it needs to be, manages to draw out and build up at the right moments, and ultimately leaves the player mentally satisfied but has a habit of reusing popular moments from the previous games. Having a  helicopter crash inches from your face is only heart-stopping so many times, after all. Visually, the game hasn’t lost any of the trademark breathtaking quality. Every local, from war-torn Wall Street to the jungles of Africa, comes to life in a way that can only be associated with Call of Duty games. But while the game hasn’t lost any quality, it hasn’t really gained any either. The controls are still just as polished as well. The characters move smoothly and can swap weapons and melee with ease. One improvement this time around is the vehicle sequences, which seem like less of an afterthought and more like they belong to the story. The multiplayer mode is the most remarkable improvement to the game. The new weapon leveling system makes players get out of their comfort zones and try different weapon combinations. The new killstreak packages (in- game bonuses earned in multiplayer for getting a certain number of kills in a row without dying) offer more customization for strategists to exploit. However, these are the only big changes; the rest of the multiplayer mode is dotted with little things like a new game mode or new maps. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the game. It’s fun, has a brilliantly written script and story, and is an all-around great game. It’s just expected.