Well, quite obviously getting your hands on a copy of MW3 is pretty tough right now, to put it mildly, but I managed to grab a copy from a friend of mine. And man, I'm having the time of my life in the SP campaign (didn't try out MP yet, but I'm guessing there's no server up now).
Activision certainly set a high bar with MW2, but I feel MW3 lives up to its predecessor. I'm wondering why there aren't more games like this - it certainly is one of the best in its genre.
Of course, the game isn't realistic despite its sim-like feel. If it was, war would've been fought with drones and I wouldn't get a chance to fight it out on the ground. But with suspension of disbelief comes a feeling of authenticity in this game - the way you sway in the fast person view as you move, the recoil force of your weapons, the way you leave tracks and kick up dust clouds, or how your enemies topple over slowly and painfully if they lose balance from a powerful attack, and struggle back to a standing position. The engine is obviously dated by now, but the effects and animations still feels great.
And on gameplay - as usual you compensate your sluggishness with precision. I especially like the fact that you can engage in greater distances than you could in MW2. Enemies maneuver effectively, changing directions often and dodging and weaving to avoid your attacks, and their aim is good but not so perfect that you can't get away from their guns with some fancy footwork of your own. But being quick on your feet won't keep you alive for long, especially if you're up against several enemies at once, as they'll try to take advantage of their superior numbers by flanking and surrounding you. Which is where your team comes in, who can cover you easily and effectively.
Did I mention I love the HUD/console?
Finally, the only complaint I have is that the SP was too short. Just around 20 missions, though they were linked seamlessly. Despite that, I would say this is a great purchase.
http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1166663852-00.jpg
<color=white>MW4, on the other hand, does not exist.
Activision certainly set a high bar with MW2, but I feel MW3 lives up to its predecessor. I'm wondering why there aren't more games like this - it certainly is one of the best in its genre.
Of course, the game isn't realistic despite its sim-like feel. If it was, war would've been fought with drones and I wouldn't get a chance to fight it out on the ground. But with suspension of disbelief comes a feeling of authenticity in this game - the way you sway in the fast person view as you move, the recoil force of your weapons, the way you leave tracks and kick up dust clouds, or how your enemies topple over slowly and painfully if they lose balance from a powerful attack, and struggle back to a standing position. The engine is obviously dated by now, but the effects and animations still feels great.
And on gameplay - as usual you compensate your sluggishness with precision. I especially like the fact that you can engage in greater distances than you could in MW2. Enemies maneuver effectively, changing directions often and dodging and weaving to avoid your attacks, and their aim is good but not so perfect that you can't get away from their guns with some fancy footwork of your own. But being quick on your feet won't keep you alive for long, especially if you're up against several enemies at once, as they'll try to take advantage of their superior numbers by flanking and surrounding you. Which is where your team comes in, who can cover you easily and effectively.
Did I mention I love the HUD/console?
Finally, the only complaint I have is that the SP was too short. Just around 20 missions, though they were linked seamlessly. Despite that, I would say this is a great purchase.
http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1166663852-00.jpg
<color=white>MW4, on the other hand, does not exist.
