Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Strategy Guide Strategy Guides and Books

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• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 - Review

  World War 3

  Call of Duty has proven itself to be the most popular gaming franchise in the world over the last few years and Modern Warfare 3 sets out to retain that title by delivering a globe-trotting war of epic proportions. Set immediately after the events of its predecessor, the game presents a fiction in which the Russian Federation is in the middle of an invasion of the United States and has expanded its offensive to Europe, including England, France and Germany.

  While trying to stay alive through a breathless but relatively brief single player campaign, a primary goal will be to hunt down Russian Ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov, the series' primary antagonist and engineer of this global conflict. Your journey will switch between different perspectives of the war, as you step into Delta Squad's boots in an attempt to drive the Russians out of New York, take the rocket controls of an AC-130 gunship above Paris and don the night vision goggles of SAS troops storming the London Underground, to name just a few scenarios.

  Physical Impact

  Modern Warfare 3 is constantly mixing things up, whether it's your location or your character and role in proceedings. There's a brilliant Parisian car chase, a tense infiltration mission in lightning-lit Prague, a gunfight inside a crashing airliner, a submarine shootout and a chopper battle around New York skyscrapers. You'll often be thrown to and fro between traditional on foot combat sections and out of body experiences which see you commanding remote turrets, predator drones or RPG-firing unmanned ground vehicles.

  The gunplay is familiar and solid feeling, the audio has been improved since last year, and the heart-pounding action is delivered in a silky-smooth 60 frames per second, making for seamless transitions between regular 'wow ' moments. Some of the environments feature a few blurry textures and jagged edges that betray the game engine's age, particularly when compared side by side with recently released Call of Duty competitor Battlefield 3, but it still offers a fairly stunning spectacle throughout.

  Online Battlefields

  While its single player campaign isn't the longest at about eight hours in length, Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer modes will provide year-round entertainment. Multiple game types, from series regulars like Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Domination to new modes such as Kill Confirmed and Team Defender, are playable on 16 maps set across locations inspired by the campaign, from the café-laden streets of Paris to African shanty towns.

  Kill Confirmed sees you earn points by grabbing dog tags left on the ground by downed enemies, or denying the opposition points by rescuing tags from your fallen allies before they're captured, while Team Defender challenges teams to capture and hold a mobile flag, with the group in possession of it awarded double points for enemy kills. Players can even create their own game types by modifying just about every aspect of the existing templates.

  At the heart of the experience is an accessible progression system which grants players access to increasingly devastating abilities and equipment for completing objectives. These include earning consecutive kills, or more team-focused actions like bomb disposal and objective capture. Few games can match the sense of development and reward Call of Duty dishes out on a regular basis.

  Special Ops

  Elsewhere, the game's Special Ops mode is split into two parts, Survival and Challenge. Modern Warfare 3's answer to Gears of War's Horde mode or Call of Duty: Black Ops' Zombies one, Survival tasks you and a friend with defending the map against increasingly tough waves of enemies. Kills are your currency, earning you access to increasingly powerful weaponry and defensive equipment.

  Meanwhile, the best of the 16 Challenge missions demand co-op play. Often designed to fill in gaps from the story and played from the perspective of the campaign's bad guys, they challenge players to complete timed objectives, from hijacking a presidential plane to protecting a helpless bomb-defusing colleague from a vantage point using a sniper rifle.

  Blockbuster gaming

  Accessible, highly polished and perhaps best described as the gaming equivalent of a Michael Bay Hollywood blockbuster, Modern Warfare 3 has 'massive hit' written all of over it. Like its two Call of Duty predecessors, it's set to be the biggest game of the year in terms of sales, player numbers and probably a whole host of other metrics - and not without good reason.

  While it has some cool new features, it does a great job of seamlessly integrating them so as not to upset a winning formula. Modern Warfare 3 doesn't represent a revolution in the first person shooter genre, but it's a great evolution of a tried and tested recipe that tens of millions of gamers know, love, buy and sink endless hours into each year.

  GAME's verdict

  Good:
  + Solid campaign and brilliant multiplayer modes.
  + Few games pull off blockbuster set pieces so well.
  + Enough content to last until next year's Call of Duty.

  Bad:
  - Evolution rather than a revolution.
  - The campaign is relatively short.
  - Four player Spec Ops modes would be welcome.

   

  Review by: Tom 'Super Soldier' Ivan
  Version Tested: X360
  Review Published: 08.11.11

  Published: 08/11/2011

• Battlefield 3 holds steady atop UK charts

  Smash-hit shooter Battlefield 3 has retained its position atop the UK all-formats chart, despite a strong challenge from Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

  EA and DICE's acclaimed action game managed to continue its blockbusting pace to see off Naughty Dog's latest PlayStation 3 adventure, topping the official GfK-ChartTrack rankings for a second week.

  However, second-placed Uncharted 3 was still able to generate massive numbers of its own, recording the 11th best PlayStation 3 launch ever, while far exceeding the debut of 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

  Third place went to FIFA 12, while the ever-popular Batman: Arkham City and Just Dance 3 rounded out the top five.

  Sega's latest Sonic the Hedgehog adventure, Sonic Generations, also cracked the top ten, slotting in at tenth place.

  Next week's chart will be rocked by the imminent launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which is likely to break more than a few sales records when it debuts on Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3.

  Published: 08/11/2011

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 smashes sales records

  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 smashes sales records

  It's been on sale for less than a day, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is already well on its way to smashing the record set by last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops, which shifted five million copies in its first day on sale.

  Business analysts are convinced that the latest game will see an increase of around 10% over Black Ops, resulting in day one sales of up to six millions copies, and up to 18m copies by the end of the year. Of course, that doesn't come as much of a surprise round these parts: Modern Warfare 3 is by far the most pre-ordered game in Gamestation's history.

  The game is selling so fast that bookmaker Paddy Power has already started paying out on bets that pegged Activision's shooter as the Christmas chart topper. They're now taking bets on what will be the best-selling Christmas game that isn't Modern Warfare 3.

  Developer Infinity Ward has been magnanimous in victory, telling Eurogamer at last night's midnight launch that they hope rival game Battlefield 3 also continues to sell well. hen both games succeed it's better for the industry as a whole. It's not just us - we want the gaming industry to succeed because the better the gaming industry does the better we all do. We root for everybody,executive producer Mark Rubin said. uch respect for everyone involved on the DICE side and I think they feel the same way with us. We're friends with them./p>

  The hugely successful shooter brings the Modern Warfare 3 storyline to a close, and boasts numerous updates and improvements to the evergreen multiplayer game with new modes and the free Call of Duty Elite service.
  

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 storms into stores

  Gamers across the world have finally been given a chance to get stuck into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 after the much-hyped blockbuster launched in stores today (November 8th 2011).

  Activision's latest action epic has finally arrived on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii and Nintendo DS, with midnight launch parties having taken place at 13,000 locations across the world last night.

  Developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, Modern Warfare 3 is a cutting-edge shooter that catapults players into the middle of a third world war, with a dramatic campaign mode complemented by an improved version of gaming's most popular multiplayer experience.

  The launch is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year, with global pre-orders shattering records left, right and centre.

  Modern Warfare 3 stands a good chance of matching or exceeding the success of last year's award-winning Call of Duty: Black Ops, the top-selling game in UK history.

  Activision Publishing boss Eric Hirshberg said: "This watershed launch extends the legacy of the franchise like no other previous release."
  

  Published: 08/11/2011

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Review

  Stronger, faster, better

  Where can the biggest game series in history go when it's already at the top? The answer, in true Call of Duty style, is to blow the roof off and keep going up. Yes, Modern Warfare 3 somehow manages to be bigger, bolder and ballsier than all previous outings for the famously over the top franchise. If you've been following the series all along, prepare to experience it at its bloody, brutal best. If you're new to Call of Duty, well, buckle up and hold on tight!

  Campaigning for change

  Nowhere is MW3 more bombastic than in its single player campaign, which brings the Modern Warfare storyline to a decisive - and explosive - end. As is traditional for the series, you hop from continent to continent, character to character, picking apart the threads leading to World War 3.

  This means that one moment you can be part of a Delta Force squad crippling a Russian nuclear submarine off the coast of New York, the next you can be behind enemy lines as rogue elements Soap and Price. You'll join the SAS chasing terrorists across London, defend Paris from invasion and even experience a fraught aerial hostage situation as a Russian secret service agent. At every turn, the game flicks between full-throated shoot outs as you press ever onwards against overwhelming odds, and one-off setpiece stunts that use the first-person perspective to its fullest, putting you right in the thick of the action for some truly jaw-dropping moments.

  For all its blockbuster muscle, the solo mode does feel a little familiar. Veterans of previous CoD campaigns will find little surprising in the construction of the ride, and it still suffers from a few too many frustrating bottlenecks where you're battered from all sides, dying repeatedly until somehow scraping throught to a checkpoint. For all its minor annoyances, it's a ride well worth taking, if only for the sheer 'wow' factor.

  Brothers in arms

  Call of Duty has always been strongest when played with others, and that's definitely the case with Modern Warfare 3. Before you even get to the meaty multiplayer, there's a fantastic array of co-operative games to try.

  Designed for just two players, co-op is split into two distinct halves. On one hand you have the Special Ops missions, small bite-sized narrative diversions from the main plot and new takes on old levels that really put your teamwork to the test. Watching each other's back isn't just advised, it's essential. On the other hand, co-op also offers ranked tiers of Survival missions, pitting the two of you against waves of tougher and tougher enemies, with only a brief downtime in between to fortify your defences and stock up on weapons.

  Both Special Ops and Survival have their own progression trees, plus a variety of guns and tools to unlock. In fact, with over thirty missions between them, co-op has never been more important in a Call of Duty release. You could play for months without ever touching the traditional multiplayer.

  Thrill of the hunt

  Multiplayer is where it's at, though. Call of Duty has built its vast fanbase and passionate community through years of refined competitive play, and the team has pulled out all the stops to ensure that Modern Warfare goes out on a high.

  You'll know the basics, of course. There are a generous sixteen maps (though there's not a vast amount of difference between most of them) and they're all designed for fast, ruthless, close quarters combat. Whether you're playing Team Deathmatch or grabbing and defending command points, there's nothing else that delivers the sheer adrenalin rush of a good COD match. Things feel much more fair now, thanks to redesigned killstreak rewards. You can now edit your own unlock tree, and select the Support class so streaks don't reset after death, ensuring that no two players will get the same perks and bonuses.

  That doesn't mean the game is complacent. There are new game modes to enjoy, such as Team Defender and Kill Confirmed. The latter is particularly enjoyable, forcing you to collect the dog tags from a defeated enemy in order to claim the points. Eliminating those annoying long distance campers at a stroke, it forces players to keep moving, to be more aware of their surroundings and to think beyond the next headshot.

  There are improvements for Private matches as well, as those choosing to play only with friends get an exclusive range of quirky game modes to play with. These modes are all fully customisable, and you can share any fun rulesets with your friends, who can then share them with the community. Expect to see some ingenious new game types spreading virally.

  And that's without mentioning Call of Duty: Elite, the new social feature that allows you to track your stats, improve your game and take part in regular tournaments and competitions. There are additional treats for those who pay upfront for all the upcoming map packs, but the free version is essential in its own right.

  Sign up, soldier

  If you love shooters then you need to play Modern Warfare 3. It really is that simple. There are other approaches to the FPS genre, of course, but as far as modern military games go this is the standard bearer, the pinnacle, the benchmark. The solo mode offers some of the most jaw-dropping moments ever seen in a game. The co-op mode is ridiculously addictive, and as compelling as multiplayer in its own way. And the multiplayer has never been so refined and balanced, providing the best way to play soldiers online, bar none. Biggest game ever? No doubt, and it's well deserved.

   

  

  Mission accomplished:
  + Amazing blockbuster.
  + Fantastic co-op modes.
  + Superbly balanced multiplayer.

  Offside:
  - Frustrating single player checkpoints.
  - Very linear story mode.
  - Not much variety in multiplayer maps.
  

• Modern Warfare 3 and Skyrim lead blockbuster week in UK charts

  Modern Warfare 3 and Skyrim lead blockbuster week in UK charts

  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have led the UK all-formats chart in a blockbuster week for gaming.

  Topping the rankings was Modern Warfare 3, which achieved the highest-grossing videogame launch in UK history, beating the record set last year by its predecessor Call of Duty: Black Ops.

  More impressively still, it was the biggest launch of any entertainment title ever, outselling the opening weekends of the four most recent Harry Potter movies combined.

  In second place, Skyrim was no slouch either, notching up the fifth best launch numbers of the year and becoming Bethesda Softworks' biggest ever release in the process.

  Rounding out a blockbuster top five this week were Battlefield 3, FIFA 12 and Just Dance 3.

  Next week will see another avalanche of triple-A titles hitting stores, including The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Need for Speed: The Run, Saints Row: The Third and Super Mario 3D Land.
  

  Published: 14/11/2011

• GAME : Essential Xbox 360 games from 2011

  2011 was full of big releases for Xbox 360, including sequels to some of this generation's best franchises, high definition remakes of classic games and innovative motion control offerings. Here, GAME rounds up five of the must-own 360 titles that no Xbox 360 owner should be without.

  Brothers 'til the end

  Sci-fi third person shooter Gears of War 3 is the explosive finale to the current story arc of one of the biggest and best series in Xbox history. With mankind on the verge of annihilation at the hands of nightmarish monsters, players step into the boots of a military force battling to preserve humanity in the face of overwhelming odds. A tale of brotherhood, harsh realities, sacrifice and redemption, it features an engaging story, breathtaking visuals, meaty gunplay and tactical, cover-based action. The epic story campaign supports four-player cooperative play, and is complemented by a host of cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes for veteran players and rookies alike.

  Get in the race

  Offering traditional controller-based racing as well as the freedom and accessibility of Kinect motion controls, Forza Motorsport 4 is one of the most ambitious takes on the genre to date. With top supercars from over 80 manufacturers and a selection of the world's finest real and fictional tracks, the game features silky smooth racing, realistic physics and effects, gorgeous graphics and stereoscopic 3D support. Community features allow players to create auto clubs with like-minded car nuts, customise and trade rides with fellow collectors, and head out on to the track for adrenaline-soaked showdowns against up to 15 other online racers.

  Global warfare

  Accessible, highly polished and perhaps best described as the gaming equivalent of a Michael Bay Hollywood blockbuster, Modern Warfare 3 is the latest entry in the world's biggest first person shooter franchise. Featuring a globe-trotting campaign that sees players attempting to avert World War 3, it offers access to a range of high tech weaponry and military hardware including remote turrets, predator drones and gunships. The same tools of destruction also feature in the series' deepest yet most accessible multiplayer offering yet, which features competitive online battles across a range of fan favourite and innovative new game modes, plus co-operative challenge and survival missions for two players.

  A classic reborn

  Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a spectacularly remastered version of the game that launched the Xbox brand ten years ago. Offering a diversity of action, a freedom of movement and enemy artificial intelligence that rivals its modern day competitors, the title's stellar gameplay remains unchanged from the original, but the alien blasting action is supercharged with a lovely high definition makeover, stereoscopic 3D support, Kinect voice control and new multiplayer maps and features. Widely regarded as one of the first great first person shooters on consoles, Combat Evolved lives up to its subtitle even a decade after its initial release.

  Choose your own destiny

  Action RPG Fable III puts the fate of fictional world Albion in your hands as you rally the oppressed, start a revolution and eventually take the throne. The choices and sacrifices you make on the path to greatness create an ever-evolving world of consequences that will be felt across the entire land. Will you play as a hero, villain or someone between, and once you assume power, will you rule with kindness or an iron fist? Playable co-operatively with a friend, the game is brought to life by an all star cast featuring the voice talent of John Cleese, Stephen Fry, Simon Pegg, Ben Kingsley and Zoe Wanamaker.

  Published: 14/12/2011

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