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Editor's picks

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  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

  Video Games (Activision Publishing)
  

  Rating (0 reviews):

  (3.3/5)

  

  People made better maps back when they still thought the world was flat

  I bought this game knowing it would be a redux of MW2, I didn't care as I enjoyed that game. COD has always been a game that I could easily pick up and play for a few hours a couple of times a week. The good news is that this game still runs smooth as butter and has the same smooth controls. The bad news is that the new maps are all garbage (well ok not all of them, but you get the point). Its a total --to borrow a phrase from Fantastic Mr. Fox-- "Clustercuss". The maps are decently sized, but they're also cramped and claustrophobic. Way too many small alleys and corridors that eliminate the ability to get a feel for where the opposition is coming from.Any indoor/enclosed area is a death trap, apparently in the world of COD there are building laws and building codes that require every wall in every structure to have at least one door and one window. Meanwhile the open areas are full of boxes, crates, burning cars, and yes even ANOTHER downed helicopter (really? we already... 2/5 Sam E. Howard "sultanofsquat" (MN) - See all my reviews, November 11, 2011

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  Lag Comp

  Activision would prefer to build games that do not require servers, since servers cost money. The alternative is to have one of the players in each game act as a server (host). In several other games the host gains an advantage because other players experience a short delay in receiving data from the host. To try and combat the host advantage, MW3 and Black Ops use lag compensation. Lag compensation attempts to put everyone on a level playing field by predicting player actions and have the host put the puzzle back together later. Unfortunately, this method has created a very frustrating environment for gamers. On your side you may take several shots when going 1-on-1 with another player, but with lag compensation you may lose without the game showing you took a single shot (I recommend you youtube 'MW3 lag compensation').Lag compensation ruined that last call of duty game (Black Ops) and it continues to do so in Modern Warefare 3. If multiplayer is the main reason you... 3/5 Matt - See all my reviews = Fun:, February 4, 2012

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  Another Rehash but worse!

  I have always loved the Call of Duty series but as of late it has been given the same treatment as the Madden series (IE they add TINY features each year and ask you to pay 60$ for a """new""" game). But this latest installment has crossed the line. Most of the fanboys constantly ask well WHY do you not like this game? (Valid question and i shall go through that in multiple points)1. The maps are the smallest in ANY Call of duty game to the point your nearly always spawning right on top of someone.2. The graphics engine is the exact same as MW2 regardless of what any fanboy tries to tell you. This may have been ok if this game was released a year after MW2 but not now.3. Already new Wall glitches in the game and similar problems MW2 was plagued with (Youtube and see it for yourself).4. P2P servers....again....in 2011? REALLY? Why on earth would you use P2P servers which are Laggy,Slow,Disconnect often,Easily hackable when most... 1/5 Derek A. Visocchi - See all my reviews, November 15, 2011

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  List Price: $59.99
  

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  Call of Duty: Black Ops

  Video Games (Activision Publishing)
  

  Rating (0 reviews):

  (3.5/5)

  

  COD Must Evolve

  Great production value does not make a great game.I'll start with the good things. COD:Black Ops graphics are on-par with any top-shelf title and it has an incredibly smooth feel. The game is reported to run at 60 frames per second and it feels very high def. The voice acting is good, and clearly the production value and marketing budgets are both very high. However, graphics, and hype do not make a good game. Gameplay and immersion do. Here's why COD:Black Ops Fails utterly.1 AI is stupid. These shortcomings remind you constantly that your playing a game, and a poorly scripted one at that.- Enemy recognition: I've seen the AI sit 2 feet away from an enemy and not shoot at them. When they finally do, they shoot it out for 10-15 seconds to score a kill on the enemy. This is ridiculous. Your allies in the field are supposed to be top-notch soldiers just like you. Why can't they do some of the heavy lifting? Why can't they do ANY lifting?- AI... 2/5 3V0LVE - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 10, 2010

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  An Unfortunate Step Back

  I had never been a fan of the franchise, preferring to do my shooting in the more Arcady Half-Life engine, Halo, Fear etc...Then I played Modern Warfare, and loved it. You felt free to act. On veteran, the game was challenging. The worlds were large, and the enemies didn't re-spawn to infinity. This allowed you to actually be creative in your strategy, instead of tunneling. You could fall back, flank, snipe, or rush. Level design facilitated all strategies and the AI responded. Some levels set up better for different strategies, but the important thing is that it felt organic. When players died, they felt they could do something different--that they had control.A majority of the positive reviews for this game focus on its numerous improvements over other Treyarch offerings, and hey are right to do so. The graphics, story, voice acting, and music are a step up (from COD:WaW), as well as the addition of some "cool moments," and extras like Zombies. However, there... 2/5 reedissleeping (Minnesota) - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 11, 2010

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  The COD gravy train of hype churns on, but I'm glad to be along for the ride

  Ah, another year, another Call of Duty game. It seems like the annual release of the next installment in the iconic first-person shooter series should be a national holiday, given how many people attend the midnight launches for the game and no doubt skipped work or school the next day (myself included). Having hit the apex of popularity with Modern Warfare 2, the big question is how Black Ops will compare. I don't live and die by COD games as some people do, but I can say that Black Ops is one of the most satisfying and intense shooters I've ever played, with the best campaign out of all the games in the series and a multiplayer aspect that I can finally enjoy.Perhaps I'm the odd one, but I mainly buy these games for the single-player campaign as I am not the best at online shooters. The campaign in Black Ops is easily the best out of the series, with more cohesive storytelling and a more satisfying conclusion than the previous entries. Set in the Cold War era (early to... 3/5 Ben Rowland (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews, November 9, 2010

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  List Price: $49.99
  

  Blending of traditional COD, and new first-person character scenarios designed to both retain the essence of the COD gaming experience

  Wide array of play modes including single player, local multiplayer versus and online co-op and multiplayer

  Diverse variety of play setting ranging from urban air and ground combat in SE Asia, to snow combat in Soviet region and jungle combat

  Seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, based on the live fire conflicts of the Cold War era

  And ensure constantly flowing and varied action

  New arsenal of weapons and vehicles tied to the Cold War era, including the SR-71 Blackbird and sited explosive-tipped crossbows

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  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

  Video Games (Activision Publishing)
  

  Rating (743 reviews):

  (3.4/5)

  

  Disappointed

  Let me just start by saying this is only a review of the online play after a few hours logged in. I will come back and update more as I log more hours online.Up front, was very disappointed in the presentation of the game. Graphics I thought came up very short. I actually think they took a step back in the before/between game presentation. Everything is very cold and nothing jumps out at you. I expected to be impressed before even getting into the game but I wasn't but then again it's not the gameplay so I can get passed that. The emblems and banners were different but looked cheesy compared to Black Ops. The maps were pretty cool but once again the graphics didn't impress. The cars looked cartoonish to me. But this may not be important to you as is it to me.What is up with the voices of the players in multiplayer? Everyone sounds very tinny and I know it's not my headset because I have not experienced this in Black Ops or Battlefield. It's almost like they... 3/5 Strkeout (NY) - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 9, 2011

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  Little redundant, but fun!

  Let's be honest, this game is very similar to MW2 and CODBO (more so MW2). However, the gameplay in both multiplayer and single player modes is smooth and exciting. Some multi-player improvements I appreciate - noobtubes have been nerfed and last stand is only a death perk. Some bads - sniping seems too easy in this game and getting into a match can take quite a while (hoping this gets patched soon). 3/5 CDS "CHawk" (Northern CA, USA) - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 16, 2011

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  Sub par

  I have owned all the call of duty titles, and I feel that this one fell way short. The single player is entertaining as usual, but the multiplayer, which is why most people get the game is a step in the wrong direction. The multiplayer maps are very unimaginative, just a bunch of buildings with little creativity compared to other COD titles. Weapons are basically the same but with more options. The gameplay is the worst yet. I have a 35MBPs connection with a 35ms ping to the closest major city yet each game I play is laggy as heck and many games I get booted due to server connectivity. You would think that they would have servers all over to accomidate all the users across the US! I still think due to poor online gameplay and lack of map creativity this is near the bottom of COD titles. 4/5 Mope - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 14, 2011

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  List Price: $59.99
  

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  Call of Duty: Black Ops

  Video Games (Activision Publishing)
  

  Rating (983 reviews):

  (3.3/5)

  

  REVIEW FOR NON-ONLINE PLAYERS

  Ok, let me begin this review by saying I love shooters and have been playing them ever since I was a kid and Wolfenstien was on PC. That evolved to Goldeneye on Nintendo 64. That all changed when Metal Gear Solid came out for PS1 and I now wanted a good story to go along with my gameplay. I have always kind of liked the COD world war series, but never got into it. When MW1 came out I was blown away, I loved the game and it had a good story to tell. My only complaint with MW2 was that the story was not only lacking, but down right stupid. I never got into multiplayer because I don't have the time to train myself to compete with a bunch of 5th graders who spend 40 hours a week playing the game.This all leads me to Black Ops, as with all 1st person shooters the campaign is short, yet good. The action is intense and the overall gaming is fun. What made the campaign even more fun was that I felt fully drawn into the game due to the compelling story. I actually wanted to check... 5/5 J. Loftus (Texas) - See all my reviews, November 24, 2010

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  The First Person Shooter Evolves...Finally ***UPDATE***

  ***UPDATE*** After having spent substantial time with Black Ops, I stand by my initial impressions. The overall balancing has proven to be exceptional as there is no single "money" class to exploit or be forced to use in tough games. The maps are fun, weapons and upgrade system a blast and all of the customization available makes the game really enjoyable.There is a big negative. As mentioned in my original review - connection is a serious issue. Lag, framerate drops, freezes...pretty much any connection problem you can think of applies. Patch 1.04 is on the way from Treyarch to address some of these issues, but connection certainly mars what is an otherwise great online experience.***END UPDATE***I'm about 42 hours into the game. I would consider myself a hardcore-console gamer (if there is such thing). I logged 25+ days on MW2 and have spent time with BFBC2, Killzone2 and pretty much every other game that involves shooting other people in the face... 4/5 Jared Burdick "JBurd" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews, November 10, 2010

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  A bit disappointed...updated 11/17/2010

  I bought this yesterday for the PS3. After playing for about three hours, I say this game is mediocre at best, for now. So far I've played the Campaign mode for about five minutes, Zombie mode for 15, and the rest has been devoted to Online Multiplayer.Let's start of with what's good (and remember, I spent most of my playing time Online Multiplayer)...Pros:-No lag. Or very little of it. I didn't notice the entire time I was playing online.-The new credit system.-Wager match.Now to the not-so-good about the game...-Graphics. What is this, a late PS2 game? It felt cartoonish. I wanted to pop in CoD: MW2 just so I could look up at the nice sky in "Derail" while looking for UAV's to shoot down.-Sound. Not realistic at all and somewhat muffled.-Maps. Most, if not all, feel so confined. Think of it as "Rust", but bigger.I'll update again as I log in more hours, but for now, a rating of 3 out of 5.Thank... 5/5 MF - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 10, 2010

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  List Price: $49.99
  

  New arsenal of weapons and vehicles tied to the Cold War era, including the SR-71 Blackbird and sited explosive-tipped crossbows

  Seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, based on the live fire conflicts of the Cold War era

  Wide array of play modes including single player, local multiplayer versus and online co-op and multiplayer

  Diverse variety of play setting ranging from urban air and ground combat in SE Asia, to snow combat in Soviet region and jungle combat

  Blending of traditional COD and new first-person character scenarios designed to both retain the essence of the COD gaming experience and ensure constantly flowing and varied action

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  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

  Video Games (Activision Inc.)
  

  Rating (813 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Comprehensive Review

  I've divided the following review into sections, based on the type of gameplay from Modern Warfare 2:Single-Player Campaign:Pros:1) Action: The single-player campaign from Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most intense, white-knuckle, action-packed campaigns of any video game I have played EVER. The story is relatively good, and, except for one or two points (mentioned in cons), flows reasonably well. The missions themselves are adventures that will blow your mind. I don't want to spoil anything for prospective players, but as seen in the multiple trailers that preceded the game itself, snowmobiles, silenced snipers, heartbeat sensors, and steering television-guided missiles are among the many amazing things that come in this package. I have played the entire campaign through twice since the game's release midnight on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - the first time on regular difficulty and a second time on veteran difficulty - and it definitely did not get old in... 5/5 D. Coffee - See all my reviews, November 13, 2009

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  This game has entertained me for literally hundreds of hours.

  I felt compelled to write a positive review for MW2 after buying black ops recently. Black ops just cannot be compared to this game, they are in two different leagues. This game is so smooth and realistic, the sound and the graphics really come together to give the player a truly immersive experience. This is an amazing game, one of my all-time favorites. 5/5 James (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 12, 2010

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  The Most AMAZING Game Ever!

  Wow. I came late to the party. I saw the mixed reviews and decided to wait. Instead, I picked up Battlefield 2: Bad Company, which early reviews were calling better than MW2. However, I came away feeling "meh" about it. Eventually, I traded it in and decided to get MW2 anyways. Even though I'm late to the game (and there's literally hundreds of other reviews for this game already), I'll at least add my 2 cents because I think this game has changed the landscape for EVER. This is literally the best game I've ever played. Ever. It's really that good. This is the game you can demo to all your friends who wonder if they should get an Xbox360.I don't play multiplayer too much, so my review is focused on the campaign. I don't understand why so many people complain about it being too short. I don't think it's too short at all. The missions and locations are the best I've ever seen. There's maps in the snow, the desert, the forest, the ocean, urban ghettos, an... 5/5 RPZag (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews = Fun:, August 15, 2010

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  List Price: $29.99
  

  Epic single-player campaign picks up immediately following the thrilling events from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

  The definitive multiplayer experience returns, with a host of new perks and enhancements

  Special Ops Mode allows two players, either alone or with a friend, to engage in unique mission play and features split-screen functionality.

  New cooperative SpecOps mode, the perfect combination of Modern Warfare's single player intensity and the addictive replayability of its multiplayer

  Contains new and updated weapons, new weapons attachments, and a variant of the multiplayer weapons customization system from COD 4

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  Call of Duty: World at War

  Video Games (Activision Inc.)
  

  Rating (356 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Good yet bad. Bad yet good. Go figure.

  Let me say, first off, that I'm rating this game based on their storyline, their zombie game, their online, and their co-op. I have no feelings about the guns, because I mean, it's WWII. I knew they were going to be nerfed and weakened down. I knew bolt actions would be boosted because so many people whined and whined on the forums about not being a "one shot sniper god"--Storyline: It's completely fine. A lot better than CoD3, because you switch back and forth so much between America and Russia against Japan and Germany. Don't get me wrong, it didn't quite hook me as deeply as CoD4, but then again, I knew basically what was gonna happen in the game- I knew we'd win the war, I knew lots of people would die, and I knew it would all be great and grand in the end with lots of celebrating. CoD4, no, you didn't know anything that was gonna happen next, that's how they hooked you. You can't complain about this storyline just because you can "foreshadow" your HISTORICAL victory... 4/5 C. Compton "Compton" (VA) - See all my reviews, November 14, 2008

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  Going Above the Call of Duty?

  Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter taking place in the WWII setting once more. I've written many long game reviews in the past few weeks, many great games are sprouting their heads. Long awaited and overall great titles have not only sprinkled the holiday season, but draped it. With power house titles left and right, one must really conserve and pick the best. So I'll keep the details simple, and hopefully you can decide by this.Fan of "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare"? If so you'll be in for a warm welcome, this game uses the same interface and multiplayer setup. Expect a pretty good frame rate, and a devastatingly hard campaign mode (for players on the 'Veteran' setting that is). In this title you'll fight as both the Americans and the Russians. Take on admirable Japanese soldiers, or destructive German Nazi troops.Campaign features two fronts, and a few interesting non-typical levels (a rail based flying level, and a tank powerhouse level)... 4/5 Corey Turner "The Musician" (Florida) - See all my reviews, November 24, 2008

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  call of duty world at war

  I got the game a couple months ago, its very fun!!!very bloody!!!!!!i wouldn't suggest children under 12-13, heres why.... for example when you have a sniper rifle and you get a headshot the guys head comes off, and their neck is all torn up & bloody( :) ), if you shoot them in the stomache, well you get the picture.Graphics are great,the guns are detailed,& also detailed bushes & trees & plants, not like call of duty 2 & 3.You play as a marine & a russian soilder. in split screen you can play as a marine soilder,japanese soilder,german soilder,russian soilder.The game also has a mode called ZOMBIES, its fun, they look chard up, they look like they have fire in their brain or what ever it is to make their eyes(they don't have eyes) glow orange/red.HOPE THIS REVIEW HELPED YOU. 5/5 Donald D. Carlson - See all my reviews = Fun:, October 8, 2010

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  List Price: $29.99
  

  Battle against fearless Japanese and German soldiers in epic infantry, vehicle, and airborne missions across Pacific and European locations

  Best-of-breed visuals, with highly-detailed character models, self-shadowing, environmental lighting and amazing special effects

  Online multiplayer action includes vehicle combat with tanks and a host of improved in-game, statistical features

  Cooperative campaign gameplay allows up to four players to meet and play online, or a two-player local split-screen co-op

  Call of Duty: World at War from Activision for the Xbox 360 redefines World War II gameplay

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  Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare

  Video Games (Activision Inc.)
  

  Rating (186 reviews):

  (4.4/5)

  

  Bait and Switch

  Be very careful. You are not getting a Variety Map Packs token with purchase of this game as previously Advertised.Activision seems to want even more money, and have now taken to bait and switch marketing tactics. Previous version of this Game of the Year Edition have been advertised as coming with a token you could use to download the Variety Map Pack. It's a gimmick used for pretty much all Game of the Edition games. It's what makes them worth the purchase over the older version of the game. Without this token, downloading the map pack is going to cost you about $10.So now without any public notice, Activision has stopped including the free tokens inside GOTY Edition games. Making this game $48.99 (if you want the new maps) instead of Amazon's current price of $38.99. Buyer beware.Buy this game used and don't let Activision rip you off as they did me.It would also be nice to see Amazon put up a notice denoting this game will no... 1/5 C. Scott (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews, June 3, 2009

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  Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Best FPS Ever!

  Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is truly amazing First Person Shooter.Pros:Modern Warfare has the most realistic graphics ever made for a game. It's very much like being inside a film. It is a visual feast. The sounds of wars are as real as if you are on the battlefield. The bad guys are smart and adjust as the situations change. The game has a great story with more than a few interesting characters. One of the most compelling aspects of the game is the accurate portrayal of the chaos of war. Confusion reigns as the enemy floods forward. What to do, where to go, when to stand and when to charge, are all choices that you make in the fluid situations of combat. The battles are long. The enemies just keep coming. Very, very cool.If you are a first timer in the wonderful world FPS's start out on the Recruit level. If you are an experienced gamer you will find the upper levels more than challenging.Multiplayer:Modern Warfare's multiplayer is... 3/5 Windward Dave (Lovely Windward Oahu) - See all my reviews = Fun:, May 28, 2008

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  May not be Worth It

  I've played COD4 for a grand total of about 16 full days (384 hours) and still appreciate it very much. Like Halo 3, this is primarily a multiplayer FPS with a sidecar campaign that is well-written, choreographed, and voice-acted. All there is to say about the game has been said, however, on the original game's forum, so let's focus on the GOTY Edition's only added feature: the Map Pack.I purchased the map pack the day it dropped and instantly had mixed feelings. Two of the maps, Creek and Killhouse, only tangentially keep with the game's fiction. Creek is vast, set in an undulating eastern European countryside. Due to the map's size, most players equip sniper rifles and just pick others off as they make their way through choke points and hence has gained a reputation as a "camper's paradise", meaning that players tend to just sit and wait, or "camp", rather than rush their opponents. Killhouse, on the other hand, is somewhat like Halo 3's Foundry map in that it is a big... 5/5 Levi P. Shand (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews, May 17, 2008

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  List Price: $29.99
  

  Cinematic quality graphics and sound

  Coordinated assault and support - Rapid deployment gives gamers an adrenaline rush as they fast-rope from tactical helicopters, ride in an armada of attack choppers, utilize jets to remove enemy strongholds, and even engage hostiles from thousands of feet above the ground inside a state of the art aerial gunship

  Authentic advanced weaponry - With more than 70 new and authentic weapons and gear, including assault rifles with laser sites, claymore mines,. 50 caliber sniper rifles, machine guns, night-vision goggles, and ghillie suits for maximum concealment, Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare has players locked and loaded to accomplish their mission.

  Game of the year - The game has secured more than 15 perfect score reviews, and more than 50 combined Editor's Choice and Game of the Year awards.

  Unparalleled depth of multiplayer - Multiplayer builds from the success of Call of Duty 2, delivering a persistent online experience for greater community interaction

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  Call of Duty: Black Ops II

  Video Games (Activision Inc.)
  List Price: $59.99
  Price: $55.99
  You Save: $4.00 (7%)

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  Call of Duty: Black Ops II

  Video Games (Activision Inc.)
  List Price: $59.99
  Price: $55.99
  You Save: $4.00 (7%)

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  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 [Download]

  Digital Video Games (Activision)
  

  Rating (228 reviews):

  (2.8/5)

  

  HUGE fan of COD...and fairly disappointed

  Before I start, please allow me to preface this review with three points:1) I love the COD franchise...and have played every title extensively. My wife will back that statement up...while she sighs and reevaluates her life choices.2) BF2/BC2/BF3 are good games...and I will not bash them. That said, BF is a different experience, with huge battlefields, many different types of vehicles, and a range of player roles. COD is a different animal...and tends to be more of a "just drop into the action" experience. Choose whatever you like. This is a review of a COD title for COD fans...not a critique of BF3.3) I play multiplayer on the PC almost exclusively, so I won't offer much in the way of comments on single player mode in this review.-So how is MW3 on the PC if you are a COD fan? Well, in my opinion, it's a step backwards for the franchise...and a relative low point for the overall series. MW3 does have its good points,... 3/5 Scuba Steve (Reston, VA, USA) - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 9, 2011

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  An embarassment even for the Call of Duty franchise.

  In order to understand how pointless the COD experience feels, it's important to note the lack of effort on the part of the sound department. Many times you will turn around and end up shooting a friendly in the back because you just can't hear what's going on. Even in the sneakiest parts you will hear nothing but a cacophany of enemy chatter and weapons sounds and those overpowered by a lumbering and anticlimactic musical score. Good luck hearing a footstep or even determining the direction of enemy fire. It's as if the mix team just mashed the sliders all the way up and let it be. The sounds that one would expect to drown out all others, such as your own weapon or a tank firing directly beside your ears, are barely perceptible in the mush of everything else.Because it's basically impossible to hear enemies, the simplest way to locate them is stand up in the open and wait until you start to get hit. Don't worry, apparently in COD world, bullets aren't lethal projectiles... 3/5 Jonathan E. Mcgarvey - See all my reviews, November 18, 2011

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  Nothing new

  They should have called it MW2.1. The campaign is basically gunning down one alley after another. The helicopter always gets blown up. The enemy troops are scripted. Multiplayer is basically the same as MW2 with some major revamps of the kill streaks, ect. Lucky for them, I liked MW2 so I like this game, but quite frankly, I am going to bed now rather than playing because it just doesn't draw me in like it MW2 used to. 1/5 CJO - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 10, 2011

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  List Price: $59.99
  Price: $46.39
  You Save: $13.60 (23%)

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