With a dismal Metacritic score of 53 out of 100 and a user score of 1.6, it seems the latest instalment in this long-standing franchise has failed to impress both critics and the community alike.
Even the closest contender, Call of Duty: Vanguard, managed to surpass MW3 with a score of 73 on Metacritic, leaving a substantial 20-point gap between the two titles.
What’s more alarming is that the 2023 version of MW3 trails 35 points below its 2009 predecessor and lags behind the revamped Modern Warfare titles.
One of the major criticisms revolves around MW3’s attempt to reintroduce iconic maps from previous Call of Duty versions.
While this move initially generated hype, fans now claim that these maps feel “rehashed and overused,” detracting from the overall gaming experience rather than enhancing it.
The single-player campaign also faced harsh criticism, with fans labeling its design as lazy and expressing dissatisfaction with its newest features.
The Open Combat Missions, which divert players from the linear path and resemble Warzone-like maps with objectives, were particularly unpopular.
These missions constitute almost half of the 15 campaign missions, prompting players to voice their disdain for this departure from the traditional Call of Duty experience.
The multiplayer aspect of MW3 did not escape scrutiny either.
The Armory System was promptly condemned by players for dictating a specific playstyle, leading to widespread requests for its removal.
The prevailing sentiment among players is that MW3 was rushed, and despite the developer’s claims to the contrary, reviews unmistakably reflect fans’ dissatisfaction.
Activision faces the challenge of turning the tide, and it remains to be seen if they can salvage the game’s reputation after such a rocky start.
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