E3 2011 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games demoed two levels from this coming fall’s newest entry in the ever popular Call of Duty series.

The first, “Hunter Killer”, was the very same demo given at the Microsoft press conference. In it, the player, assuming the role of a Delta Force member, assaults a Russian submarine that has been stalking the New York City harbor. Once in the submarine, the game became a rather standard corridor shooter – or at least more so than usual. The demo skipped a lot of the interstitial combat to show the level’s finale where the player sabotages the Russian’s invading navy. In a breakneck escape, the player witnesses the Russian navy being sunk and destroyed. While it may have been spectacular to witness, it was ultimately a glorified roller-coaster.

With little to no actual play space for the player to make tactical decisions, MW3′s other level, “Mind the Gap”, showed a marginal increase in encounter complexity. Assuming control of a SAS soldier, the level showcases the studios’ interpretation of stealth. After taking out a few unlucky patrols with silent small arms fire, the team’s cover is blown. A construction site, with serendipitously placed explosive barrels, erupted in explosions and automatic fire. Once finding the target, they flee on a train in the London subway system. Giving chase in a pickup truck, the game reverts back onto rails as the player systematically picks off goons off with a MP5 and a UMP submachine gun. I chuckled a bit as the train roared by waiting and terrified commuters. After positioning itself in front of the train, a truck driven by other SAS soldiers collides into the train, forcing the train to derail in spectacular fashion – ending the demonstration.

Narratively, it seems as if the level is rather early in MW3′s campaign. MW3 looks to continue what Call of Duty does so well: weapon feedback. My issue with the feedback, however, is that I felt I have seen and heard all of already. I trust that Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games will make a high quality that has amazing set pieces, but as it is, their E3 demo didn’t show how it differentiates itself from other games in the franchise design-wise.