A Critical Look at the Storytelling in Modern Warfare 3

Article Key Points

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's campaign is being criticized for covering familiar ground and lacking a strong story, which may disappoint fans.

The game assumes that players already know about Call of Duty: Warzone and the Raids in Modern Warfare 2, which can be confusing and alienating for new players. It is important to have a seamless connection between Call of Duty projects, but it should never cause confusion, and the practice of expecting external knowledge should be discontinued.

Call of Duty campaigns have always been short yet enjoyable experiences. Even in its worst form, a Call of Duty single-player campaign always includes a few outstanding missions that make it worth the purchase, offering thrilling and explosive moments that only Call of Duty can deliver. However, it must be acknowledged that the story has never been the series' strong point, and this holds especially true for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Despite fans eagerly awaiting Makarov's return for years, even his reappearance cannot salvage the poorly executed campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Currently, there is an ongoing debate surrounding the game, with both critics and fans expressing disappointment, particularly due to the repetitive nature of the content. While the campaign of Modern Warfare 3 is undeniably basic, those who have not closely followed all the Call of Duty content released in recent years may find themselves unnecessarily puzzled.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Campaign Is Far From Standalone

The essence of Call of Duty lies in its appeal to a wide, casual audience. Although there exist ardent fans who devour every CoD content available, the majority of fans simply acquire the annual release, play for a limited period, and then move on. Recognizing this trend, the developers of Call of Duty have ensured that their campaigns are mostly self-contained narratives. This approach allows even the most casual players to enjoy the game, irrespective of whether they have played the previous installments.

Modern Warfare 3's Campaign Requires Knowledge of Warzone to Understand

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, however, deviates from this norm in several ways. Being the third installment in the revamped Modern Warfare series, the game assumes that fans have already completed the campaigns of its two predecessors before embarking on this latest one. However, this is not the only expectation that Modern Warfare 3 has of its player-base. In addition, players are also required to stay updated with both Warzone and MW2's Raids.

Modern Warfare 3's Campaign Requires Knowledge of Warzone to Understand

Similar to other battle royale games, Call of Duty: Warzone has had significant story developments in recent years. However, the game does not prioritize the story aspect. Instead, the narrative unfolds through brief in-game cutscenes and dialogue that are only available during specific timed events. If players miss these events, they miss out on the story. On the other hand, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 assumes that all players have kept up with these bits of lore.

During the campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, players will encounter Alex Keller, a character who first appeared in the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot. For players who have only experienced the mainline campaigns, it should be noted that Alex was believed to be dead by the end of that game, sacrificing himself for the greater good. This can be confusing if players have not played Call of Duty: Warzone, where it was revealed in 2020 that Alex actually survived the explosion.

To compound the issue, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's campaign assumes that players have already played through all of Modern Warfare 2's Raids. These Raids reintroduce Alex and reveal that Graves, who was believed to have died in Modern Warfare 2, is actually alive and no longer hostile towards Task Force 141. For those who haven't experienced these additional Call of Duty missions, this can be quite perplexing, particularly since MW3 doesn't provide clear explanations for these character appearances to new players. While it's understandable to create connections between Call of Duty projects, it shouldn't result in confusion for players, and this recurring trend needs to come to an end.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

Franchise: Call of Duty

Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS4, Xbox One

Release Date: November 10, 2023

Developed by: Sledgehammer Games

Published by: Activision

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Editor's P/S

1. **Lack of Standalone Narrative:** The article highlights a significant drawback in the storytelling of Modern Warfare 3 - its reliance on external knowledge from Warzone and Modern Warfare 2's Raids. This approach alienates new players and creates confusion, contradicting the series' tradition of offering self-contained narratives. While it is important to establish connections between Call of Duty projects, it should be done in a way that doesn't compromise the accessibility and enjoyment of the standalone campaign.

2. **Repetitive Content and Unresolved Plotlines:** The article criticizes the repetitive nature of Modern Warfare 3's campaign, which fails to deliver the thrilling and explosive moments that Call of Duty is known for. Additionally, the reappearance of Makarov, a character eagerly anticipated by fans, does not save the poorly executed campaign. The article also points out unresolved plotlines and confusing character appearances, which further contribute to the disappointment of critics and fans.