Modern Warfare 3 - Buyer's Guide

As many of you know, Call of Duty:  Modern Warfare 3, probably this year's biggest launch, is being released this Tuesday (11/8/2011).  Now, I know a lot of dislike is aimed towards the Call of Duty series.  Most are saying that the series has finally reached a dead end and that there is no way that fresh ideas can come with a new release.  I can agree with part of this statement.  Sure, this Call of Duty will be very like the previous ones in the sense that it's more first-person shooting, ranking up in the same manner, and playing a single-player campaign that may come of as bland and unoriginal.  With that said, I have some information that may persuade you into seeing that it may be worth the money picking it up upon release.  Here's why MW3 may prove to be better than its predecessors:


New Modes:  A new mode that I'm looking forwards to is Kill Confirmed.  In this form of gameplay, the player will run around killing people all the same.  But instead of the experience being based off of actually only killing the enemy, now you will be forced to pick up a tag that they will drop after being killed to "confirm the kill".  If you don't do this, you won't gain experience points.  Also, if you kill a person and then somebody kills you, the kill you weren't able to confirm can be picked up by the teammate of the person you killed in which will result in not allowing you that kill.  I know this sounds confusing, but it's really understandable in video format while hard to explain in plain text.  With that said, here's a video showing how this new mode works:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=035qb_IHuZQ.

Also, there's a mode called Spec Ops.  Yes, I realize that this mode was seen in Modern Warfare 2, but now playing the missions will help you rank up.  It also comes with a survival mode, which should be pretty cool.  In this mode, a currency system will be used in which will allow you to purchase different weapons, airstrikes, armor, and more.  These are two modes that I'm definitely looking forward to.

Another thing to look forward is the new addition of Call of Duty Elite, a computer-integrated system for MW3.  This will allow you to go online and update your multilayer classes along with starting clans.  This will mean you can now set up tournaments through the web.  Also, signing up for tournaments will sometimes result in rewards (if you win them off course).  Call of Duty Elite will take the social aspect of gaming to the next level.  The down side of it:  Call of Duty Elite will cost an annual fee of $50.  The positive side of it:  If you purchase the hardened edition of the game, it will come with a one-year subscription of Elite, for $10 cheaper.  The regular game is $60 while the hardened edition is $100.  I'll let you do the math.  Also, a reason to upgrade to Elite is DLC-based.  Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games has promised to release 12 DLC packs, once every month.  This will include new multiplayer maps, spec ops maps, weapons skins, titles, etc.  How does this make Elite worth the purchase?  All the DLC packs will be free if you have an Elite subscription.  If you like extra content like I do, this will make Elite well worth the purchase.

One last thing I wanted to bring up is that an upgraded engine is being used, which will help improve the graphics of the game.  The graphics have always been top notch in Call of Duty games; now they will look even better.

So, what I'm trying to say is, pick up the game.  Call of Duty games always come with addictive multiplayer elements and compelling campaigns that will make the game well worth the price of admission.

For more information on Modern Warfare 3, visit http://www.callofduty.com/mw3