Call of Greatness?

Call of Duty 3 (CoD3) is the fourth addition to a world renound series, as is ill-implied in the title. CoD1 gave a new life to WWII shooters on the PC with a range of perspectives from different nations of the allied forces. CoD Big Red One was the first console installment and brought the series amazing gameplay to last gen consoles. CoD2 saved a horrendous launch of the X-box 360 with some of the greatest First person gameplay to ever be seen, but the online was lacking. CoD3 takes CoD2 and fixes what it lacked along with "tightening the graphics." All this combines for one amazing game that everyone should at least give a rental.

Gameplay 4/5: If you have played CoD2's single player, then there isn't a whole lot new here. That being said, if it ain't broke...don't fix it. CoD3 will put you in the shoes of all different Allies nations to wage historic battles of the epic WWII. Don't expect it to blow you away, if you have already played a CoD game, but do expect to have fun.
Although the level design is pretty straightforward, the situation seems ever changing. Questions always loom in you mind as to what to do. Will you smoke it out, see the beautiful particle effect in graphics section, or will you go in guns blazing. Maybe you will take the best of both and snipe those Nazi bastards. No matter your path you will have fun guaranteed.
The guns, at a glance, seem to vary greatly with different weapons for each nation, but when it boils down to it you are getting one of a few guns: rifle, submachine gun, machine gun, heavy machine gun, sniper, shotgun, or pistol. Not every weapon of each category feels the same (like the Nazi rifle opposed to the M1 Grand), but for the most part you won't notice a major difference. Even with all of the individual guns all boiling down to the categories, seven weapons is plenty to keep you interested.
The only gripe about the control scheme is the dash button (Click Left Stick). First off, it is non existent in single player, instead bringing up your binoculars, and secondly, it is too easy to slip out of the click and make your already limited dash even shorter. This issue is not great enough to deem the whole control system a failure, in fact it is one of the simplest and best available.
CoD3 attempts to create the same feeling as popping CoD2 into your brand new X-box 360 did, but sadly it just does not accomplish it. While [extremely] fun, it just feels like a rehash of an old game, the single thing a sequel should avoid.

So the single player doesn't meet perfection, will the X-box live multiplayer? Sadly not quite, but it is one of the best out since Halo 2. The most revamped part of the game now offers classes: Riflemen, Light-Assault, Heavy Assault, Scout, Medic, Support, and Anti-armor. Each class has there own unique advantages and disadvantages, and all are needed to play competitively.
Two of these classes have major flaws tough, medic, and riflemen. The problem with medics are that they are virtually useless. Although you will gain many a individual points by raising your team mates, you team score will not rise. These makes the medics only useful in Headquarters mode (Teams fight for control of a radio position) and war mode (teams fight for flag in a consecutive order) where it is necessary to spawn up front in the middle of battle. The other modes: Battle, Team Battle, CTF, One Flag CTF, make the medics almost useless as it is just as quick to spawn and move forward.
The problem with the riflemen is entirely different. This class is the utmost advantages...that is if you are the Allies. The Axis will be stuck with a Kark (Bolt action rifle) which has a slow rate of fire and a two shot kill. The Allies will be strapped with an M1 Grand, 7 shot unfillable clip that fires extremely fast, and is also a two shot kill. In laymen's terms, the M1 Grand is broken. If you can handle being Pwned by it time and again, then you will still have fun, but if you just hate getting killed when you fire first, look elsewhere lest you punch a hole in the wall.

Even with these setbacks, the game is extremely fun to play, and although there are some issues with ranked matches at the time of this review, and others with open and moderate routers, they are being resolved. If you can suffer through the unbalanced weapons, and needless medics then the great modes and gameplay will shine through, but it is the unbalanced weapons, and needless medics, that can only warrant the gameplay a 4/5.

Sound 5/5: As with previous CoD games, the sound quality is amazing. The little things that makes sound are what really blow you away. From the subtle sound of ruble from an explosion, to the "pshhh" of a smoke grenade. The thundering sounds are also amazing, and as distinct as the smaller ones. The guns sound brilliant, especially the Support machine guns with a booming 75 rounds squeezed out of the trigger. The explosions are massive in size, and have the sound to match. Even drowned out sound (an effect of Shell shock) is amazing and really makes you feel immersed in the experience and the confusion of war.
The score is also well done and purely orchestral. The songs really lend their emotion to the situations, and can take you from the brink of death to the summit of victory. A musical score even begins as you are about to grab the last flag in a multiplayer game of war.
Whether through standard TV speakers, Dolby digital, or standard 5.1 surround sound, this game will sound amazing, and will draw you in without so much as a glance at the action on screen. All this dubs the sound a 5/5.

Graphics 5/5:The graphics in CoD3 are, to be simple put, awe inspiring. You thought CoD2 looked good with its first appearance on the next gen consoles, but this one is even prettier. Whether you on an HD tv, or a standard tv you are bound to be impressed by its great looks. Playing on both, HD looks obviously cleaner, but I was amazed at the quality through a standard TV.
Weapons are shiny and smooth, and even the ejected shell cases have an unimaginable detail. Even the grass has been revamped, and will stay trampled when you walk over it. The characters look great, but they are all seemingly clones of each other, which has sadly become a standard in the FPS world. The real kicker is the beautiful particle effect. You will be constantly surrounded by one form or another, be it from a smoke grenade, or from the debris off a frag. Fog of war is no longer a sight draw issue, it is for real. This makes grenades as important as any weapon, especially in modes where you must capture or defend an area.
There is little else to say aside from everything in this game looks great, hence the 5/5 for this section.

Replay Value 4/5: Will you come back for more? Guaranteed! The single player alone will warrant two times through and feel different if the difficulties are switched. Medium plays more of a run and gun, while veteran is only for the methodical strategizers. Throw in the online play in you will have hours upon hours of gameplay.
So why only a 4/5? The answer is simple. Online will frustrate many people. Once you get tired of repeated Pwnings from the M1 Grand, you may give up all together, therefore loosing all the replay value. Tough it out and learn to work around it and you will be golden. This game gives a solid 40 hours of fun gameplay, but it is all up to you if you are willing to stick through it after that.

Overall 4/5: This game is good...damn good. If you enjoyed the previous Call of Duties, you will enjoy this. There are a few minor issues such as class balance, problem getting online, and a rehash single player, and although they sound bad, they aren't. Class balance will only really frustrate the diehard competitive gamers. Online problems are being resolved especially for ranked games, and the router problem can be fixed by making your router open to you X-box 360 *Note* This will only work for one X-Box 360. You can only set one IP address to open, so if you have two set up you are SOL. The single player although a seeming repeat of last time around, is fun just as last time around, and still offers some "Wow!" moments. Do not pass this game's beautiful graphics, intense gameplay, high quality sound, and hours of fun up. CoD3 gets a 4/5.

Publisher: Activision
Genre: 1st Person Shooter
ESRB: Teen