Call of Duty 3

[The Phantom Menace]

 

Call of Duty 3

 

 

General Information

 

Format

 

Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox

 

Genre

 

WWII first person shooter

 

Developer

 

Treyarch, Pi Studios

 

Publisher

 

Activision

 

Players

 

1-24

 

Release Date

 

10th November, 2006

 

ESRB Rating

 

Teen (T)

 

Learning Curve

 

15-30 minutes for novices

 

Overview

 

Call of Duty 3 is the next instalment in the highly successful Call of Duty series. Join the allied forces of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Poland as you try to liberate the Normandy region of France from the clutches of Nazi tyranny. Are you ready to do your call of duty and fight for freedom?!

 

Sound

 

This is one area where Call of Duty 3 excels. The sound in my honest opinion is 100% spot on and everything about it is spot on. As you obviously expect with war, there is a lot of noise and this game recreates the sound of a war zone perfectly. It doesn't matter where you're positioned in the battlefield you can hear the fire of machine guns, tanks and mortar fire perfectly and the sound of each of them is highly accurate. The developers have done an excellent job, as they have always done in my opinion in making every detail of this game to the highest quality.

 

The voice acting is superb and the different emotions that you hear depending on the circumstances that they're in really adds to the already realistic feel of this game. Another aspect that I love is the background music. Depending on what is happening around you the music will change to something that's fitting to that. For example, when a sergeant gets shot and dies the music changes into a slow, emotional tempo and when you're being attacked the tempo rises and the music becomes louder and more intense. Treyarch/Activision have done a stunning job on the sound and is one of the things that makes Call of Duty as successful as it is.

 

Graphics

 

One thing that I've always loved about the Call of Duty franchise is how highly detailed the graphics were. Well, I am more than pleased to say that the overall graphics in CoD 3 fails to disappoint yet again. Almost everything about this grame screams pure sex. I have actually found myself on more than one occasion to literally stop fighting for a second or two and marvel at the excellent work that the designers have put into this great game.

 

The character models are excellent and look very realistic. Before missions start, there are usually briefings going on, or where you're being transported to some place where your whole squad is gathered together. Sometimes, instead of listening to the briefing, I take time out to look at each and every individual and love the fact that almost every one of them has a different reaction so to speak.

 

Be it coughing and being sick and being scared witless etc. This in my opinion adds to the whole realism to the game and what makes it one of the best games out there in that term. Each and every weapon and vehicle is highly detailed and are very realistic. I would definitely say that almost all of the weapons have been improved graphics wise since Call of Duty 2. For example, on the M1 Garand you can now see the marking of where the gun was developed from more clearly. - In this instance, the "Springfield Armory". I don't really know how to explain it but the guns seem to be more "smoother" and more highly detailed than in the last instalment.

 

Another thing I really have to mention is the shadowing effects on this game. In one word, all I can describe it as is "excellent". So, depending on where you're positioned, a realistic shadow effect will form on the soldiers uniform and add even more to the realism of this game. Also, the creasing effect on the uniforms is superb! The game has a lot of cinematic sequences. There are a lot of scripted moments in the game in which you can just sit back and marvel at, for example soldiers carrying injured soldiers and other similar things. Indeed, the whole game is quite cinematic.

 

In terms of graphics, this game passes with flying colours. The textures are amazing, the lighting and shadowing effect is one of the best I've ever seen on a console game and even the little things such as when you aim down the sight, only your target remains in focus, the rest goes blurred. If you want a game with great graphics then THIS is without a doubt one of the best games to own.

 

Gameplay

 

Well, what can I say? The game play in CoD 3 is brilliant. There are a lot of tense moments in the game and there isn't once a dull moment in the game. First and foremost though, there have been a few additions since the last game. One of the major alterations is the fact that the Russian campaign has been taken out and has been replaced with campaigns with the Canadians and the Polish. This in my opinion makes a great change as you get to experience what other allies did in the second world war.

 

The second change is the fact that this game concentrates only on one region of the war, in this case the Normandy region of France. Before, you'd take part in different areas of Europe and in different time periods of the war. Also like before, each campaign has it's own unique storyline. Personally, I've always thought that this is a great thing because you get to see what each ally of the war did to help liberate France and how many different countries it took to defeat the Germans.

 

One of the best, and needed changes to the game is the fact that you can now throw back grenades thrown by the enemy. There were countless times in CoD 2 where I'd end up getting killed by a grenade and not have the time to move out of the way. This eliminates this (though not 100%, of course) and it's great moment for revenge when you toss an enemy grenade back and he ends up getting blown up by it. The missions in this game are varied, ranging from simple one point to the other objective all the way to rescuing hostages and defending an area. I love the variation in this game and I never once found myself getting bored by repetitiveness.

 

Another good addition to the game is the fact that you can now drive jeeps in the game. Though to be honest, there isn't really anything exciting about it to be honest. Also, instead of just pressing one button to plant a grenade you will now have to follow a combination to plant them. While this is great, it doesn't really make the gameplay any better, or worse.

 

One last thing to mention, and I wish they included this more, is the fact that you can be surprised by the enemy and you're involved in close quarters hand-to-hand combat. All you have to do is do a quick button combination followed by a hit in the face to take them out. It's okay I guess, but I didn't find much excitement out of it. Though, there was one good moment where you pull the pin out of the guards grenade which he has attached to his uniform causing him to blow up.

 

Overall Opinion

 

Overall, Call of Duty 3 is a great game. It is very intense and the visuals are absolutely gorgeous. While it does have a lot of good points, I would say it's just as good as CoD2. I know CoD3 has a lot of new additions to it, but they don't really excite me enough to warrant it better. Regardless of that though, if you like your war games and are looking for intense action then this is your game. If you didn't like the previous call of duty games then perhaps this isn't the game for you. Also, the lack of a PC title may affect sales of the game.

 

Sound: 10

Graphics: 10

Gameplay: 9

Overall Score 9.5

 

 

 

 

[*gta star*]

Looks like a nice game, "Call of Duty 2: The Big Red One", was a good game also, for the Xbox. I never knew that it was on the original Xbox, but I think I'll wait for it to come on PC, so I can test this 7600GT Graphics card of mine, should look really mint on here (my PC) compared to the Xbox.

 

Is this actually out yet, or is it late ? I've not heard much about it.

[Kippers]

Brilliant, getting it for christmas so good to see you thinking highly of it

[*gta star*]

Oh, so it is out then. My bad, I missed the 'Release Date' lol.

 

Anyone have any idea when it's coming out on PC ?

[Kippers]

As it isnt being made of infinity ward who made CoD and CoD2, the new guys have decided not to release it on PC

[*gta star*]

Wankers...

 

I don't think I'll get this game then because I'm getting two games for Christmas, which are for my PC. To be honest, I don't want to be changing from Console to PC, there is just no comparison. CoD3 being on the Xbox isn't a bad thing, it's just that I don't play my Xbox at all, but I might start playing it soon but at the moment, CoD3 doesn't really interest me, nor do Consoles to be honest.

 

PC ftw !

[Parky.]

Another top review again mate

 

 

Enjoyed this game when I played it at my mates, but I couldn't get into it that much, might have a look in at it after crimbo.

[grovestreet123]

9.5 Nice, Getting this for Christmas, 7 fu*king days to go! Get here faster!

[The Bone County Butcher]

Excellent review Phantom, im going to buy this game with the money i get from people at Christmas, so good to see its a game worthwhile getting.

[TheDude5000]

I don't think so. I'm guessing you haven't played on the harder difficulties, because when you play on Hardened and Veteran, the horrible AI is much more noticable. Enemies can shoot through solid objects, they can see you whereever you are, and more. The AI is crap. The checkpoint system was purposefully screwed up to make the game more difficult. What this actually does is frustrate the player until he wants to smash his controller to pieces. There's a lot of annoying trial-and-error gameplay that just drives you crazy. Go to any forum, ign, gamespot, official xbox forums, and you'll see what I'm talking about. The multiplayer is also largely screwed, and there still is no patch.

 

 

I'm very dissapointed in this game, and starting to regret purchasing this instead of Gears Of War.

 

 

Call Of Duty 2 was worlds better than this. The weapons were better, the missions, the multiplayer, everything.

 

 

Let's hope Infinity Ward(COD 2) develops COD 4, because this was a huge let down from Treyarch.

 

/rant

[Wayfarer]

 

Let's hope Infinity Ward(COD 2) develops COD 4, because this was a huge let down from Treyarch.

Rumors are, that CoD4 will take place in the modern times, most possibly in Iraq.

 

And about CoD3, is that true that the name of the protagonist in Polish campaign is Bohater? This is what I read on Wikipedia. If it's really true, I'll piss my pants laughing.

 

Oh, and sucks for not being developed on PC.

[Seddo]

I bought this game the day it came out and this is so fun when youve got a full server with all your mates, pure carnage and fun

[Daz]

Bah.

 

To me it looks like a downgrade from cod2 as far as gameplay goes.

 

I might get it anyway but I really dont think it will feel the same.

[Jake]

I enjoyed multiplayer on CoD2: Big Red One more than CoD3, but it's still a fun game. Gotta love layin down mines in CTF and watching f*ckers blow up when they try to take it.

[Forfit]

It's a shame that they didn't make it for PC, but i do hope that CoD4 is for PC, and i've also heard it may be modern warfare. Nice review, and even though i've never played the game i'd have to agree with TheDude about the AI because i'm assuming it's probably about the same as cod2 and i beat cod2 on veteran and i tell you that the CPU was an aimbotting wallhacking peice of sh*t, they never missed and always knew where i was, but once you learn the basics like...how to hide and lean around corners it becomes easy. I'm not sure how cod3 is with hitboxes or how the multiplayer registers bullets and stuff but i can tell you that from cod2 the hitboxes suck they are so random you can die from a headshot when a guy is aiming 25 feet away from you or you can be shooting someone in the face and the bullets pass through them untouched and hit the wall behind them or whatever, hopefully they improved that.

[*gta star*]

CoD4...

 

Any idea when this game is coming out then ?

[vint_cool]

I'm very dissapointed in this game, and starting to regret purchasing this instead of Gears Of War.

 

you deserve this

 

for choosing COD3 or for that matter any game over GoW !

 

 

[Jonny_Tightlips]

Bah.To me it looks like a downgrade from cod2 as far as gameplay goes.I might get it anyway but I really dont think it will feel the same.

Thats mah boy. I dread this game, tbh. The multiplayer aspect is the only part I somewhat like, but even that is mediocre. I disagree with your 9.5, and would have to give it a 6. Thats just my opinion.