It’s actually a nice idea.

But it’s also an idea that feels destined to fail.

Confusingly, even Modern Warfare 3’s more linear missions carry this halfhearted sneak-and-scavenge philosophy across.

Captain Price in 2023’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

I still don’t know the answer to either.

without the sense of bombast or surprise.

Where I respawn with rewards kept from beyond the grave?

Cover image for YouTube video

Again, this is Call of Duty of course.

Modern Warfare 3 can also be very fun, at times.

The problem is those films aren’t aboutwars.

modern warfare 3 screenshot of the player holding a sniper rifle, in a grassy field overlooking an outpost with vast mountains in the background

And they’re particularly not aboutmodern wars.

Untethered from any kind of wider meaning, at its worst feels very, very close to propaganda.

A copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was provided for review by Activision.

modern warfare 3 screenshot of Price and Farah talking in a forest

modern warfare 3 screenshot of several Alpha Team members looking serious holding guns

modern warfare 3 screenshot of dozens of god rays shining through a snowy pine tree forest

modern warfare 3 screenshot of an underwater mission intro where you hold a C4 remote in front of a rich turqoise underwater view

modern warfare 3 screenshot of a stealth bomber mission in black and white

modern warfare 3 screenshot of a mission during a terror attack from Makarov on a sports stadium

modern warfare 3 screenshot of aiming down sights on a rooftop

modern warfare 3 screenshot of an orange Warzone-style supply crate with a pimped out weapon in it