Call of Duty 3

If you spend a lot of your time online, then it's far more than a consolation 'bonus mode' to make up for the lacklustre single player offering - it's without doubt one of the better online games that console gaming has offered us all year.

Despite a few dodgy-looking moments, however, the visual presentation is praiseworthy. The sensation of navigating expansive, violently scarred landscape remains impressive.

This serves well as a third chapter, conscripting much of what has gone before while upping the testosterone and providing some glamorous distractions to pry your attention away from how little control you actually have over events. [Christmas 2006, p.81]

Discerning gamers will find that this third excursion to the frontline is enjoyable but a little unpolished. It is, however, the best-looking 360 game to date.

Call of Duty 3’s unique ideas aren’t enough to separate it from the rest of the pack and it doesn’t maintain the incredibly high standards set at the start of the game.

After playing Call of Duty 3, I wonder if maybe it isn't time for a break from WWII first-person shooters. [Jan. 2007, p.98]

CoD3 is a game that is slightly repetitive if not lackluster in its single player - the first level is insanely awesome though.

Whereas "Call of Duty 2" did an incredible job creating the illusion of an open environment, it's just the reverse here. You feel hemmed in and herded along at every turn, and the pacing also reflects that. Unless you rush forward, progress in the game grinds to a halt -- no considered approaches or tactical positioning, just advance and keep firing.

Featuring a solid frame rate, masses of detail and some amazing character clothing, Call of Duty 3 is without a doubt a fantastic looking game (albeit unfortunately out-classed by "Gears of War" right at the last minute), the problem is, the same level of effort, style and execution simply hasn’t been put into the gameplay which, unfortunately, feels like a regression from "Call of Duty 2" and wastes a lot of time with unwanted cut-scenes that only serve to interrupt the action.

Yes, the multiplayer is fun, but playing as just Americans and just Germans grates, and the single player is far worse than it ever should have been.