Besides story weaving tactics, the developers have also seen fit to immerse you more by mixing up the level structure. At different intervals during some levels you’ll be asked, out of nowhere, to complete a task. This could be planting explosive charges or throwing down cover fire, but whatever it is, you’re asked by the game to complete it without warning. This gives you that great feeling of anticipation that linear shooters so often lack. Put these so called “Battle Actions” together with an expertly crafted branching mission structure and you’ve got some clever gameplay improvements that didn’t need any special processor to accomplish.

Steady... Steady...

After you’re done helping out the Frenchies in the single player campaign you’ll likely want to head online and you might just be in for a pleasant surprise. CoD 3 not only improves on the previous game’s multiplayer but it has pretty much been gutted and completely revamped it making it much like the old favorite Return To Castle Wolfenstein, at least in structure. That’s right CoD 3 multiplayer is now class based and actually features vehicles. You can choose to be a medic, a light infantry, a heavy infantry, a sniper, and an antitank. Sound much like Battlefield to anyone? Snipers can of course call in air strikes, tanks can flatten infantry, and up to 24 players can now join in on the fight. All this and no lag to be seen, which hopefully carries into the retail arena, makes the CoD 3 multiplayer worth a purchase on its own.


GO GO GO!
Take one part classic Call of Duty scripted FPS action, add in two parts improved level design, another one part updated graphics, and just about four parts upgraded multiplayer and you’ve got the ultimate Call of Duty stew. It’s cooked, ready to serve, and should definitely be on your shopping list. Oh yeah and don’t forget that it’s region free and the Asian version can be had for the low low price of $39.99 from Play-Asia.

• Greatly improved multiplayer
  
• Updated graphics
  
• Brand new story and levels
  
• Yet another unique look at WWII
  
• $39.99 sealed if you’re tricky

• More of the same may turn some off