Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Beta First Impressions

After spending a significant amount of time playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s multiplayer open beta on PlayStation 5, it’s safe to say that the game remains true to its roots. While I had fun with the beta, it didn’t offer anything particularly groundbreaking or innovative. Here are my initial impressions:

Visuals and Graphics

Upon booting up the game, the first thing that caught my attention was the washed-out and dull color palette. Compared to its FPS rivals, Modern Warfare 3 lacked the vibrant and visually appealing aesthetics. The soft and grey filter applied to everything in the game made it difficult to spot enemies, as they blended into the environment. This lack of contrast could pose a problem, especially with the introduction of different skins that vary in colors and designs. Players wearing default clothing might have an advantage over those using more eye-catching skins.

Gunplay and Time-to-Kill

The gunplay in Modern Warfare 3 felt satisfying and enjoyable, with a wide range of weapons to choose from. However, the time-to-kill (TTK) varied inconsistently between different guns, fluctuating from being incredibly fast to slightly longer than desired. Assault rifles, in particular, seemed to require a few more bullets to eliminate enemies compared to SMGs. This aspect heavily favored players using SMGs in the beta. It’s worth noting that the person who shoots first is generally rewarded, but there were instances where my assault rifle couldn’t outperform an enemy’s SMG, even after landing three shots before they started shooting.

Objective-Based Modes

Playing objective-based modes like Domination and Hardpoint was a highlight of the beta experience. The chaos and intensity on smaller maps added to the thrill of these modes. Grenade barrages and frantic gunfights around corners created an immersive and action-packed atmosphere. However, one mode that didn’t quite live up to expectations was Ground War. This mode, similar to Battlefield’s large-scale encounters, featured 32-player teams battling it out on expansive maps. The sheer number of players and the size of the maps made it challenging to enjoy, especially when it came to sniping. Finding enemies in such open spaces was a struggle.

Conclusion

The multiplayer beta gave a glimpse of what to expect from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. While it didn’t introduce any groundbreaking features, it still offered an enjoyable experience. The graphics and UI seemed relatively unchanged compared to the previous installment, leaving them somewhat underwhelming. The gunplay, although solid, didn’t bring anything new to the table. It will be interesting to see if the full version of the game has any surprises in store and how it performs on PC. Stay tuned for a full review closer to launch.