Call of Duty 3 - impressions

Call of Duty 2 is undeniably hot right now. Months after it became the 360's top launch title, it's still the number one game on Xbox Live. Can lighting strike twice? We know 360 gamers are hoping it can. But the PlayStation 3's release is also coming up and the situation is, in many ways, similar. If you're planning to buy one of those beasts, you're no doubt already wondering - what games am I going to pick up? The undying appeal of the World War II shooter, a series you're pretty sure you can rely on, the online play you want to experience out of the box... it's a pretty simple decision to go for Call of Duty 3, right?

It's not quite as simple to make the game, however, and that's where Activision and Treyarch, the game's developer, are right now. Things are looking good, but nothing is a sure bet. That's why Activision was keen to give us a look into the game - and we have to say we're cautiously optimistic. By already being on the second next-gen iteration just a year out from the 360's launch, Activision is polishing a formula that's already proven engaging enough to make most people forget innovation.

To showcase the game, Activision threw a party in Paris, France on the eve of the 62nd anniversary of the liberation of that city from Nazi forces during World War II. Press were invited to enjoy a night of authentic '40s ambience in a former brothel frequented by German SS - complete with ladies in skimpy attire and actors dressed as soldiers putting the moves on them. Jazz was played, smoke curled toward the ceiling, and flyers declaring "Paris Libere!" were tossed out by the handful.

CATEGORIES
Latest in Call of Duty
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reportedly surpasses Red Dead Redemption 2's huge development costs, with a massive $700 million budget
Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 makes headshots deadlier while cutting back on weapon sway and recoil: "We will be keeping a close eye on sniper balance after this change"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 movement.
Black Ops 6 player spent nearly 20 hours grinding to Prestige without getting a single kill, all by spamming Spy Cams
Black Ops 6 Zombies
Call of Duty hacker says "I had my fun" after reportedly getting thousands of Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 players falsely banned
Latest in Features
Kill Team: Blood and Zeal box on a wooden surface
Kill Team: Blood and Zeal pre-orders just went live, and I wish other Warhammer games were this weird
Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
DC June 2025 solicitations: 10 must-have comics to pre-order this month
Flow
Flow won big as this year's Oscars underdog against Pixar and Netflix, and it's proof of the power of storytelling over dialogue
Yasuke riding through a village looking for Knowledge in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows' prologue is the most gripping in franchise history, but I'm fixated on the tiny details
Naoe blends in among lush trees in Assassin's Creed Shadows while observing Amagasaki Castle from a rooftop perch
After 18 years Assassin's Creed Shadows cracks the ultimate stealth loop with its deliciously dense castles
Naoe perched in front of a castle in Assassin's Creed Shadows
I've spent 20 hours in Assassin's Creed Shadows chasing drip and decor, and it's proving to be my biggest source of motivation in the RPG