Play Report for "CoD:MW3" (2023), launching November 10!　Enjoy fast-paced matches, extensive gun customization, and more!

Agile and fast-paced matches unfolded!

In the beta test, we were able to play "Team Deathmatch," in which teams are divided into 6 vs. 6 and the first team to reach a certain number of kills wins; "Kill Confirmed," in which players collect tags dropped by defeated enemies; and "Domination," in which players compete to take three positions.

The overall speed at which the matches unfolded was very fast, probably due to the snappy and speedy movements of the characters under control, as well as the short amount of time required to settle a firefight. Depending on the size of the map, a team death match takes around five to six minutes, and even a domination match takes about ten minutes. Because it is quick and easy, it is great to be able to play even in a short amount of time.

Although the amount of energy is a major factor in how long a shootout lasts, I personally think that shorter shootouts are better, even if it means that beginners can take a shot at advanced players. However, compared to the previous "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II" ("MW2"), the duration of shootouts seems to be a bit longer. If it were too short, it would seem tasteless, so in this sense, the duration of shootouts this time may be well-balanced.

In addition to basic rules such as Team Deathmatch, "Cutthroat" has been added this year, in which teams of three fight in three separate matches, with the winner being the team that survives to the end or wins the overtime flag.

The key point is that if you are shooting at each other in the same sense as in Team Deathmatch, another team might interrupt you and put you in a tight spot. The game is played to see who will make the first move, which team will join the third team, or whether the third team will sit on the sidelines until the winner is decided. When time is about to run out, an overtime flag appears, and the team that gets it wins, so it is not enough to simply wait and see. I enjoyed this mode, which requires a flexible approach, with a fresh feeling.

Customize your guns as you like in Gunsmith

Another feature of this title is the implementation of "gunsmithing," which allows players to customize the guns they use. Although we were only able to use a few of the weapons in our trial, we were able to customize our guns with gunsmithing itself.

The gunsmith can customize nine types of weapons: muzzle, barrel, under-barrel, laser, sight (scope), grip, stock, magazine, and ammunition. An assault rifle that excels at medium range can be modified to look like a close-range submachine gun by eliminating the stock, or a submachine gun can be made to look like an assault rifle for medium to long range by adding a long barrel and heavy stock. You can choose a configuration that pursues only performance, or you can disregard practicality and focus on appearance. The appeal of this model is that its performance can be greatly changed depending on the customization.

There are more than 10 different types of sights (scopes) for aiming alone, so it is nice to be able to respond to the player's preferences and compatibility in detail. The performance of each part can be enhanced or reduced, and can be adjusted until you are satisfied with the results. Basically, the shorter the barrel, the lighter the weapon, but the greater the recoil when fired, while the longer the center of gravity, the smaller the recoil and the easier it is to kill enemies at a distance, but the heavier the weapon, the slower the movement. It is up to the player to decide whether to specialize in one or the other, or to strike a balance.

New customization elements include "gloves," "boots," and "gear. These items provide special abilities when equipped, such as the ability to climb up and down or switch weapons more quickly, depending on the type of equipment. It is like replacing the "perk" in the previous titles in the series, and by changing the name to one that is closer to the actual equipment, it seems as if they have pursued a greater sense of reality.

Many elements reminiscent of past titles are also included.

Although this is the third remake of the old "Modern Warfare" series, there are many elements from past titles. For example, in terms of "streaks," which are earned based on defeated enemies and acquired scores, there is the "Guardian" (introduced in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2"), which interferes with enemies in front of you when placed, and the "Juggernaut Leacon" (introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (formerly known as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2)).

Maps include Rust, which is set in an oil field facility, Highrise, a high-rise building, and Favela, a dense residential area. All are remakes from "MW2," released in 2009, and faithfully reproduce the terrain of the original. This will be a nice touch for those who played these films.

In addition to the old elements, a red dot will now appear on the mini-map when a player fires, whereas in "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" (2019) and "MW2" (2022), the red dot only appeared on the compass in the upper center of the screen when firing, allowing the player to determine the direction of the fire, but not the detailed location of the opponent. The new specifications are especially appreciated by players of the older titles, as they allow for more time to engage in firefighting and the new cutoff mode.

MW3" is based on the 2022 version of "MW2" and attempts to add and reissue various elements, such as increased shooting time, a new cut-throat mode, and the revival of old maps in the mini-map specifications. Thanks to the revival of the game with modern technology, fans will be able to reminisce about those days, and new players will be able to genuinely enjoy the game for the first time. We look forward to the full version.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

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• Title Information
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Genre: FPS
• Supported platforms: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC
• Release date: 2023/11/10
• Price: 9,800 yen (tax included)
• Ages: Z (for ages 18 and up)
• Publisher：Activision Publishing, Inc.