Call of Duty 3

What’s the Story?

In CALL OF DUTY 3, players control an infantryman marching through France after the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Working with Allied forces (players buddy up with the French Resistance, Polish troops, Scottish soldiers, and others), players participate in some of the fiercest fighting of the European ground war. In rural towns like Saint Lo, Mortain, and Chambois, players storm German positions on strategic hills, go house-to-house to clear enemies from French villages, and secure critical infrastructure (such as bridges and ports). Cut scenes elaborate on the war strategy -- giving some much-needed context -- but the game forgoes traditional narrative; instead it uses occasional bits of gallows humor or an intra-squad flare-up to set the scene.

Is It Any Good?

Whether fighting face-to-face in the trenches, commandeering a jeep, or serving as a sniper spotter on the back of a tank, Call of Duty 3 keeps the action engaging. Battles are challenging, but can always be accomplished with a little ingenuity and nerve. The only failing here is the unrealistic torrent of enemies that appear at certain points of the game, undermining best-laid plans with a lame advantage for the computer.

All is forgiven with graphics and detail that define next-generation gaming. Looking through a rifle sight, players' first-person perspective takes a moment to adjust focus from a nearby object to an object in the distance. Environments are genuinely disorienting, giving players a number of options to approach enemy positions -- some more vulnerable than others. The mixture of intensity and detail makes Call of Duty 3 a sometimes-harrowing game experience. While not as violent as some other shooters, Call of Duty 3 gets the blood pumping like few games can.