System: Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Xbox
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch

Quiet, low-key and under the radar; these are not words which describe Activision’s Call of Duty 3 in any form or fashion but they do describe the amount of excitement this game is receiving in the gaming community. This is due in large part to the release of Epic Game’s blockbuster hit Gears of War. Call of Duty 3 is however a game which delivers on all fronts and only shows weakness in that it was released the same day as Gears of War. In the end Call of Duty 3 maintains its past commitment to providing an immersive, enjoyable, intuitive, and cinematic gaming experience.

It takes only the first level for the gamer to appreciate the aptness with which Treyarch captures World War II visuals in Call of Duty 3. The first battle takes place in an old church graveyard and the amount of activity going on around you is astounding. This in fact is one of the things that the Call of Duty series has been so good at doing: immersing the player seamlessly into the story and life of the controlled character immediately. It doesn’t hurt when the player models are this detailed as well. The environments are now partially destructible and really add to the atmosphere. The initial stages of Call of Duty 3 provide a cinematic presentation so strong that it heightens the gameplay experience and improves the overall quality of the game.

The sound in Call of Duty 3 is something that never fails to impress, but also needs the help of a good surround sound system to be truly appreciated. The explosions sound real enough, the weapons have varying sounds, and the voices of characters with different nationalities have the appropriate accents. One facet of sound that truly adds to the gameplay experience that is sometimes overlooked is the orchestral score which accompanies the climactic and anti-climactic events in the game. Listening to the music can give you hints as to what’s around the corner at times and also a head’s up as to when an important battle is about to take place.

The controls in this year’s iteration are no different from previous years’. Controls are responsive and laying waste to the horde of Nazi villains only requires patience and quick-aim capabilities. New to the franchise this year is the “up-close” combat system. This is a quirky little addition and serves no real purpose aside from offering more excitement to the game. It simply requires the player to alternately tap the triggers until cued onscreen to press the appropriate button. Successfully pulling this move off is visually satisfying and also a good chance to get a close-up look at the German foes you face throughout the game. Cranking up the difficulty level is sure to keep even the veterans second guessing themselves as walking around corners and exploring new areas becomes a challenge.

Call of Duty 3 upholds the bar of excellence it established years ago with the introduction of the original Call of Duty. Call of Duty 3 is non-stop, gut-wrenching, edge-of-the-seat action from beginning to end. The visuals have seen minor improvements to remain in the upper echelon of games which demonstrate the visual capabilities of video game systems today. Also, the excellent sound and perfect musical score heighten the gameplay experience and manage to keep the gamer intrigued throughout the entire duration of the game.

Although the lights and cameras around Gears of War divert attention from Call of Duty 3, it still manages to make a name for itself and also should be on everyone’s holiday list this season. Last year’s iteration was Game of the Year, and with solid improvements all around, a Call of Duty could once again be in the talks as one of the most enjoyable games of the year.