The Call of Duty fanbase can sometimes be as volatile as the in-game battlefields. A shining example was the launch of Modern Warfare 3 (MW3), which experienced virulent backlash upon release only to evolve into getting fond nods in hindsight. So what happened?
Summary
- Public sentiment was initially negative towards MW3, but this opinion has improved over time
- Although many players expressed frustration with MW3 at launch, most now recognize its value
- Despite being criticized as a ‘copy and paste’ job, MW3 has secured its place as a favorite among the CoD community
A Rocky Start
When MW3 first dropped, the game was, to put it mildly, ‘not received well’. As FalcoHatNieGeballert recalls, the community was up in arms over perceived issues. Despite gamer outrage, this could have been a knee jerk reaction to the game’s launch.
Aged like Fine Wine
As time passed, the flames of initial discontent significantly diminished and some players began to reevaluate their stance. A comment from Kinq_Konq hilariously underscores this perception shift and points to an interesting phenomenon in games criticism. Sometimes, it takes a more recent game with clear deficiencies to shed light on the merits of its predecessors.
The Controversial Details
The most passionately debated topic around MW3 was its perceived closeness to its predecessor, MW2. Krishutchison touches on a common theme saying many felt MW3 was essentially a minor upgrade on MW2, albeit at a full game price. It’s interesting to see this sentiment, dubbed ‘MW2.5 syndrome’, cause such division among gamers – with some despising the lack of drastic changes, while others defended MW3’s overall quality.
Fond Remembrance
As Competitive-Deer-596 succinctly states, “MW3 is a Top 5 COD”. So, despite all the criticisms, MW3 has managed to carve out a place in the hearts of many players. With the dual lens of time and comparison, fans have evidently come to appreciate MW3 for what it is.
Looking back, MW3’s tale is a testament to the changing notions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in videogame culture. It sheds light on how initial reactions may not always be the final word on a game’s quality. But instead, let’s remember it as ‘the game that had everyone in a rage, then gave them a reason to engage!’.
