Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is, depending on how you're counting, either the eighth game in the Call of Duty series or the third game in the Modern Warfare subseries. It's the standard modern military game, with realistic weapons, relatively frail (i.e.

The same great action of the previous games.

Not much changed since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2; Single-player campaign is confusing for people who haven't played the other Modern Warfare games

When it comes to military shooters Call of Duty seems to be the first game franchise that comes to mind these days. Technically, Call of Duty didn't invent the military shooter, but it did a lot to keep the genre on the map for nearly a decade now.

It continues on right where MW2 left off; Great solo campaign action; Solid and addictive multiplayer mayhem, with loads of new weapons/unlocks to be had; Spec Ops mode is loads of fun, to boot; It still manages to look really good, even if it's only baby steps better than Modern Warfare 2 visually.

No Elite support for the PC version; No PC controller support at all; Usually the PC version is $10 cheaper than the $60 console counterparts, but not this one; MW3 on the PC costs the same as the console versions, with less options

Fall is my favorite time of year for a couple of very specific reasons. First and for most, the weather getscooler, the trees begin changing colors and then comes the rapid fire succession of the final holidays of the year; we gamers also get a flood of new titles.

Great graphics and sound; a few cool single-player missions; new modes add to an already popular multiplayer experience

Some missions in the single-player campaign are too over-the-top; it's pretty much the same Call of Duty people are familiar with; no real reason to replay the single-player campaign when you finish it

All this content, while well designed, is starting to become a bit too familiar. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continues the series and finishes off the Modern Warfare trilogy, now one of the best-selling video game trilogies of all time.

Good shooting mechanics; Impressive on-screen action at an unflinching 60 frames per second; All three modes give plenty of content for fans

No innovation at all; Developed into an arcade shooter; Gives fans what they want: more of the same

After playing through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's single-player campaign and spending some solid time with the game in multiplayer, we can attest that MW3 is the latest well-executed title in the long-running Call of Duty franchise.

If the five-hour campaign doesn't satisfy your thirst for AI blood, then the Special Ops mode almost certainly will. Returning after its debut in Modern Warfare 2, Spec Ops offers 16 one-off missions that complement the events of the campaign, letting you experience new facets of the global conflict...

Climactic campaign; Lots of varied and challenging Spec Ops action; Exciting and entertaining competitive multiplayer; Spec Ops profile spreads the satisfaction of leveling up

Multiplayer sticks closely to familiar formula

Activision manages the tricky feat of offering more of the same for the fans and some shiny new features for the non-fans. "And here we go again," you're probably thinking to yourself at the prospect of .

PROS: Excellent changes to make multiplayer friendlier; addictive survival mode

CONS: Silly and confusing single-player campaign

Ever since Modern Warfare, Call of Duty has grown from a great series to a multi-billion franchise that's core to the publisher's survival. Key to that success has been Infinity Ward, the studio that recently saw its founders bail out and leave to start up a new studio which works with Activision's...

2011 will go down in gaming is one of the best years ever in gaming. Sure, it was slow early on but near the end we've been given so many solid titles gamers have been torn in terms of what to get this year.

The Call of Duty franchise is known for jaw-dropping set pieces, fast and frantic gunplay, and the most popular online multiplayer experience ever. The most recent installment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 , was heralded as the most anticipated release in history.