Recall of Duty

Game: Call of Duty 3
System: Xbox 360
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Developed by: Treyarch/Pi Studios
Published by: Activision

World War II captures the American imagination like no other conflict in the history of the United States, eclipsing the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, both peculiarly American events. The drama and horror of WWII has been recapitulated in movies and in books and, increasingly in the last decade, in video games.

One of those games is Call of Duty 3 (CoD3). Released a year after Call of Duty 2 (CoD2), CoD3 features gameplay remarkably similar to its predecessor. In many ways, in fact, CoD3 plays like an expansion pack for CoD2. This is not necessarily a detriment: the mechanics and engine of the CoD franchise are so fine-tuned and engaging that a dozen CoD games would be welcome on any console, despite any redundancy.

Unlike its predecessor, CoD3 focuses solely on the infantry and tank battles in France during WWII; the North African and Russian theaters have been completely obscured. Diversity is instead found in the soldiers who fight the battles, who belong to the American, British, Polish and Canadian armies, as well as the French resistance. Players take on the role of either an American soldier, a British commando, a Polish tanker, etc. In many instances, the separate story lines converge, adding to the drama of the battle.


CoD3 features fourteen solo missions and an online multiplayer mode. The missions include assaults, sorties, sabotage, tank battles and rescue operations. Gameplay is nearly identical to CoD2: harrowing, 360 degree battles fought in forests, fields and deserted houses.

CoD3 is a welcome addition to the Xbox 360 library and a worthy companion piece to CoD2. The battles and bloodshed of WWII are faithfully recreated in both, along with the sounds, sights and heroism of the bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century.

Score: 90/100