Call of Duty 3 takes place in 1944 during the Normandy Breakout. After landing on the beaches of France, the Allies pushed towards Paris in order to liberate it from the Germans. Similar to other games in the series, you take control of a soldier from each of the Allied countries and play through that front of the war.
Call of Duty 3 shuffles the usual pacing of missions by intertwining the stories. Rather than unlocking campaigns centered on each country, you may spend one mission playing as an American G.I. and the next as a Polish tank commander.
Each campaign also features a storyline unique to that country. The war still takes center stage, though you also get a little more insight into to lives of your fellow soldiers. One scenario follows a company whose commanding officer has cracked while another features a communications officer who has been branded a coward. Admittedly, the individual plot lines don’t add a whole lot to the game, but they are interesting enough that you’ll want to see them through to the end.
Missions are varied, but don’t stray too far from what you would expect from the series. In one mission, you find yourself on the frontlines, while in another you are planting bombs with the French Resistance. Some missions even have you driving a tank or jeep. Levels are linear with little wiggle room and few opportunities to really explore your surroundings.
Pacing is one of the game’s many successes. Building on scripted events, the game constantly shifts between fast, frantic combat situations to slow, methodical shoot-outs from cover (note: Call of Duty 4 needs a lean function). You’ll also find yourself constantly shifting from offensive pushes to defensive stands. Typically, you progress from one scripted event to another, though sometimes you are given breathing room to accomplish your goal as you see fit.
Multiplayer has been expanded and now supports 24 players per match. Six match types are available over nine maps and include standard match types like Capture the Flag and Deathmatch. Seven troop types are available, each with their own specific battlefield uses. Medics can revive fallen soldiers and support troops can deliver ammo. Vehicles are also available in online matches.
