Vehicle segments provide a nice break from the first-person viewpoint. A tank attack returns, this time inside a small village that calls for some extra precaution. Jeep runs through a field of enemies are exhilarating, and there's an odd one late in the game that takes place on an open map, completely free of the usual linear paths. You can choose which houses to clean out in a sizeable area. It's one of a few spots where you can choose where to go, and the branching paths are worth playing through to see them all.
With the new additions though, it's still hard to get away from the feeling that you've played this before. Call of Duty 3 is stuck in the position of doing everything a sequel should, but the genre continues to grow overcrowded. Online play can add the extra boost. Unfortunately, it's impossible to connect to a game. You'll spend most of your online time in a lobby waiting for a minimum of eight players (regardless of game mode chosen) to join. Those times are rare as other players are having the same issue on their end.
As a local multi-player and single player title though, Call of Duty 3 is a better game than its predecessor. It's hard to find fault in something that has improved on this level within the time frame it spent in development. Unless you have an aversion to World War II shooters or absolutely require online play to be a smooth process, this is the best title in the genre.
Call of Duty 3 is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for Violence, Blood and Language. This game can also be found on: PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox.
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