Apr 12 2012
Modern Combat 3 : Battlefield for the iPhone?
Every now and again a game hits the Apple App store which makes a real impact and Modern Combat 3 is a great example of this.
Based on similar concepts to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare & Battlefield, Modern Combat 3 by Gameloft provides the payer with an exciting first person glimpse of modern warfare through both a single player campaign and an exciting multiplayer mode.
The single player campaign mode is based around a well scripted story arc covering 13 objective based missions. On-screen markers guide the player through varied and highly detailed terrain as you move from checkpoint to checkpoint battling squads of enemies and revealing the next piece of the exciting plot.
As you play through the game you soon realise that this is no normal mobile game, the script is well thought out and immersive dragging you into the story line. The production values of the game are very high and with the high quality of graphics this game looks like the kind of game you would play on a home console, this is especially true when the game is played on the iPad 3.
As good as the single player mode is, the game really comes into it’s own when played in multiplayer mode. You can play over either local wifi or over the Internet, and unlike other first person shooters on iOS the game isn’t just about running and shooting mindlessly, tactics play apart of the game as you use the detailed environment to more towards your objectives. There are 7 multiplayer modes included in the game including popular modes Capture the flag, team battle and Zone Control where your team is rewarded points for controlling strategic locations.
The technology and infrastructure behind the multiplayer game is very impressive, I have yet to notice any lag whilst playing and if the device acting as host disconnects from the game, control of the game is passed transparently to another device without any break in the gameplay.
The control of game movement is performed through an on-screen virtual D-pad, with your right hand controlling the aiming of your gun. There are also on-screen icons to activate specific functions such as throwing grenades and activating the guns sights. The control of the game is very smooth and the it plays very well indeed, although if playing on an iPhone sometimes the controls feel a little cramped and it is possible to press the wrong button, but on the iPad this problem is resolved and the game is wonderful. Even on the original iPad the game looks good and plays smoothly but on the new iPad (iPad3) the graphics are rendered for the high definition retina display and look absolutely fantastic
Modern Combat 3 is very reasonably priced and can even be found for less then £1 during sales. The game, as is now common in mobile games, does has in app purchases but these aren’t necessary to play the game, and are mainly used to purchase new weapons in multiplayer mode.
On the iPhone Modern Combat 3 is very good, on the iPad it’s fantastic, but on the new iPad the game rivals any FPS experience that you’ll find on a home console or PC. If you enjoy games like Battlefield and Call of Duty then you feel right at home playing Modern Combat 3