10 Things You MUST Know About Modern Warfare 3's Survival Mode
So that trailer has been online for a while now, showcasing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Spec Ops survival mode.
Activision really did squeeze as much as possible into the trailer, revealing a number of new features set to be included in the mode (and the multiplayer).
The trailer was a bit of a tease, so we've broken up the 10 most important things you must know about Spec Ops leading into Modern Warfare 3's launch this November.
On-the-fly challenges reward skill
The little cash counter that appears in the bottom left-hand corner throughout the trailer alludes to an on-the-fly challenges system, which rewards you for actions used through a match.
The trailer showcases bonuses rewarded for achieving a killstreak and even getting an assist with a flashbang.
Experience driven by action and reward
Instead of simply dropping you into a map with the single objective of staying alive, Spec Ops is driven by fast-paced action, constant weapon upgrades and critical tactical placement. Everything you do in the mode has a means, and every action equates to a reward in some regard, be it XP, cash or a killstreak.
Armory locations are always accessible
Armory's are located throughout each map, giving you access to weapons, equipment and air support. While these armory's are temporarily inaccessible shortly after you use them, they can be accessed at any point throughout a match.
In the early waves, visiting these armory's is possible, however, the pace of the gameplay later on means you'll be best served to wait until after you've cleared an entire wave of enemies.
If you manage to run out of ammo right in the middle of the wave, the armory's are generally located in closed areas, typically away from the action. They can be quickly accessed and used. However, enemies will still come at you, so it might be best to set up shop away from the armory's, just in case you do need to visit them in the middle of a wave.
Promotions allude to ranking system
Roughly half-way through the trailer we get a little look at the mode's "Promotions", or "New Unlocks". These seem to be perks, not unlike those generally available for use in Call of Duty competitive multiplayer matches.
The interesting thing is that this alludes to a ranking system of sorts, which raises a lot of questions. Are unlocked perks exclusive to one of the two players in the mode? Are rankings carried over to other modes in the game? Do ranks reset at the end of every wave?
The concern here is that these unlocks add an extra level of individualism to an experience especially focused on team work. It is driven by the ways in which you and your teammate interact with the environment to counter the waves of enemies. If one player has a higher rank than the other, and therefore more perks, will that unbalance how the mode is played? Will it lead to one player doing his own thing based on what he has available, all the while leaving his lower-ranked teammate to struggle without as many perks?
Armory's are quick, easy and detailed
The three armory's available to you have been designed with simplicity in mind, and this mentality perfectly compliments the pacing of the Spec Ops experience. Cycling through each weapon is simple and fast, and the game clearly displays which weapons are available to you and which aren't.
Air support calls in AI-controlled friendlies
Many questions have been raised about the "Air support" armory: what does it do? How do we access it? Is it a killstreak?
Just as with weapons and equipment, you unlock new air support as you earn XP, with your cash reserves dictating which air support squad you can call in, each with their own level of aggression. Put simply, the more expensive the air support is, the harder it will be for the enemy to take it down.
The big question is: will we be able to shoot down the air vehicles before the support arrives on the ground? One would hope so.
The dogs friggin' explode!
The dogs are frustrating. Anyone that's played World at War would probably agree with that. However, the killstreak's effectiveness cannot be questioned: dogs attack with precision, aggression and the killer instinct you need to beat the enemy.
Now there's a twist: explosive dogs!
Hot dogs, anyone? Just make sure you shoot them from a distance.
Team chemical agents are frighteningly effective
The trailer shows three different air support options, with two locked out and labeled as "classified". From the trailer we can assume that the two locked ones are team chemical agents and the Big Daddy-like beasts that seem as though they can shoot through a riot shield without many issues.
"Delta squad" and "Riot shield squad" sound intimidating in their own accord, so whatever is below them must be pretty hardcore. Did you see the gas marks throughout the trailer? And the speed at which these "chemical agents" get around?
Just hope they're on your side.
There Will Be Blood...gore and dust
See what I did there? trollface.jpg.
Anyway, as mentioned above, Spec Ops is driven by its frantic pacing and action-packed agenda. The first few levels are cheap fun and don't offer much of a challenge, but the action quickly takes off a few levels in.
And boy does it get messy! With enemies, explosive dogs and chemical agents coming at you from every side, you can bet your sweet backside that what's on offer in this Survival mode is going to have you on the edge of your seat.
Will you survive...?
By Gaetano Prestia
What did you think of the Spec Ops Survival Trailer?