With the next Call of Duty set for release on May (and plenty of stuff already being teased and leaked), I've started to think about what I'd like to see in the next game, and hopefully what I eventually won't end up seeing.
I won't mind if it is Black Ops 2, which everyone seems to think it will, but I do hope to see some evolution on both the DLC and community fronts.
What I Do Want To See
Story-Based DLC
Added Spec Op missions and the occassional maps are cool, but a little expansion as to Call of Duty's campaign certainly wouldn't go astray. There's always the cliffhanger, and there certainly isn't a lack of interesting and memorable characters in the series, so why not expand on an aspect of the story and provide gamers with a little more insight? I know that, as a premium Elite member, I'd love to substitute one of the map packs for some campain story DLC. Sure, I only ever play multiplayer now, but I wouldn't mind returning to the single-player component.
More Community Modes
Certainly one of the best additions in Modern Warfare 3 were the community playlists. Activision and developers kept the multiplayer fresh and exciting with these additions. Maybe a few more, perhaps a new one every month, would offer a level of interaction for the community that gamers would certainly appreciate.
Zombies
Yes, I still think there's room to grow in this capacity. Essentially the Call of Duty series' "Hoard" mode, Zombies offered plenty of great and tense co-op gameplay. The Moon map in Black Ops offered something new and memorable, and the same sort of implementation in any new Call of Duty game certainly wouldn't go astray.
What I Don't Want To See
Second Chance
Truly an awful, frustrating perk. Also known as Last Stand in other Call of Duty games, this perk actually gave out-gunned players an advantage over opponents that had initially beaten them out. Once a player drops to the floor in Second Chance, it's not quite as easy to shoot them (which also uses further ammunition), and can often lead to a death for the player that should probably have received the kill.
Old Maps
Modern Warfare 3 thankfully hasn't done this (yet), but the inclusion of old "popular" maps from previous Call of Duty games makes the 1200 MSP pricetag seem that little bit more expensive for DLC. If you're giving me some maps, make sure they're new. If I wanted to play World at War and Black Ops maps, I'd simply play those games.
Dual-Wielding
Modern Warfare 2 took it overboard with dual-wielding shotguns, Black Ops maintained that, while Modern Warfare 3 brought us dual-wielding SMG. It simply gives too much power to one player and requires very little skill to use effectively. Sure, sniper rifles are also one-hit-kills, but they require specific skill to ensure you hit a part of the body that initiates that kill. Getting into a one-on-one firefight with a dual-wielding SMG opponent when all you've got is a SCAR-L or other assault rifle makes for a pretty one-sided battle.
By Gaetano Prestia - Tweet @Gaetano_Prestia
Factoring in previous Call of Duty games, what would you like to see included and excluded in the next game?