video game: Microsoft Xbox 360 Call of Duty 3

Developed by Treyarch and Exakt Entertainment and published by Activision in 2006, Call of Duty 3 is a military simulation game that focuses on infantry warfare during World War II. A player chooses whether they act as an American, British, Canadian, or Polish soldier, fighting the Third Reich from different fronts. Each campaign possesses a different storyline, complete with authentic weapons based on time period and nation. Unlike its predecessors, Call of Duty 3 focuses on one combined campaign seen from four different perspectives����_��the Normandy Breakout in 1944. Single-player campaigns consist of 14 espionage and assault missions in large landscapes. Missions usually require the completion of multiple objectives, and an on-screen compass aids the player in reaching progressive checkpoints. Single-player campaign mode features four difficulty levels: easy, regular, hardened, and veteran. Increased difficulty means more strategy and lengthier gameplay. Call of Duty 3 also introduces characters other than infantry soldiers, such as a medic or support soldier, and a new close-combat battle mechanic that engages when a player is ambushed. Multiplayer games����_��not available on the Wii console����_�� have their own maps and are played exclusively on the Internet. Players use a variety of weapons, both individual firearms and heavy artillery, depending on the scenario. Call of Duty 3 continues to use automatically-regenerating health. When a player is wounded, the screen turns red and the player must exit the firefight to recover. Although no large alterations differentiate Call of Duty 3 from its predecessors, critics praised this game for its multiplayer modes, graphics, and sound. Call of Duty 3 won the 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, among other awards. A launch title for the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles, Call of Duty 3 became a popular and critical success even though it was the first game in the franchise not released for personal computers.