First-person fans will love the gameplay set-up, which shares similarities with Call of Duty 2. Players move with two analog sticks while using the left and right triggers to set up precision fire for their weapons. The two bumper buttons allow players to throw off two types of grenades. There's a cover-providing smoke grenade, and the enemy-killing frag grenade. New guns can be picked up over the course of the game, and players can also take control of vehicles such as tanks and Jeeps, as well as their mounted weapons.
To make the PS3 version stand out, Treyarch implemented some motion controls via the SIXAXIS controller. Players use the controller to steer vehicles, push an enemy back in melee combat, and set charges. However, it feels gimmicky, and trying to twist around a controller to simply activate a fuse is quite a chore. These features won't affect the course of the game, however, and they're worth a try to those who want to see what the controller can do.
Call of Duty 3's multiplayer smokes most of its competition. Up to 24 players can hop on and engage in a number of matches, including Capture the Flag and some great Team Battle games. Various maps are provided for this mode alone, scattering vehicles and guns throughout to help each side gain a little element of surprise. Multiplayer is good fun, although it takes somewhat longer to set up a match than on the 360. That's probably because everyone's just playing Resistance this weekend -- give it time and the competition will eventually pour in.
Call of Duty 3 for the PS3 falls second to the Xbox 360 version, due to some graphical hitches and questionable control techniques. However, it's one of the better PS3 launch games, and an ideal second purchase behind Resistance: Fall of Man.
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