Summary
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3fans may be focused more on the multiplayer side of things due to itsMW2map remakes, or even the upcoming Zombies mode because of its open world approach. However, the campaign of the game is also shaping up to be intriguing. While the jury is still out onOpen Combat Missions, as they could be a game-changing step-up for level design or an unfocused step in the wrong direction, the game’s villain is sure to be well received. However, Sledgehammer Games has to make sure that the new Makarov has enough time to shine.
Vladimir Makarov is one of, if not the most iconic villains in the entireCall of Dutyfranchise. The original version’s long-running rivalry with Captain Price and obsession with sparking World War 3 allowed him to be genuinely terrifying, and his infamous No Russian terrorist attack had gamers and non-gamers alike talking. While No Russian is set to be reimagined inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Sledgehammer needs to do more than play the greatest hits in order to make the new Makarov memorable. It also needs to avoid some common villain mistakes, especially the trope of the antagonist dying in the same piece of media where they debut.
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MW3’s Makarov Should Be a Multi-Game Antagonist
It does not take long to think of properties where tremendous villains with plenty of potential are wasted. For example, one of the biggest offenders is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While there are terrific villains like Thanos that are built up across multiple movies, other strong foes, like Ultron and Killmonger, die in their very first appearance. More often than not, exploring a villain in multiple projects is better for a long-running franchise, be itHarry Potter’s Voldemort orBorderlands’ Handsome Jack. IfCall of Dutylearns one thing from the MCU, it’s that killing off characters too quickly is something to avoid.
Part of the reason the originalModern Warfaretrilogy worked so well is that Makarov was able to shine in two games. He made his unforgettable debut inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,delivering moments likeNo Russian, but it eventually became clear that he was a threat for further down the road. After assisting Captain Price in chasing after General Shepherd, Makarov served as the main villain ofModern Warfare 3. Here, players witnessed plenty of character moments for Makarov thanks to the introduction of his ally Yuri and some intriguing flashbacks.
If Makarov was not saved forModern Warfare 3, and instead died in the originalModern Warfare 2, it is hard to imagine him being as memorable as he is today. Yes, he would still have the No Russian moment under his belt, but so much of what actually makes him a great antagonist came in the originalModern Warfare 3. Infinity Ward needed two games to properly explore the history betweenCaptain Priceand delve into what makes Makarov tick, which makes sense given the short six-hour runtime ofCall of Duty’s campaigns.
With this in mind, it would be a huge mistake to kill off Vladimir Makarov inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Just like in the original trilogy, he deserves a few games where he is the center of attention, as one game would likely not provide nearly enough scenes with the character. Fans have been quick to criticize the newer version of General Shepherd for not being as strong as the original, though that could still change if he returns in a future game.Sledgehammer Gamesshould open that same window of opportunity withModern Warfare 3, allowing Makarov to either escape or be taken alive. This way, it will feel even more rewarding when players finish him off for good one day, and there will be ample time to explore Makarov as a character.
Thankfully, there is some hope that Makarov will survive the events ofModern Warfare 3’s campaign, asMW3’s Vault Edition content has revealed that he will be a multiplayer Operator. Usually, Operators are only made up of characters who survived the main story, as there is a post-launch narrative that takes place in multiplayer andWarzonethat picks up right where the campaign left off. While Makarov could just be a bonus character, a playable version does give some hope that he will live long enough to return inModern Warfare 4. Killing Makarov off in his first appearance would feel like a disservice, as the character would work better as an overarching big bad for the series.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3launches on November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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