UPDATE (10/8/11, 1:45 p.m.): To have our Modern Warfare 3 review ready for launch day, our reviewer had to play in a controlled multiplayer environment. We had him spend a few more hours on the battlefield with the scores of people already playing on Xbox Live, and he reported back with these observations:

"It should be shocking to fire up a new game half a day after its midnight launch and see nearly a million players online — on a weekday, no less. Then again, this is Modern Warfare 3, and Call of Duty fans clearly haven't tired of the blockbuster shooter, as evidenced by the droves of people playing online already and their stunningly high rankings. In fact, much of the chatter we've heard over the headset while playing on the retail servers revolves around how much people have ranked up in such a short amount of time.

"Then again, with copies accidentally sold early and some Call of Duty XP attendees getting their copies yesterday, select folks have had an early crack at the online play. But now everybody has a fair shot at digging into the game, and thankfully, the retail servers are performing admirably. We've been able to dive into games without delay, and haven't noticed even a bit of lag thus far in 18-player matches. Unlike Battlefield 3, this is one launch that seems to have gone very smoothly, at least with the game itself.

"Unfortunately, the Call of Duty: Elite service — which launched alongside Modern Warfare 3 — seems to be struggling under the weight of millions of cross-platform sign-ups. Activision has acknowledged the issue and claims your stats will still be tracked even if you can't register just yet, so don't worry. Immerse yourself in Modern Warfare 3, enjoy the new maps, modes, and features, and check Elite out later."

ORIGINAL REVIEW (10/8/11, 12:18 a.m.): Over the course of the last seven Call of Duty games, we’ve seen almost every imaginable combination of soldiers, weapons, vehicles, and explosions. And we’ve come to expect spectacular production values and presentation. So the surprises in Modern Warfare 3’s single-player campaign simply aren’t as surprising this time around; you’ll probably anticipate some of the scripted moments that might’ve floored you once upon a time. When we spotted a familiar European landmark at the start of one mission, it wasn’t a stretch to think it might not survive to see another day. Guess how that one ended.

Though that familiarity slices a thin layer of pop from the experience, Modern Warfare 3’s campaign remains startlingly effective as a showcase of cinematic craftsmanship. Every bit of the adventure demonstrates remarkable care and polish on the part of Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games — so much so that this game is arguably the slickest Call of Duty to date.

No camera angle or animation seems misplaced across the roughly seven-hour campaign, and in typical franchise fashion, the action never hangs in one place for long, bouncing ever so deftly between characters and scenarios en route to a satisfying conclusion. That’s a lot more than we can say for Modern Warfare 2’s campaign, which tripped on its storytelling and some too-over-the-top scenarios (like battling through Washington, D.C., post–EMP blast), despite all the memorable moments that kept it compelling. By contrast, MW3 always feels headed toward a clear goal: finally locating and paying back Makarov for his heinous acts, whether you’re fighting alongside Soap and Price or assuming the role of another ally. Notably, the final missions really deliver on the promise, and thankfully, they end the trilogy in fine style.

To be clear, though: MW3 doesn’t skimp on the bold, outlandish moments along the way: guiding a motorboat between sinking tankers as New York City burns in the background is thrilling, as is chasing a terrorist-packed subway train through the dark tunnels below London. The campaign is pure spectacle, and while it doesn’t hit with the same stylized impact as Black Ops or pack the innovative spark of the first Modern Warfare, it remains a very stellar, cohesive, and staggeringly refined trek.