Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Remastered Underpass Map: A Potential Source of Frustration

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has the potential to become one of the standout titles in recent franchise history, but it teeters on the edge. When Sledgehammer Games initially announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, they confirmed that the game wouldn't feature any new 6v6 maps upon launch. Instead, it would include a total of 16 remastered maps, all from 2009's Modern Warfare 2.

On one hand, having 16 maps available from the start is a significant offering for a new Call of Duty installment, especially when they are beloved classics from Modern Warfare 2. On the other hand, while fans have a lot of nostalgia for MW2's classic maps, the reality is that some of them weren't universally great, and Underpass, in particular, has the potential to be as frustrating as it was in the past.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Underpass Map May Bring Back Old Frustrations

Underpass is not the worst map in Call of Duty history, but it's often remembered as one of the more frustrating maps in Modern Warfare 2. One of its major issues is its poor suitability for Killstreaks, rendering aerial attacks ineffective. Any form of aerial Killstreak simply doesn't work well on Underpass, with Pavelows, chopper gunners, and AC-130s all easily avoidable by seeking cover within the map's many enclosed areas. Even Care Packages tend to get stuck on various tall structures scattered around the environment.

However, Killstreaks aren't the only problem with Underpass. In the original 2009 version of Modern Warfare 2, Underpass featured a constant rain weather effect throughout matches. While it was visually interesting, it often led to frustration by hindering visibility and making the map overly gray. This made it too easy for players to hide in dark spots like bushes or alleys, resulting in a stagnant meta.

To counteract the low visibility, many players resorted to using snipers or assault rifles with thermal scopes, which made it easier to spot hidden enemies. These weapons also encouraged players to camp in hard-to-reach areas, disrupting the flow of the game. While most Modern Warfare 2 maps encouraged fast-paced gameplay, Underpass had a tendency to slow it down significantly.

Underpass isn't inherently a terrible map. Since Sledgehammer Games has indicated that their remastered maps will undergo visual and gameplay changes, there's hope that Underpass will see some improvements. While weather effects are rarely seen in CoD multiplayer, it would be great to see them return in Modern Warfare 3's version of Underpass, provided they don't obstruct visibility as before. Additionally, opening up some areas and removing the roofs of larger buildings could make aerial Killstreaks more viable on Underpass.