Summary
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has offered a number of interesting one-off gimmicks since it debuted back in 2023. The originalCall of Duty: Duty Warfare 3’s bold approach to killstreaks included a special package that let players obtain several extra perks in place of the usual streaks, whileAdvanced Warfareallowed players to customize streaks and make them better, with the downside being that they take longer to earn.Ghosts’ Field Orders,WW2’s Headquarters hub, andVanguard’s Combat Pacingare other examples of innovation, while the newModern Warfare 3aims to contribute its own gimmick via Conversion Kits.
In theory, the Conversion Kits that are part of the Aftermarket Parts system are a great addition toCall of Duty’s renowned Gunsmith, as they can completely alter the weapons that have them. An LMG can become an Assault Rifle and a Pistol can become an SMG, and the guns get a nifty visual makeover to make their special attachments clear to see. However, there are a few flaws with the Conversion Kits, and these are problemsBlack Ops 4did not have with its superior Operator Mods.
Why Conversion Kits Are Lesser Versions of Black Ops 4’s Operator Mods
Black Ops 4’s Operator Mods Dodged Two Conversion Kit Pitfalls
Arguably the biggest issue with the Conversion Kits inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is that they feel relatively samey. The list of Conversion Kits available in-game includes, but is no longer limited to:
While Season 1 has been bringing new Conversion Kits regularly, including a fun makeover for the TYR that turns it into a one-shot Rifle, for the most part they just continue this problem. While it is initially fun to turn an SMG into an Assault Rifle or make a basic Pistol into a Machine Pistol, eventually, the conversion process starts to feel the same. Before long, players will have experienced every possible conversion multiple times, which can see the system growing tiresome.The under-appreciatedBlack Ops 4did not have this flaw, as all the Operator Mods it featured felt incredibly unique.
InCall of Duty: Black Ops 4, Operator Mods were used to enhance a gun’s existing features, giving each weapon even more personality. The Spitfire’s fast firing rate was taken to ridiculous heights with Wild Fire, while the Belt-Feed mod gave the Cordite a 600-round magazine that would overheat if players shot it for too long. The S6 Stingray had explosive rounds, the Hades had a cross-bar that was essentially an early version ofMW3’s Tactical Aim, the Outlaw Sniper was given a 3-round burst mode, and the Mozu revolver had a Skull-Splitter mod that made headshots a guaranteed one-shot kill.
Ultimately, all ofBlack Ops 4’s Operator Mods were powerful, with some even going a bit too far like the overpowered Penta Burst for the Swordfish and the annoying Strobe Light for the SG12. They felt worth the effort, which sadly cannot be said for a lot of theConversion Kits featured inModern Warfare 3. Many have such huge downsides, like the Broodmother’s ridiculous recoil or the Ferocity’s lowered range, that they just feel like a downgrade.
Call of Duty 2024 Could Offer A Perfect Middle Ground Between Conversion Kits and Mods
This is not to say that Conversion Kits are a bad addition, as the visual differences they provide are a great touch andSledgehammer Gameshas done a fine job of regularly adding new ones for players to chase. However, many of them do feel far too weak, with the tradeoff being too severe to justify using the Conversion Kit for a long period of time. When coupled with the samey nature of the Kits usually just switching which weapon category a gun belongs too, it is hard not to worry that the system could end up being another interesting concept that fades away after one game.
Thankfully, though,Call of Duty2024has a chance to make Conversion Kits better by merging the strengths of Operator Mods and the Aftermarket Parts system. If Treyarch wants to bring the feature back, it should aim to make each Conversion Kit feel specific to that particular weapon, enhancing its signature trait like with Operator Mods to make it feel more special. While tradeoffs should still exist so that the game stays balanced, the downsides should not be as severe as they are inMW3, as it discourages usage of the Kits. If these changes are made, but the unique visuals and steady release schedule ofModern Warfare 3’s Conversion Kits are maintained, then the system can still thrive.
