Summary
- Conversion Kits in Modern Warfare 3 provide a visual makeover for guns and allow them to function like guns from different categories, but they feel relatively samey compared to Black Ops 4's unique Operator Mods.
- Black Ops 4's Operator Mods played into each gun's most unique feature and felt fun to use, while many Conversion Kits have downsides that make them feel weaker than the default version.
- Call of Duty 2024 could merge the strengths of Conversion Kits and Operator Mods, making each Kit feel more distinct while maintaining the visual overhauls and steady release schedule of new Kits.
The Call of Duty franchise has offered a number of interesting one-off gimmicks since it debuted back in 2023. The original Call 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, while Advanced Warfare allowed 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, and Vanguard’s Combat Pacing are other examples of innovation, while the new Modern Warfare 3 aims 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 to Call 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 problems Black Ops 4 did 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 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is that they feel relatively samey. The list of Conversion Kits available in-game includes, but is no longer limited to:
- The MCW’s JAK Raven Kit
- The MTZ-762’s JAK Heretic Carbine Kit
- The WSP-9’s Broodmother.45 Kit
- The Pulemyot 762’s JAK Annihilator Bullpup Kit
- The COR-45’s XRK IP-V2 Conversion Barrel Kit
- The Renetti’s JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit
- The DG-58 LSW’s JAK Nightshade Rifle Kit
- The WSP Swarm’s Akimbo Brace Stock Kit
- The MCW 6.8’s Full Auto Conversion Kit
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-appreciated Black Ops 4 did not have this flaw, as all the Operator Mods it featured felt incredibly unique.
In Call 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 of MW3’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 of Black 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 the Conversion Kits featured in Modern 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 and Sledgehammer Games has 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 Duty 2024 has 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 in MW3, as it discourages usage of the Kits. If these changes are made, but the unique visuals and steady release schedule of Modern Warfare 3’s Conversion Kits are maintained, then the system can still thrive.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 58 /100 Critics Rec: 14%
- Released
- November 10, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Sledgehammer Games
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- iw 9.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
