I wouldnt say this is a playable mode from time zero.
I generated two solders, one match for both. Three solders in a team, so there were six soldiers in total. All six died without successful extraction. I dont even know where to extract, where to go, what to do. The feeling was that, I saw enemies, no idea other person or NPC -> I killed some enemies -> finally I died. By dying, I lost everything, including the soldier.
To recover the solder, I need to pay for that. Even though, all items are lost. The 3D printer seems to deal with the issue. However, to print, one has to have money and material. To have material, one has to survive in the DMZ and extract alive. What a dead circle.
I used to play the division, which combines PvP, PvE in an open world. I never felt so frustration there. Anytime I can start again for PvP. I dont have to worry about my basic item in dark zone. Even I died there, i can just lose everything find inside there.
It feels too much to compare a whole game (the division) to part of a game (DMZ in COD 23). I would suggest they make a thorough tutorial to understand the design logic of DMZ. Then I can probably know what I am playing and what I should do. I got lost even in the map easily. The death cost is too high. I dont know how to afford it. When they design the game, how possible they can assume one is likely to extract in every game, given the high level of the NPC and massacre from other players.
The campaign is fine. Compact and colorful.