Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

"Pack your bags, because Call of Duty is going modern."

Storyline: 8/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Controls: 9/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Value: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.3/10


The word on the street is that World War II is old, boring, and played out in the realm of videogames, and this simple notion propelled Infinity Ward onto their most ambitious project yet, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The team actually began working on this title right after the release of their last game, Call of Duty 2, hence the lack of Infinity Ward's logo on the cover of Call of Duty 3. So while they were away on their two year hiatus a few things were worked on, and what it became is, essentially, the greatest game in the Call of Duty series. The core COD elements remain the same and this isn't the most unique of first-person shooters, but the execution is spot-on, and the intensity the series is known for remains.

Since this is the first venture out of the history books, and because modern is in the subtitle, COD4 contains a completely original story with fictitious characters, battles, and conflicts. Just like in past games of the series you'll be playing as multiple characters, one from the U.S. Marines and the other from the British S.A.S. But unlike past games, these characters intertwine with each other and revolve around the same battles with a common goal in mind. U.S. and British forces are sent in to stop a radical terrorist known as Kahled Al-Asad on suspicion of nuclear activity. Although the story isn't entirely original, the execution of said story and the way it is laid out in front of you is done in a phenomenal fashion. Sometimes watching a great movie is just as good if not better than making your own. And that is why this straight-forward, action-packed, in-your-face type of gameplay is still just an amazing experience. The only negative there is on the single-player would have to be how short it is. It should only take around five or six hours to complete, depending on the difficulty setting. But the action that takes place in that short time is nothing to whine about. There is even a new element of stealth here in a game known for it's white-knuckle action. One mission will have you decked out in a guille suit with a silenced sniper rifle hand. Most of the mission is based on your ability to stay out of the sight of your enemy. It's really an edge-of-your-seat type experience that brings some new experiences to a storied franchise.

The most striking thing about this game would be its audio and visual presentation; it has always been the saving grace for the series, and this just takes it to the next level. These are without a doubt some of the best looking graphics seen this year. The environments are huge and luscious looking, and the character models are outstanding. When you combine that with the stellar sound that the series is known for, the end product is always something special, especially when you equip a nice HDTV along with some fantastic surround sound; that's just magical. Just like in past games the immersion is amazing and you feel like you're right out there on the battlefield fighting to stop total destruction. The new smoke and lighting effects that Infinity Ward have been working on are very well implemented, and it really adds a lot to the experience as a whole. There are also times when the wind plays a key factor as it will blow smoke, debris, and sand all over the place. This really looks nice and just helps create a life-like atmosphere.

Multiplayer has always been one of the key components in the COD series, and that is no different here because this rendition is fantastic. There is some incredible depth here, with nineteen maps and thirteen game types right out of the box. There is a whole new rank and class system that reminds one of an RPG of sorts. You gain experience by doing things like killing or getting assists, and that unlocks new weapons, attachments, challenges, and perks as well as rank you up. The challenges are small tasks that you complete while playing multiplayer. Half of them go by the different weapon classes, while the other half are just random tasks. Getting seventy-five kills with the assault rifle would be an example of one. Completing each challenge rewards you with some experience and either a new weapon or attachment. Now perks are something pretty unique in the genre, and completely new to the series. Perks are exactly that, small bonuses that help strengthen your character and improve the over-all excitement of the game. Some of these perks include; extra ammo, faster reload times, extended sprint, and faster bullets. Your character is allowed three slots, and the perks are divided into those slots according to the actual ability. For instance if you choose extra ammo, the game will not let you also pick faster reloads, so that is how they plan an balancing out these different sets of perks. You can customize these perks according to your play style, or according to what game type you're playing. Say you're about to start a capture the flag match, you would probably want to take extended sprint and endurance just to give yourself enough time to get away once you take the flag. Other perks of note are Last Stand and Martyrdom. Last stand gives you the ability to get one last shot at your adversary. If you just so happen to get shot and go down, you still have a little bit of time to pull off a shot, one last stand if you will. Martyrdom is an interesting one; it really is like anti-tea bagging technology. This one drops a grenade at your feet after you die, so if your killer tries to be cocky you blow that jerk to kingdom come. This perk system is a great addition to an already stellar online component, and the deep experience and rank system is the best in recent memory. Although the single-player is quite short, the multiplayer is good enough to warrant a purchase as long as you like this kind of stuff.

Simply put, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a must have for any fan of the FPS genre. It looks great, plays great, and sounds even better. This is without a doubt the best game in the series, no questions asked. The single-player is not quite as long as one would hope, but the action that's packed into it is phenomenal. The new stealth elements are a nice addition, and you can never get tired of the in-your-face action the series is known for. The multiplayer is by far the best part of this package. From the immense depth to the various maps and game types, this is truly one of the best online shooters of the year. Needless to say, this is a fantastic title that shouldn't be missed. It doesn't revolutionize the genre, but then again it doesn't have to. What it does do is give the player and exciting ride through what modern warfare is like. In the end the game is just fun plain and simple, and that's all that really matters.

~Mike Pelletier

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/15/07

Game Release: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (US, 11/05/07)