Your Hardcore Call of Duty

Think you're God's gift to all things COD4 on Xbox LIVE®? Do you talk trash about your unearthly talent after a match and lord your status over the competition? Think you've got what it takes to play the Hardcore way? Then break out your copy of Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™, and act in accordance with the following challenges. If you're still dominating the competition, then you have earned your Hardcore status. Good luck.

You know what red means.

Stock Weaponry

Every rank you earn online in Call of Duty 4 offers some new weapon or accessory for use. While many would argue that these upgrades offer no unbalancing change, I would submit that the Hardcore should score kills with a bare-bones, stripped-down weapon free from any gadgetry or gizmos. This includes scopes, laser sites and the like, so while you may have earned access to such items, resist the urge to use them.

Never settle comfortably behind cover for more than a few seconds at a time, and you'll know that every second you live is a result of aggressive skill.

Grenade-less

Whether it's a stick of C4 or a frag grenade, every explosive carries with it the element of chance. Toss a grenade around a blind corner and there's a solid chance you'll net a kill. Where is the skill in that? Sure, maybe the toss requires a certain level of geometrical talent, but on the whole, you can't take solace in a kill count that includes luck-infused grenade tosses among the tally.

Never Stay Still

Even the most novice gamer can find a well concealed hiding spot and squeeze off a few kills while lying prone on the floor. There's little to no sport in such activities though. Banish them from your tactical bag of tricks.

The Hardcore policy of engagement should include constant movement as you hunt your prey on the battlefield. Never settle comfortably behind cover for more than a few seconds at a time, and you'll know that every second you live is a result of aggressive skill.

Better be on the move soon, my friend.

Standard Perks

I understand that every class uses perks, so you won't be able to avoid them completely. That said, there are some perks that the truly Hardcore wouldn't be caught dead using. This includes the Martyrdom Perk, which drops a live grenade on your corpse every time you die. Likewise, the Last Stand Perk gives you a few free seconds to whip out your sidearm and squeeze off a couple of shots before succumbing to a mortal wound.

Consider instead perks like Dead Silence, which softens your footsteps, effectively eliminating any audio cues that would alert nearby enemies of your approach. While still advantageous, this perk only truly shines in the hands of a skilled gamer.

Your Kill Alone

A common tactic for those who crave Leaderboard glory is to pick off enemies their comrades have already whittled down. Knowingly stealing kills is among the lowest forms of online FPS behavior. Now clearly you can't always know who's shooting who, but make it a point to avoid finishing off an opponent for whom your buddy has rightly earned the credit.

You sure that's your kill, buddy boy?

UAV? Yes. Air Strike and Helicopter? No.

Killing streaks of three, five, and ten earn you access to a UAV for locating enemies, as well as the privilege of calling in an air strike or an attack helicopter. The UAV falls within the realm of reason, especially when playing team-based games.

The air strike and helicopter on the other hand cannot in good conscience be recommended for use by the Hardcore gamer. After all, if you're not lining up the shot and pulling the trigger, why should you get credit for the kill? No, I'm sorry, air strikes and choppers are not allowed.

Sidearm Glory

When the competitive fires are stoked on Xbox LIVE, it's only natural that you want to defeat, and embarrass, your competition. Trouble is, some folks use spawn camping and other equally cowardly tactics to achieve such victories. If you really want to show off your polished, superior skills, do so with the pistol as your only available weapon. Score the first position on the Leaderboard with only your sidearm, and you'll have achieved unquestionable Hardcore status.

The Hardcore Call of Duty 4 gamer should rely on one thing and one thing only, their skill. Use of gadgetry, gimmicks and glitches is strictly forbidden. If you can still reign supreme while adhering to the preceding suggestions, then you know full well you've accomplished something truly extraordinary.

Article by Hardcore