Infinity Ward's shift from World War II to contemporary warfare is examined in the new Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, a sure-fire Game of the Year contender.
Published November 14, 2007
Halo® 3 may have taken the lion's share of the gaming thunder so far this fall, but Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ is giving the flagship franchise for Xbox 360® all it can handle for Game of the Year consideration. With a couple of perfect tens scattered among countless reviews, most of which flirt consistently with the 9.5 range, COD4 is quickly becoming an instant and beloved classic, and for good reason.
RPGs on the rooftop. Protect that War Pig!
The Modern Shift Call of Duty 4 shifts from the World War II theater to contemporary warfare, but it still possesses so much of what has made this first-person shooter franchise so popular. You'll still be immersed in white-knuckle war zones rife with unpredictable and shocking scripted events, an aggressive, clever A.I., and deep in an authentic environment.
Infinity Ward's attention to detail is legendary, and perhaps best demonstrated in Call of Duty 2, where World War II buffs could look at the weaponry and gear with a satisfied nod, and ogle the near-perfect recreations of historical battlefields.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is that rare game that instantly claims classic status upon release.
While the conflict in Modern Warfare is fictitious, Infinity Ward has been just as fanatic about imbuing realism into their contemporary effort. The industrial design of the available weaponry, including an M16A4, M4 Carbine, MP5, and M21, are completely faithful down to their most subtle details. They fire and react precisely as their real-world counterparts would, even piercing barriers at a realistic rate of speed, all determined by the game's outstanding physics engine.
Whether it's the weaponry, the high-tech gear, or the storyline, which pits the British SAS and U.S. Marines on a collision course with a bloody military coup in the Middle East and a Russian uprising, where rebel soldiers are only too close to gaining access to nuclear weapons, Call of Duty 4 is grounded in high-octane, tension-filled realism.
Teamwork is a beautiful thing.
On the Battlefield Longtime fans of the series will feel immediately at home with Modern Warfare. The left trigger is still used to line up the gun sights, and action consists of patrolling alongside A.I. teammates, using the gold markers on your compass to locate objectives, tossing grenades and battling through explosive and dramatic scripted events. Yet, so much in COD4 has been substantially refined. The single-player campaign has a few new, noteworthy features.
AC-130: Strapping yourself aboard an AC-130 Gunship and taking control of its vastly powerful armament is an outstanding addition. Staring down from high above at a war zone, utilizing thermal imagery to identify hostiles from friendlies, and unleashing thunderous cannon shots, is satisfying indeed.
Grenade gunnery: The AC-130 isn't your only flight experience. In one mission, you must man a chopper's side-mounted, automatic grenade launcher, and clear the way for your comrades below by shredding tanks, blowing up machinegun nests, and eliminating RPG-toting rooftop soldiers, among much else.
Wall piercing: A concrete slab may stop a bullet dead in its screaming tracks, but wood, plaster, and even sheet metal aren't likely to provide much protection. Infinity Ward has made bullet penetration a key element in COD4. It's realistic, and it fundamentally changes your strategy. For example, you can remain behind cover longer as you pick off enemies through a wall, as well as identify and drop a target just by its silhouette. Remember that it goes both ways though.
A.I. dependence: Often in first-person shooters, your A.I. squad mates are pure window dressing, completely devoid of tactical merit. Not so in Call of Duty 4. Your comrades will save your bacon time and time again. They're crack shots and they use intelligent, logical strategy as they move carefully throughout the battlefield. In fact, watching your brothers in soldiery do their work is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. It makes you feel part of a living, breathing, Marine or SAS unit.
Ghillie-up online too.
We haven't even mentioned the outstanding multiplayer offering in Modern Warfare, with its persistent experience point based system for unlocking weapons, gear, and perks such as Juggernaut, which lets you take more damage, or Martyrdom, which drops a live grenade when you die. You also have the ability to custom create your own class. Then there's the sixteen well-balanced and varied maps and the ten unique game modes. Check out our beta preview for an assessment of the multiplayer foundation, and if you need a little more help, make sure to read our Multiplayer Tips article.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is that rare game that instantly claims classic status upon release. Like BioShock and Halo 3 before it, COD4 is a landmark title that shall be remembered for years and played throughout the Xbox 360 lifecycle. It has that kind of staying power. Now, get moving soldier!
