Let alone best FPS of the year, it's the most intense game ever made!
There is something about COD 4 that makes me go all warm and fuzzy. That is not to say the game is like that; unless you count explosions as warm and the blurred vision afterwards as fuzzy. So moving on to the game, it is, quite honestly, one of the most fun games I have played in a while. Games these days almost feel like a chore, but man! COD 4 was a blast!
Starting off with the story, it is a standard gritty, save the world storyline. Only that is it delivered with almost 0 sentiment and 100% badassery. There are many memorable characters and surprisingly even the character the player controls is great (you control about 2-3 characters)! The storyline is enjoyable enough to keep you playing, but that's not the main part of the game. It is really in the execution of the gameplay and pacing where COD 4 shines.
Gameplay in COD 4 is the standard of the FPS genre. If the gameplay were simply by itself, it would make for an average shooter. What makes COD 4 rise above the pack is its immersive and intense atmosphere. The whole game is a roller-coaster ride, from start to finish. Mixed with excellent pacing of the storyline and the precise gunplay, it comes off as a very thoroughly handled and polished package.
However, COD 4 is not without faults. First and foremost is its average AI. Yes yes, the enemy soldier duck behind cover and try their best to kill you. It's not the enemy AI I'm talking about, but the friendly AI. What's with the "Hey I'm the Captain and but you still get to lead the army into hell". I understand that since you are the main character there'll be times where YOU have to do this and that, and that too! But when enemies are attacking and we have 1 minute to get to the helicopter, I would expect my Honorable Captain to lead the way, not some sergeant.
Also, although the graphics are good enough and the framerate ticks at a (surprisingly) consistent rate, more could have been done. There are some occasional physics glitches where rag dolls move oddly and some pretty bland textures (just look at those bitmap doors). Otherwise, the engine is heavily optimized and ran great on full settings on my old 6600 at 640 x 480 (med-high on 800 x 600) and blazing fast on my new 8800 GT.
The animations are also worth mentioning, especially the reload animation. It is so fluid that I could watch it over and over again. Just reload..shoot...reload..shoot..reload...you get the idea. Though it could have been more varied with soldiers as I keep noticing the same dying animation many times. Nothing very major.
And finally, as a positive side note, I find this one of the few war games that do not glorify war. This game is gritty, bloody, intense, and just simply brutal. For example, sometimes when the enemies are not dead, they are still writhing around on the ground, sometimes just trying to reach for their fallen weapon when you shoot them point blank to put them out of their misery. War is hell, and it shows. I wouldn't be surprised if the enlistment rate goes down after this.
All in all, this is a rather short but sweet shooter. There are a few minor issues that if addressed in the next game will make it even sweeter. And Treyarch, pray make the next single player a bit longer? OK thanks.
Summary:
Presentation: 8
Slick menus, but more depth of options could have been added for the PC.
Graphics: 8
Graphics on the whole are pretty snazzy but it does have its fair share of bland textures. Special mention should be given to its engine for its consistent framerate. The new DOF and blur effects make the game even more immersive.
Sound: 9
Explosions and gunfire sound great. The music has the standard action-movie "oomph" which is very fitting.
Gameplay: 10
It's COD 4! 'Nuff said.
Replayability: 9
I did not review the multi-player. But basing on the single-player itself, it's one helluva ride I want to take again!
Overall: 9.5