"So long as there are men there will be wars" Call of Duty goes modern, departing from the series' WW2 origins.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare plays out very similar to its predecessors in that the basic core of the gameplay is the same, run around a battlefield killing enemies. The only real difference is the setting, enemy and weaponry at your disposal. As previously stated the same old formula is used, but the modern setting and ferocious tempo makes it feel new and exciting. The same standard health system is used in which staying away from damage for a period of time will replenish your health and it works effectively for the most part. One thing that stands out as soon as you begin your first mission is the speed of the action, from the very beginning to the end it is very fast paced and never really lets up.
However, the game does a good job of varying the missions so that you are not constantly running and gunning for the entire campaign. This is done with stealthier missions, shooting from helicopters and other such tasks.
Difficulty is also measured well by taking your completion time of an obstacle course done in the training mission and using it as an example of your skill to suggest an appropriate playing level. All difficulty levels, ranging from Easy to Veteran, play as expected and allow for a challenge without being overly demanding. The controls remain the same as the earlier games in the series and will be quite familiar to anyone who has played any first-person shooters lately, they are also quite responsive to the action. Simply by tapping a button your crosshairs will swoop onto the nearest enemy, by doing this it allows for pin-point accuracy without the feeling of it being too easy. The D-Pad is also used to quickly swap between your modern equipment such night-vision, grenade launcher attachments and claymores.
This is also the first Call of Duty to actually have a proper story behind the action. While it's not too original it is still quite interesting and is a bit different to the same old World War 2 action. The story itself revolves around Imran Zakhaev, a Russian ultranationalist set to return Russia back to its Soviet Union days by seizing a nuclear missile stockpile and overthrowing the current government. However, to draw military attention away from his actions he organises a coup in the Middle East to distract the US. The story itself is not greatly important in enjoying the game experience, however it does add a feeling of urgency and can cause you to speculate, what if this did occur. It is intriguing how the story is told, this is because the story is not really told through cut scenes but through mission briefings and first person views. All throughout the campaign you will encounter moments that will surprise and even shock you, it is these instances which will invoke your emotions and get you absorbed in the atmosphere.
Graphics can often attract your attention if they are good enough, Call of Duty 4 has some of the most realistic and detailed graphics ever seen. The shadows and lighting are very nicely done and the environments look fantastic. Player models are also very lifelike and have a great array of animations. However, there are only a few different models of enemies that you will encounter and eventually you will see what looks like the same person over and over again. This is hardly a problem though and will barely even be noticeable as everything looks so great. Environments are also semi-destructible and will show bullet holes and other marks where hit, this is very well done and makes the settings seem all the more ravaged by war. Still with these great graphics and high amounts of action surrounding you, the frame-rate will remain constantly smooth. Sound is another great aspect of the game and makes great use of a surround sound setup. There is almost continual gunfire flying around which sounds as if it is whizzing past your head. The sound of planes overhead, explosions ringing and grenades landing is simply amazing and again sounds is if you are truly involved in the combat. Even more impressive is the constant chatter of both the enemies and allies. When caught up in the gunfire your team mates will shout enemy locations and RPG positions. However, not only will they say things like "Enemies to the North", but they will state landmarks, such as "RPG behind the blue car", it's astonishing the first time you hear it. The music is suitable for the occasion and doesn't really provide any memorable tunes but still works well (Except that horrid rap during the credits that just feels out of place). The combination of both realistic graphics and sound is highly impressive and definitely adds to the experience and helps immerse you in the occasion.
One of the few aspects of this game that does fall short is the single players short play time. For the average gamer it could be run through in about five or six hours, this is staggeringly short, even for this type of game. However, the campaign is so good that you will most likely want to play through multiple times on a harder difficulty. The veteran difficulty also prolongs your game time and is quite challenging. A few unlockables also add to the replay value such as cheats which become useable after collecting intel hidden throughout each level and an arcade mode which scores your run through each level. Both features are extremely valuable inclusions and enhance the gaming experience as a whole.
The game also features an extensive online multiplayer mode which uses a class or "perk" system giving each player an array of abilities to help destroy your opponents. This is done with a level system which increases by killing other enemy players. Eventually, you will be able to create your own class whereby allowing you to choose your own perks and weapons. Online has a wide selection of maps and modes including free for all, team death match, sabotage, search and destroy and more.
While Call of Duty 4 is a great game is does have some flaws such its extremely short campaign mode and disappointing offline multiplayer. Splitscreen doesn't allow for guests online and the range of maps offline is limited. Also, the class system is restricted to premade classes instead of being able to choose your own abilities and weapons. The lack of any co-op mode is expected but nevertheless unfortunate and really makes offline games limited to play with any friends. Another flaw, this time dealing with single player is the fact that friendly fire will be a common occurrence, especially early. It can often be hard to distinguish between enemy and ally soldiers in the heat of the battle. However, this is remedied with the fact that you can't shoot team mates from close range. I'm also quite positive that this experience would be true of any real life gunfight. Also on the harder difficulties enemies will keep respawning unless you continue to move forward and takeover particular chokepoints. While not really a flaw, it can get annoying watching an endless supply of enemies generate in the one building.
The achievements for the Xbox 360 version are well mixed and focus solely on the single player aspect of the game. The majority are quite easy and will be attained through a normal play through. Achievements are given for completing the game on Veteran difficulty which can be a challenge, especially the Mile High achievement which is highly satisfying once completed.
Call of Duty is on a new track by turning to modern times and it looks like a positive step for the series. Making small additions to an already great game series without changing the basics make for an enhanced sequel.
Modern Warfare is an amazing game that is highly intense while it lasts and completely immerses you in the thick of the action. The addition of a story makes for a more emotional and involving experience.
With both fantastic graphics and great sound the game plays and feels astonishingly realistic and continues on with one of the greatest First-Person shooter series to date.