XBox Solution

Here is the game that we have talked about the most on our podcasts. When screen shots and footage started to appear for COD 4, it was clear that Infinity Ward knew exactly what they wanted to bring gamers. I was glad that the WW II theme was replaced by a more updated theme.

After playing the Beta version and seeing the plans for the deep online play and the ranking system, I was impressed and looking forward to the release even with my doubts about the single-player mode. Is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare the best of the series and one of the must have games this season? Read the full review and find out.

Gameplay

I learned that the achievements were all based on the single-player mode a few weeks before the release of the game. I have to admit I was a little surprised by this fact. After finally getting the game and playing the single-play campaign, I knew why they decided on this. Few games can live up to the hype that happens before a game’s release. At E3 this year the game took home over 40 awards. Impressive as that is, it also adds pressure to deliver so I was glad to see that COD 4 delivered in a big way.

The game takes several departures from the original series and all for the better might I add. You’ll play as a young member of the British S.A.S. and as a member of the US Marines. The story grabs you and throws you into the action right away. It also mirrors an eerie similarity of what is happening in the real world today. Let me say that the single-player campaign is shorter, but in no way is it lacking in action or excitement. The AI is tough and gamers will need to be quick on their feet. While I normally don’t mention anything about the game’s graphics in this section, I have to. COD 4 uses the graphics as an important part of the story and as an element to bring the action an all new realistic feeling that I have never seen in any game!

It will take most gamers 5-8 hours to get through the game the first time, but it can at times take a long time to make the right move or succeed and move on. Also included are different difficulty levels, which add to the game’s replay value. COD 4 won’t hold your hand while playing. There are things you have to figure out quickly and I enjoy this. In fact, if you wait just a few seconds, you will need to replay that mission again to unlock an achievement. It’s the mix of fast-paced action and realistic gameplay that makes COD 4 one of the best war games to come along in a very long time. Infinity Ward has just raised the bar in what gamers will expect and in an age where many games seem cookie cut and pumped out, this is refreshing and long over due.

Overall, the gameplay is straight forward, but there will be times when you’ll need to operate a weapon that you may not be used to. There are also certain points in the game that will have you say holy ****. Whenever a game can bring out emotions like this, I say they are certainly onto something. Our forums are loaded with members trying to beat a certain mission on the hardest level and it almost begs you to try. Something most games out there today won’t or can’t simply offer.

Control

COD 4 has a solid control scheme and it works well. The basic controls seem similar to what fans of this type of game are used to although there are more uses of the D-Pad for certain things. Learning the controls will take about 15-20 minutes, but it can be easy to forget a certain control. Overall, the controls are great and fit perfectly.

Xbox Live

If you were lucky enough to get into the beta of the online mode, you already know how fun it was to play. If not, let me explain. The online mode is a little different. You need to earn rank by getting points either by kills, assists or by challenges. You also earn points for playing a complete game online. Ranking up goes fast until you reach officer status and then it becomes more of a challenge. Besides the rank and status, you also earn new weapon classes and the perks come into play in a big way. A perk is an item you earn. It can be as simple as faster loading or steady aim. Then you have ones that allow you to pull out your pistol while dying and pick off people for a few seconds. Most are straight forward and the screen tells you when you earn a new perk.

COD 4 offers a different play on the open rooms. You have eight players to each team and you can make a clan and take in friends. That way you know who you can trust and who will watch your back. This makes the public rooms seems friendlier. The lobby has a place for you and friends where you can adjust your custom classes by changing certain perks or weapons and view your challenges (open or just unlocked). From here you launch into one of the several different game types. Most will go for the death match that pits one army against another. After ranking up, you can unlock some new game types as well as access some great maps.

Graphics

I already mentioned the graphics and they really are a big part of the game. It is like being in an interactive movie at times. There is one part where you can’t move but can look around and the effect is simply amazing. You’ll see great night time fire-fights, realistic explosions and the locations you are placed in all look great.

The game offers the best graphics I have seen in this genre yet. They really help create the realistic feeling the story line is trying to tell. The online the graphics look fantastic as well. Seeing an air strike hit the targets give you a feeling of satisfaction as well as it looks very cool. I also really like how they used the graphics to set up each mission and change over from the S.A.S. missions and back to the US Marine ones.

Audio

Here again a great job and very realistic including the sounds from each weapon and grenades. The voice-over actors are extremely talented and really are into their roles. At certain points in the game you need to listen carefully to hear everything. I know at times things are said in a rush or suddenly but it makes it seem more real. Overall a great job in the audio department.

Replay Value

While the single-player campaign is shorter, it still offers plenty of replay value. The game is designed so that you will be able to get every achievement the first time. Even those who are not into unlocking all the achievements will want to go back and try it on a harder setting. Throw in a very deep online mode and the game is hard to beat when compared to the other games now out.

Bottom Line

Overall Score: 9.6/10.0

Additional Comments

Well, now you know this is one of the must have games for fans of this genre for the holiday season. It offers a great offline mode and huge online mode. While the game would have been even better with a longer single-player mode, I think they had a reason for the way the two modes balance out. The game has lived up to the hype!

Links

• Official Website

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