The closest to real war you will ever want to get!
As I was playing Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare I found it difficult to think of it simply as a game, the quality sound, visual appeal and outstanding set pieces create what can only be described as a truly cinematic entertainment experience. The move away from the World War II has really benefited this game and helps it to stand out from what can be considered as a crowded time for first person shooters, the move to modern warfare has also enabled Infinity Ward to show its creative side and not be constrained by the historical side of the Call Of Duty franchise.
The gameplay is a frantic and action filled affair taking place within a large variety of environments, from a covert operation located on a swaying ship within the middle of the sea to all out war within the streets of the Middle East the game keeps throwing you from one fantastic new idea to the next, perhaps the best example of this variety has to be the sniper flashback mission which places you as part of a two man team behind enemy lines, covered in camouflage and perfectly blending into the surroundings, stealth killing your way to your target, again using brilliant set pieces to ramp up the tension in a game that once finished can be described as leaving you exhausted.
The graphics can really be considered an immensely strong point of the game and truly show what next-gen (or should it really be now-gen?) can accomplish. The games engine is able to calculate aspects of the game such as bullet penetration and heat haze that really show the realism factor that the game is trying to accomplish through its graphics. The sound coupled with these amazing effects provide an emersion factor that is truly impressive, and everything sounds just right, from the helicopters overhead, a battle being fought elsewhere or the bullets flying over your own head, all of these things create an immersive white knuckle ride of a game. The voice acting is also a point that is to be mentioned, helping to create truly believable characters that by the end of the game you come to recognise as friends and allies.
Now what can be considered the most impressive and eventually long term aspect of the game, the multiplayer. On the Xbox 360 it seems Call Of Duty 4 has cleverly taken the matchmaking system that has worked so well in games such as Halo 2 and 3 but adds new features onto these as well. With a variety of modes unlocked the more you play and an impressive 16 maps included out of the box it’s the multiplayer where Call Of Duty 4 will shine in the future. The main reason for the replay ability is the fact that weapons and features can be unlocked the more you play, from new guns to scopes, camouflage (which I must say works incredibly well helped by the excellent online graphics) and the ability to create your own class dependent upon how you play it is likely that this game will be within the top 10 most played Xbox live games for some time to come (or at least until Call of Duty 5 comes out).
The gameplay is a frantic and action filled affair taking place within a large variety of environments
So are there any negatives? Well for a start it could be argued that the single player campaign is too short if you do not have Xbox live but it is important to consider the fact that the pure adrenaline rush that this games gives could not be easily sustained over a much longer period of time and the extra difficulties and all of the unlovable achievements will add much replay value to the game. Also it must be warned that after a while it is likely that the Call Of Duty 4 online community is likely to become very hardcore and due to its counter-strike like difficulty it is unlikely it may be accessible to newer players but this is just a minor concern in the grand scale of the game.
Basically if you are in any way inclined to first person shooters then I truly suggest that you get this game, it may be something that you have not every experienced before and may never get the opportunity again, and if you don’t like first person shooters or have never tried them then I still recommend you get this game, or at least rent it if your not into multiplayer, you will not regret it.
The Bad: Some may consider the single player campaign too short.
Gold Y Award