![XBLA horror game Deadlight "is NOT a zombie shooter," says dev](http://www.oxmonline.com/files/imagecache/featured_content/deadlight-feature-300.jpg "XBLA horror game Deadlight "is NOT a zombie shooter," says dev")
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare review
It certainly couldn’t have been easy for the check-signers at Activision to endorse the abandonment of Call of Duty’s World War II setting: the first-person-shooter series was synonymous with the Second Great War, and it’d been a multi-million seller since its PC debut in 2003. But ditch it they did, as developer Infinity Ward — who now tread on the same Elite Xbox Developer ground as Bungie and BioWare — has pressed the fast-forward button and brought gaming’s most popular Axis-versus-Allies experience into the present day, trading binoculars for laser sights and Hitler for a fictional Middle East president.
In fact, what’s most surprising about Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is just how much better it is than the studio’s previous effort, Call of Duty 2. (Fellow Activision developer Treyarch handled Call of Duty 3.) The fact that Numero Dos was good enough to snap up an OXM Editors’ Choice award at the 360’s launch makes Modern Warfare’s evolution all the more amazing.
We liken the series’ switch to a hard-throwing baseball pitcher who learns to mix up his pitches. If you keep trying to throw as hard as you can, you can be successful for a while (CoD2), but eventually the hitters (gamers) will get wise and start to expect the same thing on the next pitch (CoD3). It’s when you learn to change speeds and upset the hitter’s timing that you transform from a one-year wunderkind into a superstar on your way to the Hall of Fame (CoD4).
That stunning fastball variable at the pitcher’s mound is Infinity Ward’s crowning achievement: a “we-were-sick-of-WWII-too” breakthrough that delivers on every level and offers as much moment-to-moment, hour-to-hour, and week-to-week fun as anything the Xbox 360 has seen yet.
SHIP SHAPE
Call of Duty 4’s opening salvo can’t even be called a salvo — it’s simply not that loud — but it’s no less hard-hitting. Following a short training mission (which contains a timed obstacle course that should keep Achievement-mongers and leaderboard whores busy for some time), you’ll take up arms as British SAS recruit “Soap” MacTavish. You drop from a helicopter and onto the deck of a cargo ship listing at sea in the middle of a colossal rainstorm, ready for action.
It’s on this see-sawing, seafaring vessel that Call of Duty 4 first serves notice of its graphical wow-factor. To say Modern Warfare’s visual fidelity is immediately apparent would be a criminal understatement. Torrid rainfall, rolling thunder, crackling lightning, and marvelously detailed textures and character models all combine to make you say “Whoa,” a word you’ll constantly repeat over the campaign’s 10-hour-or-so duration. But the impact of the amazing visuals is made all the more shocking by the constant 60-frames-per-second smoothness of the action, an irresistible combination previously claimed only by Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden.
You and a small team roll with your commanding officer, Captain Price, as you seek to disarm a stolen nuclear device that serves as the catalyst for the game’s plot. With Price constantly providing status updates and orders, you’ll move from room to room and hallway to hallway, stacking up at doors and clearing areas as if you’d accidentally slipped the Rainbow Six Vegas disc into your 360.
This inaugural mission is pulled off with a quiet intensity that belies the series’ “Loud, louder, loudest” mantra. You might even wonder if you’re really playing Call of Duty — a question that’s answered when the ship is struck by enemy MiG fighter planes and begins to severely list on its way to the bottom of the ocean. This event sets off a hurried escape where you’re almost literally running sideways, only to toss you into — and nearly out of — your extraction helicopter.
As if it wasn’t all cinematic enough, credits scroll across the screen while you witness (from a first-person perspective, of course) a fictional President Al-Asad as he’s captured by radicals, shoved into a car, and taken through the civil war–torn streets of Azbereijan. Sure, having you control the opening cinematic is straight from the Half-Life and Riddick playbook, but it helps lend weight to the game’s story. It also foreshadows the variety you’ll experience, and sets up your actions for the rest of the game.
ACTION JACKSON
These first two segments alone trump any previous Call of Duty, but unlike some games that start strong but peter out, Modern Warfare manages to cram something awesome into each and every single-player mission. And somehow, each level seems to be more gorgeous than the last.
In just the second mission, you’re introduced to night vision — another series first — as you move silently through a swamp before reaching a small village. There you’re given the go-ahead by Price to quietly execute bad guys using either your silenced weapon or a melee knife attack as you comb a pitchblack house in search of your captured informant — the same guy who tipped off your crew about the nuke on the cargo ship. Observant players will notice laptops scattered around each level; like Gears of War’s hidden Cogs, 30 of them are distributed throughout the game, and you’ll earn Achievements for collecting half of and then all of them. Furthermore, the more pieces of enemy intelligence you find, the more goofy cheats you unlock (see boxout).
Throughout CoD4, you’ll split time playing as Soap and as U.S. soldier Sergeant Jackson. As Jackson, the capital city of Azad’s fictitious country in the bright afternoon sunshine is yours to travel and explore. Debris blows in the wind, smoke billows from burning buildings, low-flying jets scream directly overhead, rebels execute drive-by shootings from the flatbeds of beaten-up pickup trucks, and friendly helicopters circle in the sky.
Then it comes to you amid all the noise and chaos — this is still a Call of Duty game, after all, giving you the signal that balls-to-the-wall action is not so much promised as 100-percent guaranteed. Again, though, the intensity doesn’t necessarily stem from a glut of trigger-happy enemies or the vehicles screaming by in Dolby surround sound. Instead, the Rainbow Six déjà vu rings loudly as you storm a television station thought to contain President Al-Asad. The shootout that takes place in the cubicle-cluttered newsroom has you dodging bullets and shards of glass, while hurling grenades straight back in enemies’ faces using the RB button. (Why you can only pick them up and throw them back instead of just kicking them, we’re not sure.) It’s all an absolute thrill.
Related
More like this:
mrs runnyvenom
February 17, 2010 at 5:30pm
It is so funny to read this review a couple of years after the fact. I must say, this was by far the best game I have ever played. Especially the campaign. It took some time for me to play multiplayer but I was in awe when I finally did. While I am not hating COD MW2, it is the second of it's kind and along with most sequel's, has it's ho hum factor. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. But COD 4 was epic, IMO.
Tobby
November 15, 2009 at 3:56am
I am not agree whith you Masterchief, CoD 6 is better than CoD 4 !!Xbox 360
Call of duty Modern Warfare 2
Black Hattitude Trikapalanet Xevonaute Concours SEO Flux RSS Xbox 360 Black Hattitude Forum Xbox 360 Xbox Live
Masterchief977
November 13, 2009 at 7:59am
Hello all, I think CoD 4 stay the best FPS on Xbox 360 even if CoD 6 is here.
A New Penguin
October 14, 2009 at 1:17pm
The campaign is challenging to beat on veteran (which is a good thing for me). The online is one of the best that I've played. Can't wait til MW2 comes out!
Gamerboi666
December 28, 2008 at 7:47pm
This game is amazing! Wether your playing in single player or multiplayer. COD4 is a great game to play with friends or by yourself and will give you the challenge you might be looking for in a game. Its also a fun way to bring up your gamer score. although on multiplayer the game play changes so much but if you dont have get it now. My rating 9.5/10
fluffie is a ma...
December 12, 2008 at 4:29pm
overall good game but multiplayer is a bit hard you die way too fast
D.C.Happe
November 04, 2008 at 6:37pm
This game is pretty sweet, way better than halo 3; both online and in single player. although I would like to see some co-op in the next game.
sid1971
October 14, 2008 at 6:41pm
sid1971 The maps are getting boring. Why can't they make more? The game would never lose appeal if more maps were introduced....plus xbox would make lots more money
EarlessDiablo
October 14, 2008 at 3:30pm
great online and offline.To bad the next game isn't a sequel.
hitmanthief
September 23, 2008 at 9:53am
craziest game ever online is sick and when you beat the game wait around for the credits to finish you'll be glad u did. Make sure you're ready for action. Epilogue!
PsychoOrange
September 19, 2008 at 1:38pm
Awesome online multiplayer that's very much addictive and a must play experience.
Tha Don
September 05, 2008 at 4:04pm
To me personally C0D4 is 1 of da best games ever created for any system.Da single player campaign is supurb.I vote myself 4 da best graphics created and the multiplayer does not get borin,u just have 2 know how 2 use those guns and stop complainin.Storyline multiplayer both get a 10 cant wait for World At War.
M0NG00S3M0WD0WN
August 31, 2008 at 9:22am
It's a fantastic game, but the M-16 is way over powered and the party system is faulty, Not to mention you can't bring your custom classes to system link or split screen games and the annoying tendency for the winning team to always spawn next to the objective in Headquarters. Easily a 10/10, but not perfect and certainly not the second coming it's made out to be.
PetroNSX
July 26, 2008 at 12:39pm
after months of non stop cod 4 online, i downloaded the bad company demo, after 30 minutes online i said screw this and popped cod 4 bak in haha.
soccer07
July 26, 2008 at 10:12am
I have never liked call of duty that much, I have played all 4, and the only one that seemed some what fun was Call of Duty 3. otherwise, I think they are pretty boreing.
powergamer2k8
July 20, 2008 at 3:07pm
call of duty 4 is the best FPS out there. it has good single player with a awesome sleath mission and multiplayer that BF: bad company cant compete 10/10. BUY IT NOW!!! WHAT YOU WAITING FOR?
jjackal79
July 18, 2008 at 12:52pm
cod4 has to be the best game out on market. its got the best single player and the best online play! it gets a 10 out of 10 in my book. but i don`t understand why now they decide to go back to WW11 after modern warfare?stupid if you ask me. and will there ever be another modern warfare game too stand up to COD4?
CCRacerWins
July 05, 2008 at 7:47am
CCRacerWins Lately I'm finding it difficult to put any other disc in the game tray but COD4. I play this game day and night. But now I'm completely frustrated by the fact I cannot initiate an Airstike after 3 kills. Either my D pad has given up (this is likely not the case because I have initiated it after 5 kills), or I just don't understand the instruction. Little help, please! Point me to a good tip source 4 the game. Thanks a mil!
powergloveman
April 23, 2008 at 6:28pm
To FLAWLESS ITs a great game and totally worth every 10 and GOTY award, but its missing one thing halo has on it; co op but still phenomenal game and the best multiplayer on 360
Dzpool
April 23, 2008 at 10:49am
I dind't like this game at all the story was boring and not being able to play co op also the online play was mostly repetitve and a bit boring i really prefer rainbow six vegas games and halo 3 to this i would give this game a 4 out of 10
madhogz
April 21, 2008 at 11:48am
Easily the BEST game ever made so far in the world. with out a doubt the graphics and gameplay online are unimaginable. great stuff! xx
hsoj
April 19, 2008 at 2:09pm
This game was very fun on campaign and Xbox Live was very good at first. But, in my opinion, after going into prestige it got extremely repetitive and boring so i quit playing it...I personally do not see any point in playing a game nonstop to get a little golden cross next to your name Gamertag- H34DsHoT ftw
Sleepless Slaya
April 10, 2008 at 8:49am
When they make call of duty 5, they need a few things, such as more than one person can play online on one console. They also need to take the time and get the shooting down, the messd up shots sometimes =can make you so mad!!!!!
FLAWLESS
April 08, 2008 at 3:45pm
this is the best game right now, no game will beat this one its has everything a game needs to have
celticassassin
April 06, 2008 at 7:20pm
despite my small issues, its prolly the best military shooter ever. i wish they had multiplayer campaign, and selectable rate of fire, but no big deal. i love military shooters, but its still not as good as bioshock. and yeh, whoever thinks they kill zakaev in the sniper mission isnt paying attention. why do u think hes missing an arm in the present time?
cenahk
April 01, 2008 at 7:09pm
I like that to but they only give us 30 sec's to finish mile high club on vetren
ATLien4evr
March 30, 2008 at 3:07pm
The best campain. The best multiplayer. The best game ever. Did I miss anything?
Mr Hp DarkMan
March 29, 2008 at 5:47pm
Good campain its better than Halo 3's campain. But Halo 3 has the best online.
akwonder1
March 26, 2008 at 3:44pm
i have to agree with every one but i have only one negative about the game when playing at home with my brothers the game will lag and almost freeze completely. this game otherwise is topnotch.
Axe Argonian
March 24, 2008 at 2:36pm
It deserves a 10,but BioShock is a far better game. Also,CoD4's MP is getting kind of old...
VoodooTop Cat
March 20, 2008 at 2:58am
Deserves every game of the year award! I wish it had some multiplayer achievements, but other than that, great story, gameplay, graphics, sound, and the list goes. This is a MUST own game. 10/10
TheBlackFin
March 13, 2008 at 9:55pm
It is hard to believe that COD4 did not win game of the year. This is one of the best shooters of all time. --- http://theblackfin.com --- Gamertag: TheBlackFin
usethefork
March 08, 2008 at 6:14pm
Dude...come on. Pay attention to the story. You DON'T kill Inram...you blow his arm off. That was the whole point of the flashback mission, man. _____________________________________ Don't use the spoon. Seriously.
Michael1047
March 08, 2008 at 8:31am
Wow, this game is one of the greatest this decade. except for a few minor story problems(you just killed Inram 15 years ago and now he's selling nuclear weapons to terrorists,Whaaaa?). Gameplay is spectacular and so is the multiplayer. my review for this game, 97 out of 100
hogjowls
March 04, 2008 at 5:58pm
cod 4 leaves the rest of the series in the dust. the only complaint i have is not being able to mute other players in multiplayer. most of the time it's just a bunch of shit talk or annoying noises. why wouldn't there be an option to mute other teams like in halo? I've heard about the "patch" and you can individually mute players you find annoying, but while you do that you're a sitting duck once the game starts. This is also quite tedious. An upgrade should be made for this aspect, otherwise this game completely rules first person shooting.
wak133
March 04, 2008 at 3:49pm
i hate the way you cant play 2 player xbox live on the same console why would they do that
jeffyboy0035
February 25, 2008 at 4:35pm
COD4 Rules Halo 3 even if Campaign isn't with a friend or not.If you played the game and saw the nice graphics?Wow it blows away every game i know.I have played COD4 when i got the game so far i have been playing the game about 25 days and 6 hours or so.What i notice about the game is once halo 3 came out for about few weeks most of the guys i know jump from Halo 3 to COD 4 now the amount of people playing COD4 is now about 2 million for both systems PS3 and xbox 360 which is very extreme.One thing i like about COD4 at first is that you will be ranking up faster.I believe that COD4 should always be game of the year.This game i will be playing everyday.i'll give it a 125% ratings.I would like to see CoD5 have Co op multiplayer for at least 6 players and maybe 50 player multiplayer maps.Now that would be awesome.And Huge Worlds!!!
Connect with OXM Online
Featured Content
Take-Two offers no assurances that the company will renew its expiring deal with...
Bungie's contract with Activision includes four sci-fi shooters, a year of Xbox...
Failed Kinect integration proves that you can't teach an old serpent new tricks.
This month's issue
Features
Crysis 3 announced!
Reviews
Trials Evolution, Devil May Cry HD Collection, South Park XBLA
Previews
Assassin's Creed III, Halo 4, Deadlight, and more!
OXM Twitter Feed
- OXM: 2K may not have BioShock to rock October, but it has another top franchise on tap, with XCOM: Enemy Unknown on 10/9 http://t.co/QLyswSRB11 hours 23 min ago
- OXM: Lego Batman 2 pre-order DLC lets you choose from heroes like Captain Marvel & Nightwing or villains like Bizarro. http://t.co/XxhkAskd13 hours 51 min ago
- OXM: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is here...and it's amazing! Don't miss our red-hot review: http://t.co/yRZ8GMtt @GhostRecon @Ubisoft @RedStorm15 hours 24 min ago
