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Publisher: Activision
Age Rating: 15+
Developer Infinity Ward’s pedigree in creating classic World War II shooters is undeniably impressive, but even they have excelled themselves with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Packed with explosions, tension and edge-of-the-seat gameplay, this stunning Xbox 360 title also brings games ever closer to Hollywood thanks to some superbly-crafted cinematic sequences that would make even a certain Mr. Spielberg jealous.
Played through the eyes of the Americans and the British, the game follows the 22nd SAS Regiment and the Marine Corps 1st Force Recon in a game of cleverly-crafted missions and events.
Improving on previous games in the series, this one begins with fantastic cinematic presentation and continues to grip the player throughout. From sniper-based stealth and car chases to groundbreaking flybys, the full-on action rarely lets up and provides a ride more exhilarating than Blackpool’s own stomach-churning rollercoaster.
The excellent first-person combat remains very similar to past releases in the series, though the computer-controlled characters have certainly had their IQ increased a little. Throw a grenade, for example, and instead of them simply standing around as though waiting for a bus – as they did in the past – now they see it coming and run, take cover and, perhaps best of all, sometimes they actually throw it back at you.
Controls are wonderfully intuitive, with the fantastic aim-assist system helping you to secure your targeting using the 360 gamepad. With a quick press of the left trigger while near an enemy, you’ll automatically line-up ready to fire.
One of the best upgrades to the Call of Duty series, however, has to be the excellent multiplayer functionality featured here. There’s an option to enjoy four-player split-screen action, 18 players online or up to 24 via System Link.
A breathtaking number of gameplay modes makes this one of the most versatile releases of the year. Are you ready? Well, here goes! There’s Free for All, Team Deathmatch, Team Tactical, Team Objective, Headquarters, Search and Destroy, Team Hardcore, Domination, Ground War, Sabbotage, Oldcore and Old School.
The graphics in the game are like fine art, with depth of field, wonderful textures and dynamic lighting effects to beat them all. Explosions and smoke look stunning, as do the character models with their impeccable attention to detail.
There are very few bad points about this superb release. You could nitpick, of course, and complain there’s a real lack of checkpoints in the time sensitive missions, meaning you’ll often be forced to replay them to the point of frustration. Overall though, there’s little wrong here.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a stunning return to the top for this excellent series. With a spectacular single-player game, fantastic multiplayer modes and the explosive combat we have all come to know and love, this will keep gamers glued to their screens for months to come.
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