
I just had to write a few words of apreciation for what is undoubtably one of the finest experiences I have yet had in a videogame. Infinity Ward’s exceptional Call of Duty 4 is one of the best designed, most stunning looking games on the 360 so far, and is packed with intelligent, mature real-world warfare gameplay topped with a glossy Hollywood action movie sheen. The creators of what is easily the best war series available (not including COD 3 or any other COD spin-off not made by Infinity Ward), this latest entry jumps from the previous World War 2 settings to moden day action, and it gives the series a breath of life…and a polish & immediacy that I admit to being surprised by. To think I had hesitated buying this game with reports the single-player campaign was too short. (for me it lasted just the right amount of time, with 3 acts and over a dozen varied missions, that warrant several replays just for their stellar experience alone (a fave being ‘All Ghilled Up’) . Add to this an addictive, and deep multiplayer experience, that is surely the most fun I have had on XBOX Live thus far (even if I do rubbish!), with an Arcade Mode for high score retreads of your fave missions to brag to friends with – this package has the lot. Not since Half-Life 2 have I come away from a game so satisfied.
What it does right:
Variety – not every mission is the same
Story – unlike some war games, you’re not recreating famous battles – u have a POINT and you are a specific character (in this case, two characters).
Maturity – some shocks and twists will knock you sideways.
Presentation – Infinity Ward should get a stack of awards for one of the best looking & sounding games yet.
What it does wrong:
Linearity – sometimes you can feel a bit ‘lead by the hand’ – not much room to make your own path.
Difficulty – Some missions seem too easy on default setting – to the point you can sometimes feel your squad are doing all the work for you.
Longevity – some missions could be longer.