Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

40 to 100 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Instant classic"

I received a PS3 the Christmas of 2009, so I really didn't get to live through the hype of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I purchased the game a few months later, and I was blown away.

STORY
You are (primarily) John "Soap" MacTavish. There are two evil men out there- Khaled Al Asad and Imran Zakhaev. Your job is to eliminate these Ultranationalists and stop a global nuclear threat. The story evolves at a great pace, and even includes a flashback segment which allows you to relive the destruction of Pripyat after the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident as your leader and mentor, Captain John Price.

GRAPHICS
The amount of detail and texture in Call of Duty 4 graduates it from a mere video game to a lifelike experience. Character animations are fantastic, and the amount of detail in character models is very high. The game was praised in 2007 when it first released because of its superb graphical quality. The environments also look VERY realistic. For example, the beginning of the mission "Charlie Don't Surf" looks fresh and cinematic. Or in other missions, such as "All Ghillied Up," where the foliage is thick and rich. Superb quality overall.

GAMEPLAY
Not much too it. You move from point A to point B, take cover, kill this guy, move up, take out that tank. Standard FPS gameplay, but sometimes its different. The game has many thrilling action moments thrown in, which adds suspense, realism, and sometimes even fear. All Ghillied Up offers the best gameplay experience, in my opinion. Sniping with your buddy in a ghillie suit while using stealth to avoid a ruthless army? Fun all the way.

AUDIO/SOUNDTRACK
The theme song is one of my top ten favorites, no doubt. It is very calm and tranquil, but its also mysterious and vaguely epic. Everything sounds great. Voiceacting, guns, ambience, all of it sounds top-notch, and provides for a realistic war scene.

ONLINE
I've spent at least 50 hours playing online, it is EXTREMELY addicting and innovative. Words can't express how fun this game is when playing with others. Customizing guns, choosing unique abilities called perks, and sending choppers to gun down enemies, whats not to love? You can also complete challenges to earn experience and increase your rank, unlocking new perks, weapons, and challenges along the way. Although there are no rideable vehicles or destructible environments like other games (Yes, Battlefield, I'm looking at you), the game still offers very classic and rich gameplay that can last you hundreds of hours. The only flaw that keeps the online from achieving pure gaming nirvana are the host migrations and connection issues. Connection has always been an issue with Call of Duty, so I'll have to accept that. However, the host migration is not acceptable. Every time the host of the match leaves, the game makes you wait 5 minutes, and then the game ends. This is frustrating to the max, and can take away lots of potential experience and challenge oppurtunities. This holds the online back from being grade A, which is disappointing.

VALUE
Must-Have

OVERALL

Pros: Great graphics, varied gameplay in various locations, addictive online, compelling story, price tag of under $20
Cons: Host migration frustrating