Metareview: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2007 at 2:58PM }

War is good -- for games. Infinity Ward's latest, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, hits the shelves with resounding applause. It really will be a good quarter for publisher Activision. Call of Duty 4 drops all that feel-good WWII stuff and goes straight for the modern war quagmire resulting in an even more intense experience than the series is known for. Modern combat apparently brings out modern intensity.

Game Daily (100/100): "Combat is visceral and unrivaled. You've never experienced anything more vicious and unforgiving. Rockets zip past your head, attack choppers shred nearby houses with gunfire, jets carpet bomb an area, tanks blast through walls and soldiers fall by the hundreds. The insanity, coupled with your character's inability to absorb as many hits as in other games (Halo 3, Bioshock), causes you to question your actions and rethink strategies. Bottom line, if this game represents even just a fraction of the hell actual soldiers deal with on a day-to-day basis, we have a newfound respect for the armed forces."
IGN (94/100): "The single-player experience is easily Infinity Ward's best work to date. Calling it intense may be an understatement. The overall story is standard action movie fare, but the relationships built over the short five hours of play are surprisingly strong. Though the single-player lacks length, the multiplayer should keep you invested in COD4 for the long winter. This is a truly fantastic multiplayer offering that's as deep as any other online game available."
GameTap (90/100): "COD4 grips the imagination and finds a way to impact the player's emotions. And though we've seen a ton of games on similar subject matter, COD4 distinguishes itself with a washed-out gritty look and profound attention to detail. That same level of detail carries over to the online campaigns, which are just as vast and in-depth as anything found in the single player missions. From beginning to end--especially the end--COD4 is an amazing immersive experience. All other first-person shooters coming out definitely have to step it up at this point, because the bar has been set high."

Tags: call of duty 4, cod4, metareview

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Skeffington @ Nov 6th 2007 3:05PM

I have no interest in FPS and/or war games whatsoever, but regardless I have to admit that it looks amazingly good in motion.

Jerk Face @ Nov 6th 2007 4:01PM

I'm in your boat; and I saw this game for the first time this weekend. Honestly? Holy hell is it intense. It is loud, and gritty, and terrifying. If you have a 360 or a good PC, I'd honestly recommend grabbing it or even renting it just for the experience.

gonk @ Nov 6th 2007 3:12PM

the beta was pretty damn good

if they fixed the lag issues, then i'll buy this today

Matthew @ Nov 6th 2007 6:07PM

Yeah I was in the Beta as well and picked the game up yesterday have only experienced one online match where there was a Connection Interruption, and the game is phenomenal, but I pre-ordered mine at EB Games and they got undershipped and I got the last copy so I don't know if it is hard to find or not

NaeemTHM @ Nov 6th 2007 3:12PM

~Ode to Halo 3~

Well Halo...we had a good run. But now I must retire you. For CoD4 is here and it is Godly. But fear not Halo, CoD4 will soon join you in the "CD Case of No Return".

You see...all these games are just to tide me over until Mass Effect arrives.

gir @ Nov 6th 2007 3:16PM

or Brawl

arrrgh @ Nov 6th 2007 3:18PM

hell yeah brawl... but ima still get cod4 :):)

NaeemTHM @ Nov 6th 2007 3:24PM

I dont include SSBB.

Because Brawl will make all other video games before and after it's release obsolete.

Shagittarius @ Nov 6th 2007 3:44PM

LAWL BRAWL...I love games for 4 year olds.

Hirsbrunner @ Nov 6th 2007 3:47PM

Shagittarius wrote:

"LAWL BRAWL...I love 4 year olds."

*fixed*

vidGuy @ Nov 6th 2007 3:48PM

Last I knew, T-rated games weren't meant for four year olds.

Shagittarius @ Nov 6th 2007 3:48PM

Don't know why we can't have a discussion about a game that has nothing to do with nintendo without the Wiitards showing up to jerk themselves off about mario something...

Obie @ Nov 6th 2007 3:50PM

Ah yes, Mass Effect and Brawl...we have to admit...all these good games are spoiling us. ;)

Anticrawl @ Nov 6th 2007 4:07PM

I seriously think Shagittarius was rapped as a child by a man dressed in a Mario outfit. There is no reason for your blind hatred of all Nintendo.

I just don't understand why people can't enjoy all the consoles. I know I do, Rachet & Clank will hold me off til I can get COD4, then COD4 will tide me over til Mass Effect which will last me till Super Mario Galaxy which will last me til Turok and SSB:Brawl come out. That is after I sell my kidney on the black market so I can afford all this ontop of rent, food and college stuff.

Foetoid @ Nov 7th 2007 12:24AM

Shaggy is just pissed because he knows, deep down, that Smash Bros Brawl is going to be the best selling game this gen by far, all thanks to the online multiplayer, level editor, Snake and Sonic. There is no doubt that not a single game within the next 5 years will sell more than Smash Bros Brawl.

Geeter84 @ Nov 7th 2007 9:13AM

I think its better then halo 3 for the simple fact that it doesnt look like a kids Tv show while your playing it with purple weapons and blue explosions. And Less annoying kids out in the community but that will change im sure of. As Far as Brawl, I havent heard of it till I read this forum, I dont buy G rated games.

gir @ Nov 6th 2007 3:13PM

WOW!! I'm impressed. I might get this game.

License to ill @ Nov 6th 2007 3:13PM

Got the game yesterday haven't had the chance to play it yet. Damn this is really turning into the best year in gaming for all systems...

vidGuy @ Nov 6th 2007 3:15PM

It looks great. I was going to nab this at Family Video for $53 but then I read about a glitch in the Circuit City website that gave it to you for $30 because COD3 (which you get for free with this game) was backordered.

Unfortunately for all you, I think they fixed the glitch now.

vildmule @ Nov 6th 2007 3:15PM

I've been thinking about getting CoD4, the ingame videos seem very neat and those reviews sure paint a pretty picture. But the other two over hyped rated fps games to recieve reviews like this doing the fall left me ranging from dissapointment (bioshock) to regret over even bying (halo3).

So what use do these reviews have? Sure CoD4 might actually deserve it's reviews, but it's impossibly to know when reviewers seem to focus on the hype rather than the actual games.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 6th 2007 3:18PM

Keep in mind my friend, that that's probably because you have difference of opinion. Just because you don't like something, or you found something disappointing doesn't mean the product sucked for everyone, it just means that you and the reviewer obviously differed in opinion tis all.

CaptNink @ Nov 6th 2007 3:30PM

You were disappointed with Bioshock?! What didn't you like?

License to ill @ Nov 6th 2007 3:41PM

If you thought Bioshock sucked you should just retire from gaming...

Jake @ Nov 6th 2007 3:39PM

Seconded. The majority of Bioshock and Halo 3 owners are not disappointed. Your taste and opinion on these two games just happens to differ from the mainstream.

Usually when somebody says something is good, it is just an opinion. ;)

arrrgh @ Nov 6th 2007 4:03PM

+ 1029482109 on bioshock and halo being massive disappointments. I couldn't deal with either for the life of me. Luckily Gears wasn't overhyped and ended up impressing the hell out of me. Honestly this new cod looks to pick up where gears left off putting this huge grin on my face. :)

Anticrawl @ Nov 6th 2007 4:15PM

I concure vildmule, I blew through Halo 3 and unlocked everything in about a week(including going back, glitching out of maps and finding character model glitches) and as for Bioshock it's been a while since I've had that much regret over spending 60 dollars. Just wasn't a game for me and I'm shocked to see so many sheep here stating you aren't a gamer if you didn't like Bioshock.

I found the whole experience to be watered-down and bland. You fought the same enemies that really weren't that satisfying to kill and it's been the first FPS in a while where I just felt shooting things was a chore. When gunplay isn't fun anymore then you're game has hit an alltime low in my opinion.

I'm hoping COD4 will be a game to satisfy my FPS needs where Bioshock left a nasty taste in my mouth and Halo 3 didn't satisfy my appetite.

arrrgh @ Nov 6th 2007 4:26PM

wow shit. finally someone AGREES with me that bioshock didnt have the "feel" in teh weapons and deaths that games like half-life nailed eons ago

DWells55 @ Nov 6th 2007 6:05PM

So let me get this straight, arrrgh, you thought Gears of War, an over-hyped, generic, 3rd person shooter with stale gameplay and poor voice acting was a good game, but Bioshock with its innovative, beautifully designed, art-filled, 20+ hour long campaign was not a good game. Wow, I have no idea how you could have ever come to that conclusion.

Gears is not a special game. It was a game with pretty graphics and tons of hype which resulted in high reviews. But it gets old really, really quickly. It doesn't really offer anything new or even perfect the old.

vildmule @ Nov 6th 2007 6:19PM

I havn't heard of anyone that wasn't a little bit dissapointed by bioshock, of course this is mainly from my friends who all like me loved system shock 2. That being said, I must add that I never said anything about it sucking.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 6th 2007 3:16PM

WHAT????? BAWWWWWW!!!!! GAME DAILY GAVE THE GAME A 100. I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD THE GAME IS, NO GAME CAN GET 100 CAUSE IT'S PERFECT!!!! BAWWW!!! THIS REVIEW SUCKS!!!!

*ahem*

Anyways, I'm not surprised by the high scores. I liked the beta, but because I have no interest in single player, I'll just gamefly it.

gonk @ Nov 6th 2007 3:19PM

does gamefly let you keep the game for a year?

because I can see myself playing this for that long, the multiplayer was great. as long as they have more like 6 good maps though, instead of just 3

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 6th 2007 3:23PM

Well there's no game fees so as long as you keep on paying monthly for the service, you can keep it.

SugarDaddy @ Nov 7th 2007 8:41AM

I totally agree. I lost complete respect for Game Daily (though admittedly, I don't think I had any to begin with). This review (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/nega-review-call-of-duty-4/) meticulously points out all the reasons why this game is not 100/100. Booo game daily! Learn how to be a critic. No game is 100% perfect.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Nov 6th 2007 3:22PM

5 hours? :(

Does anyone know if this game has some of the feeling of the first game? For example, the chatue level (I know I spelled it wrong...) sort of had a creepy - it's quiet, too quiet vibe going on that I liked. CoD 2, I don't remember it having that as much and CoD 3 was a disaster for it.

TomCo @ Nov 6th 2007 4:01PM

5 Hours?!

Thats all well and good for something like Portal (which was probably the better for it).

But when I'm expected to lay down 60euro for a game I expect more than an afternoon of play, and yes, I am aware of the multiplayer component.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 7th 2007 9:18AM

Um, I'll take 5 hours of pants-shitting intensity over most of the bland 15-20 hour games out there any day.

Plus, if you want to make the campaign longer, try playing it on some setting other than "pussy."

Jtenma @ Nov 6th 2007 3:39PM

I got the game and let me just say it is one of the best multiplayer experiences I've had in a long time...

When I log online, all you hear is constant chatter about teamwork strategies and how great this game is...thats what a gaming community should be like.

I have just started the SP campaign and I dont want to spoil it... but it constantly gives you tose "wow" moments that make you smile.

Also the game is really clean. And when I say really clean, I mean REALLY CLEAN, with subtle effects going on in the distance.

Also, I got it for ps3.

Jtenma @ Nov 6th 2007 3:42PM

Also, shooting people throgh walls is always fun.

And so is waiting in the grass with a knife to gut someone...

Also, dogs?

HineyWipe @ Nov 6th 2007 3:46PM

I picked it up today @ B-Buy. (idjuts...didn't have it out on display..TODÅY IS RELEASE DÅTE 11/6 for cryinoutloud!) BTW, it came with Behind Enemy Lines DVD..some kinda promo.

Cya online...Charlie Oscar Delta 4.

Count Noobula @ Nov 6th 2007 3:49PM

Can't wait until Call Of Duty 5: Future Warfare comes out next year....

vidGuy @ Nov 6th 2007 3:53PM

Call Of Duty 5: Nazis In Space

NATO_Duke @ Nov 6th 2007 3:58PM

Vid - that has to be the best idea ever. I was thinking Nazi Katamari, but no, Nazi's in Space would be perfect.

megaStryke @ Nov 6th 2007 4:39PM

Call of Duty 5: Electric Booga...live?

Geist @ Nov 6th 2007 8:27PM

Call of Duty 5: ....

Oh man I can't beat Nazis in Space.

Flyy (NDF) @ Nov 6th 2007 3:54PM

WAR! HUH! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR??

Shockgamer @ Nov 6th 2007 3:55PM

I still haven't played Bioshock or Halo 3. ;_;

Somebody call for a time out on FPS games, I'm going to drown.

NATO_Duke @ Nov 6th 2007 4:06PM

Not playing Bioshock is a mistake. It really did come through as one of the best fps experiences ever.

Ben Hobbs @ Nov 6th 2007 4:19PM

Drown in what, all the games you haven't played.

Anticrawl @ Nov 6th 2007 4:20PM

You didn't miss much with Bioshock but Halo 3 was alright, just didn't take long to get bored with it. You could unlock and beat everything just playing a little everyday for a week.

Don't let the sheep fool you into spending 60 bucks on Bioshock though, you have been warned.