The Just Win Clan

Call of Duty 4:  Modern Warfare Reviewed

By: Matt Phillips

I’m going to do something a little different on this review.  Instead of following the [SuK] format I’ve decided to take this in a different direction.  Special games should get special treatment.  To be honest I’ve tried to write this about a dozen times and always felt like I wasn’t doing the game justice.  There is so much to talk about, without writing a book it’s impossible to get it all down.    Here is my proclamation.  Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare is the best video game ever created. 

Now I understand that anyone who reads this and has played the game might disagree, but I would challenge them to find me a better all around game.  Some other games that come to mind that might fit into the category of “best all time” are titles such as the original Gran Turismo on PS1, or SOCOM 2, and God of War on PS2.  Maybe it’s even Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo.  When these games were released they all were awesome, but they simply don’t stack up with today’s HD “next generation” games.  Whether we are talking about the graphics, sound, playability, fun factor, or replay value; COD 4 blows the doors off of anything pre HD.  Personally, I’ve gone through the one player a half dozen times on each difficulty level.  Each time I play I find something new.  My five year old daughter actually likes to watch me play.  This game looks and sounds so good it’s entertaining just to watch.

If you’re not into the traditional one player format preferring instead to play online, Call of Duty doesn’t disappoint.  In my opinion this is where the game truly shines and is intended to be played.  Simple navigation, a friends list, clans, weapon and player customization, they thought of everything.  The best barometer for how good a game really is is the game’s longevity.  How long can you play a game without loosing interest?  With COD 4 that question still hasn’t been answered.  Six months since the release date and it still dominates most of my playing time.

If you’re on this site and reading this review then I can only assume that you’ve played the game.  Instead of giving you more of my opinions on how good the game is and what you can expect when you fire it up for the first time (which I’m sure you all already have), I would like to list a few minor “tweaks” that might, or might not be an issue for you.

First, is On-line game customization or lack thereof (excluding Private Match).  What I mean is the ability to create your own custom game. Deciding on things like maps, match type, weapons allowed, ETC.  For me, I like playing HCTDM (Hardcore Team Death Match).  It would be cool if I could pick the maps, the size of the teams, the weapons allowed, the length of the match, the method used for deciding victory, and finally my team.  The way it’s set up now I have no control over any of that.  Wouldn’t it be cool to play a map with pistols only? 

The way they decided the MVP on any online match is for lack of a better word, stupid.  COD places absolutely no value on killing without getting killed.  Instead, the whole system is set up solely on kills alone.  What that means is if I have 15 kills and 4 deaths and you have 16 kills and 17 deaths, not only are you awarded more experience points, but you are listed as being the best player.  This makes no sense.  If victory in the match is decided on points and points are awarded for kills, then if you have a team member dying more than he is killing he is hurting your team. The true best player is the person with the most kills with the best kills to deaths ratio.  A simple fix would be to deduct experience points for each death.  Essentially what I’m saying is that there should be more value placed on any individual that kills more than he dies.

The open microphone system and poor communication are also places for improvement.  This might just be me but I like the push to talk way of communication when playing shooters.  This might be a hold over from SOCOM, but for whatever reason I don’t like hearing somebody’s family having dinner in the back ground.  Or a crying baby, a screaming wife, rap music, whatever.  I also don’t like that I can’t yell something in my house without everybody online hearing it.  It’s rude and tactless, but if you want to talk with your team it’s absolutely necessary.  I also feel that the game cuts out too much while talking.  If you and a friend are just trying to have a conversation, many times words will get lost.  It’s almost like talking with somebody on a cell phone in an area with poor reception.  An in game volume setting would also be a welcome improvement.

I’d also like to see more emphasis on clans, specifically clan wars, and clan ratings.  Again, this might be a hold over from SOCOM, but I love the idea of clan wars.  I think it makes the game more interesting, and more enjoyable.  The feeling of belonging to something (as strange as that sounds) is cool.  Many times in the past I played games just for the clan.  The feeling of “they need me” when your fellow clan members are playing is missing in this game.

What the hell is up with all the chicks playing this game?  I understand it’s good, but chicks playing video games??  Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the opposite sex playing video games.  That is as long as it’s a different game than the one I’m playing.  Hello, that is why they invented the Wii!  Go play that ridiculous bowling game with your little brother or whatever it is you do with that stupid thing and leave the FPS’s to us.   

I have a few more little annoyances but it’s really nit picking about minor details.  For the most part I have gotten used to the above “tweaks” to the point that I don’t even notice them anymore.  The good out weigh the bad by such a gigantic margin it’s hard to complain. I’m going to give this game a 9.9 rating and say to anyone that will listen that you should absolutely own this game.  I’m deducting that tenth of a point for the MVP scoring method.  In my opinion that is the only really stupid thing about COD 4, fortunately it’s not that big of a deal.  Most people that I play with see the flaw and will acknowledge the true winner of each match.  Either way, if you play 3 or 4 games with same group the best players will stand out. 

Bottom Line – 9.9

The bottom line is, if you don’t have Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, drop what you are doing and get it now!

I thought it was important to note that while these "tweaks" are proposed for the sequel to Call of Duty 4, it is important to note that that sequel really isn't Call of Duty 5.  Call of Duty games are actually developed by two different developers, which gives Activision (the game publisher) a chance to roll out a new Call of Duty game on a yearly basis.  Call of Duty 4 was developed by Infinity Ward.  The previous version, Call of Duty 3, was developed by Treyarch.  Infinity Ward also developed the original Call of Duty released in 2003 and Call of Duty 2 released in 2005. 

Call of Duty's other publisher, Treyarch, currently has Call of Duty 5 in the works and the game is due to release in November 2008.  It is likely that Infinity Ward will be publishing Call of Duty 6, thus that is the game this article is directed towards.  Also, it is reported that Infinity Ward reworked their contract with Activision and may be developing all Call of Duty games beyond Call of Duty 5.

~BankerBill