Single Player

From the very first mission to the fast-paced final minutes, Call of Duty 4 is an incredibly fun experience that immerses you completely in the game and places you right on the frontlines of war. It starts off with a training mission that is mostly taking out targets, walking, and finally completing a short, timed combat scenario. However, as soon as that is complete you are thrust straight into the action when you are dropped onto a ship in the middle of the turbulent waves of the ocean. The mission is fast and intense, and a brilliant way to begin the game, as it really gets you pumped. As soon as you leap to safety after an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock and the ocean itself, you finally have time to breathe and yet it, like nearby every level following, only leaves you wanting more. When the title appears it has a movie like quality; it begins with a fast-paced opening action sequence, followed by a momentary pause for the title, and then a scene that sets the story and tone for much of the game. However, unlike with movies, you are in complete control so the beginning is much more effective at getting you pumped than many well done action sequences at the start of movies. You are entirely responsible for getting out alive and in time, and instead of merely spectating as the action unfolds you are right in the middle of everything.

The title then gives a break to the action and precedes what is one of my favorite interactive cut scenes (for lack of a better word, since it can hardly be called a cut scene) that I can remember. Once again the beginning draws a parallel to movies while the plot and tone is established, and once again it is much more powerful since you are in control and feel like an active participant instead of just a bystander. [Warning: Minor Spoilers, although they don't reveal anything past the very beginning] I found it extremely well done, because you are powerless to change your fate or do just about anything to avoid your impending execution besides just wait and observe the horrible events that take place on the street as you pass. You can see the oppression and death surround you, and watch as your last moments slip away until the very end of your life when you stare down the barrel of the gun you know will be the last thing you ever see. It’s rare to see this emotional element captured so well in a video game, especially a first-person shooter, and being able to control the character while still knowing you are incapable of resisting makes it seem so much more real. You aren’t just watching someone brutally executed, but rather you are experiencing it first hand until the final excruciating moment. [End of spoilers]

Call of Duty 4 handles significant deaths best out of all the games I’ve played, since when you are in control and yet there is nothing you can do it is much more powerful than the usual cut scenes that you only observe. There is another that is as poignant, well done, and emotionally evoking (at least in comparison to other games, but my manliness prohibits me from actually caring about seemingly tragic events in games), but I’m going to avoid the details since that would completely ruin the effect and shock it elicits. I’ll just say this; if there’s any game that makes virtual deaths seem vivid and really makes you experience them, this is it.

Deaths aren’t the only things that are done well, though. The entire game gives the feeling of being in the middle of the action and part of a team, part of something larger instead of just you versus the world.

While the action is amazing and nearly non-stop, the suspense and urgency the game makes you feel can make you more exhilarated than even the largest plain action sequences. The entire “All Ghillied Up” level contained some of the most suspenseful moments of the whole game (and other first-person shooters I’ve played), and I was literally holding my breath when the group of enemy soldiers passed within feet of my motionless body - the entire level kept me on the edge my seat despite the fact I only killed a few men. The deep relief I felt after reaching the end without them so much as guessing I was there was real, and I finally took the deep breath of air I had been unintentionally forgetting since I first began the level. However, that was nothing compared to the end of a level shortly after. When I had to reach the helicopter in 4 minutes going downhill through endless enemies, my heart was racing unbelievably fast, an effect no movie and hardly any other game could possibly create. When I arrived at the helicopter with a mere 2 seconds to spare before they would have abandoned me, I was so relieved and it made the previous parts of the game (including the “All Ghillied Up” level), other games I’ve played, and even movies and television shows seem like nothing. I can honestly say the last few seconds as I rushed towards the helicopter, watching as the counter sped toward zero, were some of the most intense seconds of gaming I have experienced yet. It is moments like those where I feel such relief and sense of accomplishment that truly make this game the incredible and memorable experience it is.

Call of Duty 4 is such an immersive game through the combination of many aspects that have each been perfected, all of which work together beautifully to create the ultimate gaming experience. While just graphics or gameplay or story or any isolated element can’t hold an entire game up, when every single one is done so well it makes for an amazing game.

The graphics are some of the best I’ve seen, and while the environments only vary so much, they all look great. There are a lot of details in almost everything, and even faces look good. Some parts, especially distant landscapes and foliage, look nearly real. The only gripe I had was with the water, which was unimpressive compared to everything else and even some other games. It was flat, didn’t do a whole lot, and seemed bland in the otherwise nice environments. However, overall the visuals are quite impressive and help to make you feel like you are there - especially the lighting.

From the rays of sunlight illuminating an abandoned house to the flickering warmth dispersed by flames to the glow of a cigar on the captain’s face, the lighting is great. The particle effects are also incredible, and the millions of tiny particles suspended in every beam of light are what makes it look so good. The lighting and constantly moving and shifting particles are what brings the rest of the graphics and design to life, which when combined with the already amazing environments and details create stunning visuals. You can really see it all come together whenever something explodes - every explosion is truly a thing of beauty.

The audio is equally well done, and the the guns, enemies, and basically the entire game wouldn’t seem so vivid without the compliments of the wonderful audio. Every shot, every helicopter, and every dying shout sounds great, and the surround sound is very well done. Not only does it really put you in the middle of so many sounds and give a dynamic feel, but it can give you a strategic advantage since you can tell where the enemies and their shots are coming from and also where your allies are to back you up. The bullets whizzing by or the guttural roar of your gun or the boom of an explosion are all done very well, and just like the graphics are definitely top-notch. It’s not just those sounds that are great though, as the dialogue is well done too. The soldiers and commanders sound like they mean what they say, and they actually act unlike in some games (see Gears of War). While their lines aren’t complicated or hard to say realistically, it is still much better than the stiff dialogue that could have easily filled this game if it wasn’t done right. The constant barrage of shouts from not only your teammates and superiors but your enemies gives them life, and while occasionally when you hear the same lines over and over again it gets repetitive (”Got one!” “One down” “Got one!” “One down” “Got one!”) for the most part it just makes them more noticeable and real.

It’s the gameplay that brings it all together though. It is mainly standard first-person shooter fare, but as with any game there are unique options that set it apart. Things like throwing grenades back or surviving attack dogs may not seem needed, but they do add something and at least in the case of throwing grenades back are extremely useful. However, what really makes it shine is how polished and perfected it is. They seemed to have gotten nearly everything right, and it all fits together brilliantly. Even some problems that plague other games like having it auto-save right when you die are taken care of, and I didn’t encounter any glitches or unnecessary difficulties. It appears they put a lot of effort into every aspect so they all work together in harmony without conflicting at all. It really seems complete, with nothing forgotten.

I only wish it could have lasted on longer (…that’s what she said). The single-player is relatively short, and considering how great it is I would have liked for there to be more. However, I can overlook this fact because what was there was definitely perfected. I prefer a concise and polished experience like this over a long one that had more work put into making it last and less into each individual element.

Overall, it is a very engaging game, and the great graphics and audio, constant dialogue surrounding you, interactive scenes, and polished gameplay all converge to create an unforgettable experience that immerses you completely in every aspect of the game.

Oh, and one last thing - make sure to stick through the credits (the developers definitely deserve recognition for what they’ve done) for a sweet rap about the game and a short but frantic extra level that takes place on an airplane.

Pros
+ Amazing graphics, audio, and gameplay make for a truly immersive experience that puts you right on the frontlines of war
+ One of the FPSs that makes you feel and be a part of the story best
+ Cut scenes have a very modern/futuristic look and are all rendered beautifully

Cons
- The water effects are lacking compared to the rest of the graphics, and most water seemed flat and bland
- Why did it have to end?
- Made me use the word “incredible” far too many times

‽ Will Call of Duty 5 be even better, or will it be Treyarch’d into the realm of mediocrity?

Multiplayer

While many of the things that made the single-player portion of the game so incredible like the story and interactive cuts scenes are obviously not part of the multiplayer, almost everything else like the graphics, audio, and of course gameplay are intact and just as good. However, I’m not going to say much about those since I covered them more extensively in the single-player part of this review; I’ll just write about some of the unique and multiplayer specific elements.

Unlike so many mainstream shooters (I’m looking at you, Halo 3), you can’t just run out Rambo-style, guns blazing, health barely lessening even as you are pumped full of bullets. You don’t have much life and die relatively quickly, which means at least some strategy is required. If two people are shooting at each other, one of them will be dead within a few seconds, so you don’t end up emptying your entire clip into someone only to find them still alive and firing back. Melees are much more powerful than in many games too, since instead of whacking someone with your gun you whip out a knife and slice them up. If your melee makes contact, you will definitely kill the unlucky receiver. The quick kills and deaths make this game seem more fast-paced and frantic than other FPSs like Halo 3, but the lack of vehicles and the fact you move at a more realistic pace balances it out. I would still consider this one of the more “intelligent” multiplayer shooters though.

The maps are somewhat varied, but many of them are just levels from the single-player. It would have been better for them to include more multiplayer specific maps, but I imagine that they didn’t have the time and without these there would have only been less maps included, not more created solely for multiplayer.

While the maps are mainly just taken from single-player, the number of different gametypes sets it apart and makes it completely different. They are mostly just variations on the basics like deathmatch, king-of-the-hill, and others centered around objectives, but they are still loads of fun and there is plenty of variety. However, you have to earn them before you can play them online. As your rank increases, so does the number of gametype variants available to you.

Every kill, assist, territory capture, or any other action carries an XP reward, and you rank is determined by the number of XP you have. At the end of each match you see how much you have, how much you gained, and how much is needed for the next rank, so you can easily track your progress and skill.

You want to increase your rank for a number of reasons. Obviously it represents how good you are and is a badge for you display to everyone you play, but it has other benefits too. Like previously mentioned you unlock gametypes at certain levels, and you also unlock new weapons and attributes you can use.

Unlocking items is important mainly because of the option to customize your class. At the beginning of each round you pick a class which determines the weapons you will spawn with, and if you don’t want to use their presets you can make your own. However, you can only use what you have unlocked, so as you gain levels you are able to have better weapons from the very beginning instead of merely picking them up. You can also pick some attributes that improve certain aspects of your character, like raising your health or increasing your accuracy.

Almost all the gameplay options are intact in multiplayer, and things like picking up and returning grenades can prove even more useful and crucial (although I can’t count the number of times I’ve picked up an enemy grenade only to have it explode right in my hand). There are also some multiplayer exclusive features though, which certainly makes it a different experience.

One of my favorites is the kill cam. Whenever you are killed, it replays your death but from the perspective of your adversary. Then you can see what you did wrong or how they killed you, or if you think you’re hidden and suddenly end up dead you can see who’s responsible. It is very useful, and you can see a lot more about how you died from the kill cam then you would have noticed otherwise.

While the initial draw of this game and the part that will most likely leave you with the most memorably unique moments is the single-player, the multiplayer is where the lasting value is and will keep this game entertaining long after the single-player has been completed. The multiplayer has a lot more depth than it might first appear, and makes for a very fun and thrilling online experience that is a perfect compliment to the brilliant single-player.

Categories: I creamed myself, Love, Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox Live