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Multiplayer, first person shooter that moved the franchise from the past to the 21st century

Multiplayer, first person shooter that moved the franchise from the past to the 21st century

Vote: (8,147 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: Callofduty

Version: 1.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(8,147 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Version

Callofduty

1.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Immersive single player campaign
  • Fast paced online multiplayer
  • Addictive leveling and challenges
  • Long term replayability

Cons

  • Slightly dated graphics and gameplay
  • Limited but consistent player pool
  • Limited to only PC players
  • No longer developer supported or updated

Changing the world of first-person shooter games forever, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revolutionized the format for the genre and sold millions of copies in the process. Released by Infinity Ward, a subsidiary of Activision, in November of 2007, it proved to be the catalyst in making Call of Duty the most popular first-person shooter series of all time.

Followed by Modern Warfare 2 in 2009, the series has boasted over 10 years of blockbuster releases ever since. What is most remarkable is the sizable fanbase the original masterpiece still garners to present day. Even with a decades worth of Call of Duty releases in between, Call of Duty 4 is still played worldwide on PC.

Single Player

Straying away from their previous titles focused around the setting of World War II, Call of Duty 4 steps into the modern era. The story takes you around the world, fighting to prevent a nuclear disaster with your small team of military specialists. Fighting from cargo ships in international waters to the desolate city of Chernobyl, the fate of the world depends on completing your missions.

Intense voice acting, impressive visuals, and an overall cinematic experience all translate to one of the best storylines in the Call of Duty franchise.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer is where Call of Duty 4 really shines, creating the backbone of the first-person shooter experience to be mimicked for years to come. Although Modern Warfare was the first foray into next-generation graphics, they are still fairly impressive over 10 years past the original release. Featuring fast-paced gameplay, you can play with up to 18 total players online across a wide variety of maps and game modes.

Implementing the first instance of "prestige mode", leveling up through the ranks had never been more addicting and rewarding. With a maximum level of 55, players are given the option to reset their rank and start back at square one for a new icon and 'prestige'. With a total of 10 prestige resets, hours upon hours of gameplay can be invested into the online mode. With a number of online challenges to gain extra experience, there is always a new task to complete.

In addition to the leveling, Call of Duty 4 offers a wide selection of weapons and classes to customize your loadout. With varying 'perks', which give you special abilities and strengths, weapon customization was truly revolutionized with this game.

The customization doesn't just stop at the attachments on your weapons however, with a selection of camos that can be unlocked through challenges. "Digital Camo". "Blue Tiger Camo", and "Red Tiger Camo" are a few of the color variations that you can apply to your weapon. Along with a secret camo for true completionist players, there are consistent unlockables to pursue.

After the initial release, there was a small update to the multiplayer map pool as an expansion pack in April of 2008. Including the maps "Creek", "Chinatown", "Killhouse", and "Broadcast", it had $10 million in sales across Xbox and Playstation. In June of the same year, the map pack was released for free to all PC users as a part of a promotion through Nvidia.

Pros

  • Immersive single player campaign
  • Fast paced online multiplayer
  • Addictive leveling and challenges
  • Long term replayability

Cons

  • Slightly dated graphics and gameplay
  • Limited but consistent player pool
  • Limited to only PC players
  • No longer developer supported or updated