Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® (2007)
" Intense action-thriller with cinematic storytelling and revolutionary multiplayer but outdated graphics "
Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® (2007) Review
Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® (2007) remains a landmark title that fundamentally reshaped the first-person shooter genre. Celebrated for its cinematic single-player campaign, the game offers a gripping and emotionally charged narrative featuring iconic missions like "All Ghillied Up" and memorable characters such as Captain Price and Soap MacTavish. The campaign's pacing and storytelling deliver a Hollywood blockbuster experience that still resonates nearly two decades later.
On the technical side, while the graphics are dated by modern standards, they were cutting-edge at release, with detailed environments, impressive lighting, and immersive sound design. The multiplayer mode revolutionized online shooters by introducing progression systems, perks, killstreaks, and customizable loadouts, creating addictive and competitive gameplay that established a lasting community. Despite some performance and compatibility issues on newer systems and occasional difficulty spikes, the game’s legacy endures as a classic that defined modern military shooters.
Highlights
Players consistently praise the game's engaging and tightly paced campaign, immersive storytelling, and memorable characters.
The multiplayer is lauded for its innovative mechanics like perks, killstreaks, and progression systems that set new standards for the genre.
Graphically, the game was impressive for its time, with detailed environments and realistic sound design that enhance immersion.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include technical issues such as crashes and performance problems on modern hardware, especially laptops and Windows 11 systems.
Some players find certain campaign missions frustratingly difficult or poorly balanced.
There is also dissatisfaction regarding the game's current pricing, with many feeling it is overpriced for its age and content, and concerns about multiplayer server availability and security risks.
Pros
- • Campaign offers a cinematic and emotionally gripping storyline with memorable missions and characters.
- • Multiplayer revolutionized online shooters with perks, killstreaks, and customizable loadouts.
- • Graphics and sound design were cutting-edge at release, adding to immersion.
- • Tight pacing keeps players engaged throughout the single-player experience.
- • Strong nostalgic value and a dedicated player and modding community.
- • Iconic mission design such as the stealth-focused 'All Ghillied Up'.
- • Well-balanced gunplay with responsive controls and satisfying weapon feedback.
Cons
- • Technical issues including crashes and freezes on some modern hardware configurations.
- • Multiplayer servers are limited or require additional purchases, reducing player base.
- • Some campaign missions have artificial difficulty spikes causing player frustration.
- • Outdated graphics compared to modern titles may deter new players.
- • Pricing is considered too high for a nearly 20-year-old game by many.
- • Reports of potential security risks when accessing multiplayer without proper precautions.
- • Lack of official support leads to reliance on community fixes and mods.
Rating Criteria
The new action-thriller from the award-winning team at Infinity Ward, the creators of the Call of Duty® series, delivers the most intense and cinematic action experience ever. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare arms gamers with an arsenal of advanced and powerful modern day firepower and transports them to the most treacherous hotspots...
