Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360)

Infinity Ward delivers a blockbuster that's "modern" in some unexpected ways.
1/31/2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments | Page 1 of 3

Call of Duty is a series that has very much played it safe. It did World War II while the going was good, and much to the chagrin of hardcore fans, it even consented to change hands (from Infinity Ward to Treyarch) while its original creators did the heavy lifting involved in envisioning and crafting its true next-gen iteration. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the product of said labor, is unquestionably a return to form for the series (though, to be fair, the worst you could say about the third installment is that it did little more than tread water). So, does this fourth installment represent a substantial risk for a series that's historically kept itself reined in? Sort of, yes, but not for the reason you might assume. The expansive ideas aren't found in the game's "pulled-from-the-headlines" modern setting. It misses a few great opportunities there, in fact. You should be paying attention to the multiplayer -- and if you already like multiplayer shooters, chances are if you have a taste, you'll have no choice but to give it attention.

As you'd expect, Call of Duty 4's story revolves around gallant individuals selflessly taking up arms against the foes of freedom. The writers were aiming big here. In one corner is the most imminent bogeyman hiding in the folds of America's furrowed brow: fundamentalist Islam. In the other is a specter whose menace is just now starting to come into focus after a couple decades of seething slumber: the former Soviet Union. Heavy hitters indeed, and more than adequate for the purpose of rousing the vigilance of the Real American Heroâ„¢ (and his avowed allies). But in a prime example of gaming's chicken-shit approach to telling real war stories, Call of Duty 4's script keeps the pertinent details purposefully vague -- and in some cases, takes them out of the picture completely, as with the unnamed Middle Eastern country where much of the action takes place. What's this Al-Asad dude all about, and why is he in league with Russian ultranationalist Zakhaev, apart from their mutual desire to spangle Old Glory with hot particles and viscera? No one knows, and none less than you, soldier. But it's enough that they want to it and probably have the means, isn't it?

Anyway, the stalwarts you play as probably aren't tripping about the particulars of this brand of maverick foreign policy. Depending on the scenario, you're either U.S. Marine Sergeant Paul Jackson or Sergeant John "Soap" MacTavish of the British Special Air Service. Generally, the portions of the game that take place in Russia have you playing as MacTavish, while the levels in Whatchamacallitztan cast you as Jackson. True to the Call of Duty blueprint, though, you're never alone; you'll always operate as part of a squad, the size of which depends on the scenario at hand. This is a good thing, too, as both MacTavish and Jackson very much embody the archetypal voiceless FPS protagonist, and without the constant chatter supplied courtesy of their more colorful comrades, the game would have felt pretty soulless. The whole production benefits from wonderful voice work, which makes the story engaging on a minute-to-minute level despite its big-picture vagueness. Series regular Captain Price is a particular treat, as this is a mentor whom you get to meet during an especially exciting blast from the past.