Daimon's Lair

Immersion: This is--hands down--THE most immersing game I have ever played. The game plays like a movie and except for the times I got stuck because I'm only an average player, that experience never stopped. Even during load screens. Yes. The designers at Infinity Ward made possibly the singe coolest design choice I have ever scene--disguise the load screens as cut scenes with only minimal pauses. I was literally gripping my controller with tension as I played some parts of the game.

The storyline takes of Call of Duty franchise where it's never been before: modern warfare. Begone old, tired WWII with its utterly known outcomes and thus lack of ultimate drama. Enter in a new, original storyline which is Tom Clancy-esque in its themes and design. The story isn't terribly original, but it's the way in which it's interwoven into the game that is so original.

The opening level--and indeed the whole game--is played through a unique perspective that I've never quite encountered. Both PCs are not commanders, not in charge, yet it's not like your squadmates will do everything for you.

You begin the game as a newbie in the SAS. In fact, on the first mission the NPCs will do most of the work, letting you bring up the rear. Just try to survive. Soon the game introduces a similarly low-ranked American soldier as your second PC.

You become more involved as the game goes on, but you're never in charge and only occasionally do you have to take point if you don't want to. You're not a one man army a la Halo. You're just one of the guys. Albeit you're the guy that can't die. At least, that's what they want you to think. Let's just say that the way the American storyline ends is something I've always wished the writers of "24" had the balls to do.

One thing I wish is that the cover system was better--something along the lines of Gears, where integrated into the cover system are moves like SWAT turns, duck-and-run, etc. That said, there are few complaints which will ruin the immersion rating.

The graphics are amazing. This is one of the most beautiful games I've played on the 360. The sound is equally good--this is something you'll want 5.1 surround for. Trust me.

Replay Value:

The campaign is short and sweet. In IGN's review they estimated it took about 6 hours to complete, which sounds about right. But the story is so good and some parts are so challenging, this is something you'll want to replay several times. I finished the game on Normal, and need to go back and finish my game on Hardened. What I've found so far is that--like many shooters--there are parts that you can breeze through and there are others where you want to scream and pull your hair out. Every time.

The campaign, in my mind, is where COD4 shines. The multiplayer is very popular--constantly competing with Halo 3 for the top Xbox Live title--but it rubs me the wrong way. I think I'm just not a fan of class-based multiplayer.

In essence, before each match you can pick what class you want to start as--this determines your starting/re-spawn weapons and "perks". As you complete certain challenges and gain EXP, more weapons and perks unlock. Thus, at least in theory, the longer you play the stronger player you become.

This is all fine and good, but (unless there has been a recent patch which changed this) Infinity Ward has failed to offer any kind of matchmaking/trueskill system to ensure that players will be matched with other players who have similar experience/weapon arsenals. Which naturally makes it hard for noobs like myself to gain any exp and catch up.

I wouldn't mind the class-based multiplayer if it was like other games in which all or at least a majority of the weapons were already unlocked and it was simply a matter of choice. Almost all the time when I see myself dying in the pre re-spawn "kill cam", my killer is someone with a weapon and/or scope I have no access to. Which just pisses me off. It's hard enough in games like Halo 3 to beat significantly better players, let alone giving them an inherent advantage from the very beginning.

In essence it's a reverse handicap system, which in turn becomes the major pitfall of the title.

Balancing:

My heaviest critique of the title on this account would simply be a repeat of my diatribe against COD4's multiplayer. Needless to say I won't torture the reader by repeating it.

The single-player campaign is well-designed with a natural progression in the difficulty levels. Not only that, but while your starting weapon on any given mission is fixed, rest assured that another weapon will be available to pick up if you prefer. Which I often did.

As far as game mechanics go, the controls are pretty well laid out. This was the first title I've ever played where you have the choice between holding down the left trigger to aim down the sights (which makes your fire more accurate) and firing from the hip. This mechanic works well, though I like it better in Gears, where your integration behind cover is so important.

Another mechanic which grew on me is the ability to pick up a grenade and throw it back. At the beginning, I almost never did this and simply tried to run backwards. By the end, I didn't even need to see the grenade indicator on the HUD--when I heard the clink of the grenade hitting the ground, I pressed RB instinctively to throw it back.

Final Impressions: This is a must-have for those who like shooters. Other gamers need not necessarily apply, but trust me--it's fun. I'm mixed on the current COD game (World at War) bec. it's another WWII, but I'm eagerly awaiting Infinity Ward's next Modern Warfar game. My only gripe is the multiplayer. So, if I knew what I now know, I still would have bought it, but I probably would have waited for the price to drop after the multiplayer became less popular.

One final note: COD4 has spawned one of the best user-created videos of all-time: