Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | PS4 Campaign Review
This review is based entirely on the campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Multiplayer will not be discussed here. I’m sure it’s excellent.
War is anything but pleasant. It’s dirty, messy, and messed up. It also seems to be necessary in this world of ours. Infinity Ward and Activision give us a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare that is aware of this. It leans less into the bombast than previous Modern Warfare games did, and more willingly addresses the murkiness of war. There are heroes on all sides; one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. You don’t come out of any mission feeling like a hero.
War
You’ll play as three different characters throughout the game. Alex is an American soldier who is still searching for a truer purpose. Kyle is a member of British SAS who gets handpicked for an elite unit by series mascot Captain Price early into the game. Farah is a woman leading a resistance in the war torn country of Urzikstan. Through all three of them, you’ll see different perspectives on the battles being fought.
It’s all very compelling. The game asks more of you than you’d expect out of a game titled Modern Warfare. It puts the realities of conflict in front of you. A lot of firefights have civilians running around, so you’ll need to be watching your fire constantly. It’s hard to tell who’s a friendly, or who’s a hostile. Waterboarding, child death, and chemical weapons are not fun topics, but they are a reality. I respect that Infinity Ward took a franchise with such a “dude bro” reputation and really made players think about the weight of playing war at home.
What is it Good For?
It’s not all doom and gloom in Modern Warfare, though. The shooting is as tight as it ever was in Call of Duty. People drop in only a couple of bullets, including yourself, leading to quick point-and-drop gameplay. There’s plenty of weapon variety, as well. It’s fun to constantly have weapons added into the rotation, as they all feel surprisingly unique.
The campaign’s pacing and variety absolutely blew me away. You’re rarely doing the same thing for more than fifteen minutes. Within the same hour of gameplay you may drop into an apartment complex at night, engage in a long-distance sniper battle, or get into a chase through city streets. Big gunfights are the standard gameplay you’ll return to, of course, but the consistency with which you’re doing new things is downright impressive.
Absolutely Nothing
It helps that the story is pretty good. The characters are ones you’ll actually remember, which can’t be said of most Call of Duty games. The performances are memorable, particularly Farah and Captain Price. There are nods to the original Modern Warfare for longtime fans, as well. What you’ll remember most is still those hard-hitting moments when the game throws reality in your face, but it’s nice to actually care about the fates of these characters.
Say it Again
The campaign of Modern Warfare is one I highly recommend to everyone. Casual shooter fans, FPS diehards, and those looking for a good story. I’m hard-pressed to call it fun because of the heavy tone, but that makes it no less worth checking out. You occasionally need to be challenged on your morals and ideals. Not everything can be escapist entertainment, but I will say I’m surprised a Call of Duty game with an outrageous budget is the one to do it. It’s a huge risk, and it paid off.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare
$59.99
Pros
- Grounded Tone
- Tight Gunplay
- Constant Variety
- Characters to Care About
Cons
- Occasionally Frustrating Difficulty Spikes
