Infinity Ward knows how to take a hint. The creators of the lauded Call of Duty series have watched interest in World War II first-person shooters decline, a reaction to countless clones appearing on store shelves. Taking this observation to heart, the fourth installment rakes off in a radically different direction. Ditching the tired World War II setting for a contemporary conflict staged in the Middle East, Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat could be a reawakening for the series.
Departing from the historical recounts of previous installments, Modern Combat weaves a completely fictional story set to the backdrop of contemporary politics. You play as two different characters: a British SAS commando assigned to a former Russian state and an American Marine stationed in the Middle East. Both become involved in a conflict that sees a fictional Middle Eastern dictator teaming up with a Russian nationalist and his band of mercenaries dubbed "The Four Horsemen." You'll switch between both characters, utilizing their advanced training to stymie the terrorists' efforts and prevent the regional conflict from escalating.
Modern Combat inherits the first-person perspective of its predecessors. Unlike the first three installments of the series, however, the game won't feature breakaway cut-scenes; instead, the entire game takes place from the perspectives of the British and American operatives. Infinity Ward hopes this will heighten immersion in the game and from what we've played it works well.
We played one mission that had us manning the turret of an AC-130 Spectre gunship, firing upon enemies to support ground troops. The incredibly realistic visuals, cacophony of gunfire, and sheer chaos of combat made the experience unforgettable. Running and gunning won't be the only thing you do in Modern Combat though, since the game includes sniping and stealth missions to keep things fresh. While we didn't get the opportunity to play it ourselves, we did see footage of a particularly dangerous stealth operation into the heart of a Russian encampment that required use of camouflage and clever bodywork.
Strong multiplayer is all but guaranteed given Infinity Ward's track record. Modern Combat will feature a host of options for online play, as well as the ability to create a unique solider with various weapons and equipment options. Even better, the game introduces combat abilities that augment your natural skills during multiplayer matches. For example, the last stand ability gives you a few seconds after you've been fragged to shoot back at your killer with a pistol. Another called martyrdom allows you to drop a grenade upon being killed in action. You'll only be able to equip a couple abilities at any given time, but the small boost they provide should be useful in competitive matches.
With well over two years of development already logged for Modern Combat, it's nearly ready for its autumn release. Gorgeous visuals, superb sound, and frenetic action should once again push the limits of the first-person shooter genre. Our only concern regards the story, which involves a lot of free license on the part of Infinity Ward's writers. If they can pull it off though, Modern Combat could prove to be a must-have title.
