Preview
Platform:
Xbox 360Developer:
Infinity WardPublisher:
Activision, Inc.Previewed by
Justin Fassino on 2007-07-14
Infinity Ward has been working on
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for almost two years. What they've achieved is a graphical showcase that combines the classic
Call of Duty gameplay with a brand new setting and timeline.
Infinity Ward says they went with a more modern-day route for the game because they wanted to be able to tell a story where the ending wasn't known by everyone already (a la World War II).
Modern Warfare will feature a plethora of real-world weapons and technology and a plot that revolves around a more sophisticated conflict to reflect the more complex political world we live in today. In fact, Infinity Ward worked with television writers to develop the plot, which involves a civil war in the Russian territory of Chechnya and the plan by the game's antagonist to bring Russsia back to superpower status on the world stage.
A couple of changes will keep the story moving along, such as cutscenes that disguise loading times. The developers also have learned a lot from the engine the game runs on, and they say they've managed to fit three times as much game world content into
Modern Warfare. Whatever they've done, the game looks beautiful. The textures on clothing and the guns are top-notch, while the lighting casts everything in shades of urban chaos as it rages around you. They've also nailed the volumetric-looking smoke the piles into the sky from destroyed vehicles and buildings. Another level takes place on a rainy oil tanker at sea, and the water effects are insane.
As for multiplayer, Infinity Ward has had one team focusing on only that aspect of the title. While the campaign will be of the epic variety the
Call of Duty games are known for, online multiplayer will be a class-based affair. Each class will have their own specific abilities, like GPS jamming to prevent being detected, to the always-fun Last Stand ability, which will allow you, with your dying breath, to pull out a pistol and have a few final potshots at your killer before you die. Revenge is sweet. Other abilities for the classes include having more health, being able to fire faster, or moving more quickly.
Downloadable content is confirmed, but what exactly it will be is still being decided upon; Infinity Ward says it will most likely be new maps and new class content for online play.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is due out this fall for the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and DS. If you can't wait that long, there will also be a public multiplayer beta exclusively for the Xbox 360 beginning in August; Infinity Ward says that the demand for the beta was so large when it was announced last Tuesday at
Microsoft's press conference that the amount of hits the official game site received crashed the servers. You can get more information on that over at
Charlie Oscar Delta.
