Call of Duty 4 (And Why it is the Game of the Year)

I know Call of Duty of 4: Modern Warfare, the newest game in the best selling shooter series, is short. Maddeningly short to some.

Thing is, I'm glad it was short. There was never a moment during the COD4 experience where I was bored. Like a well-edited film, it's sharp, interesting, and gripping from beginning to end. It has moments, which I won't spoil here, that are awe-inspiring.

It's not realistic enough. A shooter on rails. These are a couple of common "problems" that people have with the game.

The whole "not realistic enough" complaint comes from the fact that the enemies spawn from different points on the map and don't live in a "persistent" world that a set amount of baddies. Why is this a problem? This a game people. The reason why I play games is not to make sure it simulates the exact experience of modern warfare. For that, I would go to Iraq. Throw some suspension of disbelief in the mix, and it's fine.

The shooter on rails idea is a sort of a preference thing, but fits this game well. A game like Crysis, for example, gives you a sandbox environment where you can tackle a problem a myriad of different ways. For a game like this though, where the focus is tight and the action is unrelenting, a little linearity is ok.

The game is just so satisfyingly fun. The single player game takes the player to different locales, puts you into different vehicles, and has an interesting story to boot. The key thing is that is doesn't drag. Even the load screens give the player information about each mission, ensuring there is no time sitting around watching a bar reach 100%.

Then there's the multiplayer. It is just so damn fun. I didn't think anything could take me away from my Team Fortress 2 addiction, but one game of COD4 multiplayer did it. The gameplay is frenetic, the weapons and balance are pitch perfect, and the game has a great feel to it. TF2 has those same attributes, though. There are a couple of things that set it apart from other multiplayer offerings.

The addition of rewards at 3, 5, and 7 consecutive kills adds a greater tactical dimension to the game. Sure there are no vehicles, but the airstrikes and helicopters are new gameplay challenges that no other game has offered. It is fun, rewarding, yet still keeps the game balanced.

What really shines is the perks and achievement system that Infinity Ward added to their game. For every kill, and various other objectives, you get experience points that level a player up. As a player grows in stature, new weapons, items, perks and other elements are unlocked that keeps the experience fresh and interesting. Still, balance is good, as a new player doesn't feel crippled against the veterans, but rather has less options.

I could go on and on about this game, but I would much rather go play it. I gotta unlock that P90 I've been pining to get my hands on.