Before Activison started selling billions of copies, and before it became one of the most popular franchises in gaming history, Call of Duty was released to compete with what was at the time considered the most authentic World War II shooter conceived — Medal Of Honor.
Released in 2007 and developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the first entry in the series to move away from its WWII roots for a more contemporary setting. Like previous Call of Duty titles, the game fallows multiple characters on operations around the world to unravel an intertwining plot, which begins with an assassination of a Middle Easter president, to a Civil War between Ultra-nationalist and the Russian Federation. Using the IW Engine, Infinity Ward crafted a stunningly beautiful game, allowing the shooter to run at 60 frames per second, giving it a smooth and responsive experience. The soundtrack was composed by Golden Globe-nominated Harry Gregson-Williams and British composer Stephen Barton, giving the game a high-octane, blood-pumping experience through the landscapes of the Middle East and deserted streets of Chernobyl.
Thanks to its proprietary game engine, Infinity Ward were able to craft grand set pieces throughout. Escaping from a sinking cargo ship at the start of the game to sneaking through an abandoned and irradiated Chernobyl, to judging the distance and wind speed while lining up the perfect sniper shot, Infinity Ward created a great single-player experience. But it was the game’s multiplayer that truly shined. Modern Warfare’s comprehensive online component gives players the ability to unlock weapons and customize their own load outs through experience points, as well as rewarding players for kill streaks such as air strikes and UVA’s, in the form of perks.
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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has an average Metacritic score of 94/100, with the shooter scooping over 20 awards including Game of the Year from Golden Joystick and Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Game of the Year. PSU gave Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare a 9.5 with an average user rating of 9.4.
Activision has not only created one of the best shooters of the generation but developed what is considered the most successful franchise is gaming history. With sales reaching over a billion units with every annual entry, three different developers now working on the franchise, and over 15 titles under its belt, Call of Duty shows no signs of slowing down. With over 40 million monthly active players and the next generation Call of Duty on the horizon – not to mention increasing competition – it will be interesting to see if the series can keep its momentum moving to the next generation.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is just one of many examples of "PS3 games of the generation,’ so stay tuned to PSU as we showcase more of what we consider the best on Sony’s seven-year-old console. If you agree or disagree with Modern Warfare let us know in the forums or comments below.