Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Review

And about time too.

Version tested: Xbox 360

A change is as good as a rest, so they say. In Infinity Ward's case, a change must have been absolutely essential for its own collective sanity, having worked solidly on World War II shooters for longer than can be strictly healthy.

The fruit of this welcome shift in direction brings us bang up to date with by far its most engrossing, varied and ambitious offering yet. Modern Warfare is the product of a confident developer; one which knows what it's good at, but evidently giddy with the chance to try out different things.

In common with its previous efforts, it's a game that understands the power of maximum cinematic intensity, but also knows when to turn the dial down and bring in the kind of cloying on-the-edge tension more readily associated with Ghost Recon or even that lost classic Hidden & Dangerous. As a consequence, it's by far the most well rounded Call of Duty game, with an exciting yet coherent blend of gameplay styles.

Check point

'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' Screenshot 1

Crouch you idiot. Crouch!

In common with most modern day war games, Call of Duty 4 picks at the scab of the West's ongoing insecurities for an excuse to shoot an awful lot of people in the face. Deranged 'Ultranationalist' Russian hatches evil plan to destroy FREEDOM? Check. Access to an illicit nuclear arsenal? Check. Based in the lawless Middle East? Check. A sympathetic, faceless nationalist army ready to do his bidding for no logical reason? Check. Dozens of nuclear weapons heading for the East Coast of the United States unless you don't do something to stop the 'Four Horsemen' of this demented apocalypse? Check.

Although, once again, told through the eyes of the Americans and the Brits, the interwoven storyline builds a greater sense of character (and therefore purpose) than many war games manage.

As you might expect, the dismantling of entrenched terrorist cells with evil plans of mass destruction requires a) very best soldiers and b) lots of high powered weaponry. So, from the Brit side you'll follow the events of the hilariously gobby British 22nd SAS Regiment, as well as various "Ooorah"-spouting personnel in the United States Marine Corps 1st Force Recon. None of that is especially important once you're embroiled in the nuances of each mission, but as a means of framing each mission in presentational terms, it's quite engaging, even light-hearted at the most unexpected moments. And, for once, the Brits don't have cut glass accents, favouring the more comedic potential of the kind of propa' geezers you're likely to get the wrong side of if you spill their pint.

'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' Screenshot 2

The environments still lack that vital element of destructibility, but the overall detail levels and the quality of the character models more than make up for that.

If previous Call of Duty games could be criticised for anything it was their tendency to start off amazingly well, and then settle into a continuously intense but monotone groove for the most part. And while Modern Warfare does indeed have the obligatory stunning opening level (in this case set on board a ship), the level of consistency throughout all three 'acts' is nothing short of staggering. Rather than merely breaking up the action with the old on-rails fallback, there are all manner of intriguing scenarios to deal with, from spectacular flybys, manic car-chase set-pieces, and tense sniper-based stealth, to fighting all-or-nothing battles against the clock. Infinity Ward has long been admired for its cinematic action, but Modern Warfare takes it far further in that direction - for the good, in my opinion. Very little of the game feels tacked on in the name of variety, and for that you have to hand it to them.

Penning the script

For the most part, of course, you won't be able to ignore some of the bits that don't quite work - such as the fact that your squad is clearly indestructible for the sake of the story. You'll also quickly notice that your basic role in the game is to pick off a certain amount of respawning enemies so that the tightly scripted action can move forwards. Down tools, and your usually reliable team mates will simply ignore certain key targets until you nail them - so you can't just rely on their efforts to get you through.

'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' Screenshot 3

I hope that gear's waterproof.

But while the core combat remains largely within the same framework of where it has always been, you'll notice certain AI improvements, such as a tendency for your AI buddies to take up cover far more convincingly than before, along with other nice touches, such as the way they'll react intelligently to dangerous situations. They won't just stand there gormless while a grenade goes off in their face, for example, but will flee and take up better cover, or - better still - lob it back at the disbelieving enemy. Other little things help make it a better spectacle, like the slick way they'll move to one side if you decide you want a cover point - nothing essentially game changing, but nice little tweaks that you'll appreciate.

Technically, things have moved on a bundle, too, with some wonderful levels (the deserted, depressing depiction of Chernobyl a particular highlight) and a great deal of environmental variety helping to make it an enjoyable game to play through. As you might expect, Modern Warfare has a bullet point list of fancy dynamic lighting effects, real world shadows, depth of field, yadda, yadda, but as boring as these things sound, the game looks absolutely lovely. Admittedly, certain things don't look that great close up (such as vegetation), and you have to say that the geometry's stubborn resistance to damage is a touch old school, but in terms of atmospheric effects it deserves nothing but high praise. As ever, the particle effects are staggering, with some of the best smoke and explosions ever seen in a game, and aligned with superb lighting, excellent attention to detail and convincing, fluid character models, Infinity Ward has built on everything it was already renowned for.

Harry's Game

As usual, the audio doesn't disappoint, either, with a typically grandiose Harry Gregson-Williams score, roaring gun effects, massive explosions and a wonderful use of surround effects. If you've got the gear, this is one game you'll want to crank up the volume to - just make sure the neighbours are out. A special mention to the voice casting, too - with some of the most memorable character acting in a war game to date, and allied to that, the excellent between-mission briefing sequences add a touch of modern style to an already slick looking game.

In terms of how the game actually feels, Modern Warfare deserves a special mention for the ever-useful aim-assist system, which adds a level of intuitiveness to pad-based targeting. By simply tapping the left trigger near an enemy, it effectively 'snaps' the reticule to them, meaning you can instantly see an enemy, and basically juggle the two triggers, auto aiming with one, and firing short bursts with the other - allowing you to 'shoot from the hip' far more effectively. If such cheating devices offend you, there is the option to turn it off, so don't worry. Alternatively, just aim down the barrel by holding down the left trigger, but in the white heat of some of the game's insanity, that's not always an option. Overall, the controls feel spot on.

'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' Screenshot 4

Old fridges come in handy in such situations.

Elsewhere, there are a few minor niggles to note - certainly checkpointing is a bit of a black art in Modern Warfare - with the game mostly very efficient at storing regular progress, but then failing when you need it most. For example, in time sensitive missions, it has a hugely frustrating tendency to go AWOL, often kicking in only after you've failed a large number of times. Whether this is a deliberate design decision it's not clear, but it's not helpful to have something so fundamental taken away when you need it most. Another little moan is the way tracer fire appears to penetrate solid material yet causes you no damage - confusing to say the least, as you don't every really seem to be able to tell what is dangerous and what is just friendly fire. As much as it's cool to be able to penetrate objects that were previously deemed as cover, it does throw up a few odd technical hitches that look odd to say the least. Also, is the ability to take endless amounts of damage to your body and recover every time really the best way to handle health? We really are nitpicking now. Moving on.

Gamerscore whores need not apply

'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' Screenshot 5

Ooorah! (probably)

In terms of its long-term appeal, there are a number of things that make Modern Warfare stand-out. For a start, the majority of the Achievement points only come from playing it at Veteran level, while finishing the main campaign unlocks a score-based Arcade mode that has its own leaderboard. And, of course, the expansive, experience-based multiplayer mode (up to 4 players split-screen, 18 players online or up to 24 via System Link) is certain to be a huge draw for many - especially in the light of an already successful beta and how strong previous iterations were. Needless to say, with the game not even on the shelves at the time of writing, it hasn't been possible to put it through its paces in any meaningful sense, so we'll aim to report back on this side of the game early next week when we've had a chance to play it with, you know, actual human beings.

In the meantime, you can expect a vast array of game modes (Free For All, Team Deathmatch, Team Objective, Team Tactical, Search and Destroy, Headquarters, Domination, Sabotage, Team Hardcore, Old School, Oldcore, and Ground War) to suit all tastes. The game will offer five preset classes (Assault, Special Ops, Light Machine Gunner, Demolitions and Sniper) with the lure of a Create-A-Class option once you've ranked up a touch - but much more about all of that next week.

For now, all you really need to know is this a huge return to form for the Call of Duty series, and for war-based FPS titles in general. Even without the vastly impressive multiplayer elements, Modern Warfare would be worth buying for its outstanding single-player campaign. It succeeds not only for being consistently spectacular, but for the way it has been crafted into something that keeps you engaged right to the very end.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy

Comments (205) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Nick261007 #1 4 years ago

    This game will be mine on Friday, trading in Halol 3 for it. I tried to like Halol 3 multi player, but all that jumping around trying to shoot people that looked like power rangers kinda melted my brain after a hour. And unloading a full assault rifle clip into some 12 year old only to see him melee me once and kill me kinda grates on the nerves and makes me say ? lame.

    Time to get a game that actually requires some skill and doesn't melt brain cells.
    Edited by 3 at 06/11/07 @ 12:25
  • SomaticSense #2 4 years ago

    Fuck sake EG.

    I was hoping this would at CoD3 levels of shit so I could get out of spending let MORE money on games. Now this is just sitting there tempting me to buy it, despite the worry of FPS overload.

    I think I'll try and stay strong, and save it till after Xmas when fuck all else it out. Good news it's back on form though.

    edit: Oh, and Harry Gregson-Williams scored this? Brilliant! His film scores (and work with Hybrid) are amazing.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:21
  • rhinoxious #3 4 years ago

    Woth buying for the multi-player alone, the beta was truly excellent, turning this from a game I might not have bought into something that I'm really excited about.

    My only worry is the exacting nature of the multiplayer means that it can be very ping affected.
  • GamesConnoisseur #4 4 years ago

    Grow up Nick!

    I am keeping Halo3 for its excellent multiplayer and yes certainly going to get COD4 to complement Halo 3 and enhance my multiplaying pleasures for a long time!
  • funkstar #5 4 years ago

    awww, no mention of the awesome intro....

    rockpapershotgun ftw
  • BBIAJ #6 4 years ago

    Looking forward to the Collectors edition being sent my way tomorrow!
  • Grunk #7 4 years ago

    remember Kristan would have only given halo3 8/10
    (IIRC from egtv episode 18)
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:26
  • defdaz #8 4 years ago

    Quote: Ooorah! (probably)

    I lolled. :)
  • symbiote #9 4 years ago

    "the majority of the Achievement points only come from playing it at Veteran level"

    Music to my ears :)
  • Dixons #10 4 years ago

    O_O

    Blimey! Tbh, I'm all shootered out after the awesome Halo 3, and next on my agenda is Mass Effect (which isn't a shooter per se obviously but it does feature a lot of shooty action) so not a lot of CoD4 love to be had from me sadly. Maybe in the future I'll give it a shot.

    No pun intended!
  • krudster #11 4 years ago

    I was referring to single player for Halo 3. I don't doubt that overall it's a 9, but single player in isolation was a big disappointment to me.
  • Skooch #12 4 years ago

    This game rocks!!! It's a must have for any FPS fan and is extremely challenging on veteran.
  • krudster #13 4 years ago

    For shame: the penultimate level on Veteran took me about eight hours to do. Easily the most challenging piece of FPS gaming I've ever undertaken - cannot believe I managed it in the end.
  • Walshicus #14 4 years ago

    Congratulations Nick, you ruined the first post with idiocy!

    Anyhow the beta alone showed CoD4 to be a 9/10 affair. I'm glad to see the single-player takes a note from the second game's achievement structure.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:32
  • IAmBatman #15 4 years ago

    if "Halol" doesn't need skill to be good at, you must be astronomically lacking in skill to be shit at it.
  • rhinoxious #16 4 years ago

    Advice please:

    is it worth playing through on normal first and then on Veteran a second time, or do you think it's more enjoyable diving straight in?
  • Dizzy #17 4 years ago

    >And unloading a full assault rifle clip into some 12 year old only to see him melee me once and kill me kinda grates on the nerves and makes me say ? lame.

    Oh dude... you will get wasted even harder on CoD4.

    Anyway.. CoD4 will be joining my FPS collection threesome next week :) Halo 3, TF2 and CoD4 will make a perfect combo since all have very different gameplay and I like some change from time to time.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:38
  • Xerx3s #18 4 years ago

    Nick261007: Just because you suck at a game and refuse to use the gameplay mechanics doesn't mean that the game doesn't require skill or that the game sucks.
  • krudster #19 4 years ago

    Veteran is deceptive. It starts off quite managable, but then you'll hit these points where it seems impossible. If you want to blitz it in 6 or so hours, play on Normal, unlock Arcade mode and do it again on a harder level I reckon.

  • CannonAnBall #20 4 years ago

    The Beta was an excellent taster and I can't wait to get back into the multi-player games. Some of the battles were awesome!
  • trotskyicepick #21 4 years ago

    probably wont buy this for 5-7 years so i can actually get a computer that will be able to run it :)
  • RexRunti #22 4 years ago

    So this, Mass Effect, Assassins Creed and Guitar Hero III. After Halo 3, VF5, PGR4, Naruto:RoN, the Witcher, Eternal Sonata. And that doesn't include maybes like Kane and Lynch or the Orange Box (I already have HL2) or games that I would buy in a drought like Stranglehold and TimeShift. The quality floating about at the moment is rediculous. If you can't find a game for you at the moment you're not a gamer.
  • Xerx3s #23 4 years ago

    I'll be buying this for MP. Very entertaining.
  • Gojira #24 4 years ago

    Sacreligious this may be but I thought the beta was poo.

    I came to it reasonably late and it was so unbalanced against noobs it just wasn't fun, hopefully this won't happen with the wider release, but it spoiled the experience for me.
  • Yossarian #25 4 years ago

    rolling thunder rolls on.
  • Xerx3s #26 4 years ago

    PS: Why is this only reviewed on the 360? What about the ps3 copy?
  • KingOfSpain #27 4 years ago

    I WANT MY 360 BACK BILL!!
  • Nick261007 #28 4 years ago

    I tried to give Halo 3 a chance, I mean I am level 30 in lone wolves. Just something about it makes my brain hurt. Having to remove the shields before you can kill someone gives them far to much of a barrier against being good at the game, I mean if I shoot you with 30 bullets you should die. No effing way should you be allowed to kill me as I'm reloading because you've absorbed a full clip into your ass and only taken slight damage.

    To many people camping with the sword, hammer, at every turn. To easy to stick people at close range = instant kill with no skill required. Shotgun is over powered, melee over powered, to many people trying to get achievements online in every game. So you have one noob driving around in a mongoose all day trying to run you over , and another trying to snipe you in king of the hill for his 10 kill achievenet, half the people are not even playing the game properly and just beg you to help them get achievements online.

    Add it all together and it sucks ass. The game is for noobs and I'm tired of it after only a week. I loved COD2, and COD4 will be the only FPS I need for a very very long time to come.

    Halol 3 has nothing on this game except a bigger community of 12 year olds and KKK members.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:45
  • lambtron #29 4 years ago

    "And unloading a full assault rifle clip into some 12 year old only to see him melee me once and kill me kinda grates on the nerves and makes me say ? lame."

    Try actually hitting what you are shooting at. Also, aim for the head. Both Halo 3 and COD 4 require skill, but they are different types of FPS.
  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #30 4 years ago

    PS: Why is this only reviewed on the 360? What about the ps3 copy?

    Same with less good graphics.

    /troll mode off
  • DrDamn #31 4 years ago

    @Gojira

    With a much wider range of ranks I would expect the match making system to make up for the difficult start. However it didn't really take too much to get going in the Beta - even if you joined late.
  • gaselite #32 4 years ago

    "Alternatively, just aim down the barrel by holding down the left trigger, but in the white heat of some of the game's insanity, that's not always an option."

    Alternatively, play it on PC the way CoD should be experienced!

    Honestly, what is this trigger bollocks you're referring to? Bah.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 12:49
  • Madder-Max #33 4 years ago

    How on earth does this score a 9 out of interest? From the review it sounds like a bit of a ropey single player game but a good online game...
  • Skooch #34 4 years ago

    @ Rhinoxious - dive straight in mate - hard as hell but worth going for it from the beginning.

    Krudster - glad you mentioned the checkpointing on timed missions - I thought I was going mad when after failing nigh on 50 times the 51st time I suddenly get a checkpoint. Very odd behaviour that.
    You are worrying me when you say that the next to last level took you 8 hours, as I am not sure I am there yet :). The hardest part for me was the extraction from Chernobyl which was one of the most intense FPS encounters I have had in a game.
  • LiquidViolence #35 4 years ago

    "And unloading a full assault rifle clip into some 12 year old only to see him melee me once and kill me kinda grates on the nerves and makes me say ? lame. "

    Then you wont like unloading a full M4 clip into people only to have them knife you in this either....
    (going by my beta experiences)
  • smoothpete #36 4 years ago

    I had been wondering about the aim assist (it's not new by the way krudster, both CoD2 and 3 had it). It doesn't work in the multiplayer, so I don't want to get into the habit of using it in the SP campaign lest I get "pwned" online. I've even been not using the aim assist on CoD2 this week to practise :)
  • Lonestar #37 4 years ago

    How long is the single player campaign? I've read that it's as little as 5 hours.
  • smoothpete #38 4 years ago

    5-6 hours on normal
    8 on Hardened
  • Rirekon #39 4 years ago

    A well deserved 9/10 if the 360 beta was anything to by, had this on pre-order since. Knocks the socks off Halo 3 (which I also have and do still enjoy)
  • JayScott #40 4 years ago

    Well Kristian did just say the final level took him 8 hours on its own so I reckon 5 might be if you play it on pussy level.
  • FlamingCarrot #41 4 years ago

    5-6 hours normal, 9 hours veteran i think IGN said.
  • Shirow #42 4 years ago

  • Apostle #43 4 years ago

    "if "Halol" doesn't need skill to be good at, you must be astronomically lacking in skill to be shit at it."

    LOL! Excellent. :D

    I will be buying this, and will probably keep Halo3 although I'm not finding it as fun as I thought I might. Never played a Halo game before, and online seems to be a pretty steep learning curve (loads of weapons, vehicles, gadgets, cloaks, power ups or something, a lot to take in). Where as I have played all the CoDs, sorry, I mean all except for CoD3, so I'll know pretty much what I'm getting into, which helps.
  • smoothpete #44 4 years ago

    I play on normal, I find it more fun. It's a gung ho game, fuck creeping round corners :)

    There's quite an interesting point on the subject in the 1up review, have a look. I will do hardened afterwards
  • rhinoxious #45 4 years ago

    Thanks Krudster,

    So I blitz the game on normal, and then I can cherry pick the levels I want to play again on Veteran, sounds good.
  • SomaticSense #46 4 years ago

    As much as I disagree with 90% of Nick comments regarding Halo 3's mulitplayer, there definitely seems to be a few unfair kills/deaths at times which have nothing to do with skill level.

    More than a few instances I've died in a single hit (full shield) as a result of a mysterious 5 ft homing melee. I've also plowed a whole battle rifle clip into the head of someone at mid to close range, only for them to take me down with just a couple of bullets from an assault rifle.
    In both instances I reviewed the respected saved film over and over to get some kind of explanation as to wtf went on, but was still left stumped. In the latter case, i saw in slow motion every single one of my BR bullets hit him in the head, yet only two of his AR shots even hit me at all, and they were in the torso. Looking at the first-person viewpoint I had at full shield as well, and his depleted way before mine.

    In short then, something is definitely fucked up at times which is completely unrelated to skill. I suspect it's something to do with lag. Fair enough, these instances don't happen a lot, but I get at least a few matches a night where stuff like this happens (hence why I think it's to do with lag).
  • MoGamer2006 #47 4 years ago

    Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?
  • bonker #48 4 years ago

    Well I'm a COD2-worshipper (single player) so I've been looking forward to this from Infinity Ward for a long time.

    COD2's best feature was the atmosphere and i'd like to hear whether they've pulled it off again with COD4??

    Also, is there no mission-based co-op play?? :(
  • smoothpete #49 4 years ago

    From 1up:

    "Thanks to the more powerful enemies and less powerful armor, Hardened is always a challenge, and frequently a repetitive frustration. The checkpoint system is almost perfectly laid out, but there are certain "brick wall" areas that overwhelm you with punishing enemy fire and little recourse. Repeated attempts reveal enemy patterns and behaviors, and once you can anticipate that it feels like a shooting gallery. You start out impressed with the unknown combat scenario, but that feeling gives way to "and now two guys will run through this door..." In short, play through on Normal the first time for medium challenge and maximum enjoyment of the set pieces, and then challenge your skills later."
  • bonker #50 4 years ago

    "Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?"

    Like you wouldn't believe mate but IW get given lots of slack off the back of their achievements with COD2 in my book ...
  • captainrentboy #51 4 years ago

    Can't wait to get this on Friday, I'm not sure if it'll drag me away from Halo 3's MP once it's completed in single player mind, I played the beta for this and like someone else said, I think the problem was that I came to it a lil late and everyone else seemed to be fooking amazing, all whilst I wandered around aimlessly getting shot at :/
    Ohh and to say Halo 3's MP doesn't require skill is slightly silly, surely if you're continuously getting killed by 12 yr olds it would mean you're lacking the skill necessary to actually put up a challenge, I mean if you're always being killed in a cheesy way, Melee and Sword attacks for example, then change your game playing tactics up a bit. Ohh, and I don't think I've ever been killed by a single Melee attack from the front, they have to unload a good half a clip into you first :/
    Then again I think I find Halo 3 great because I tend to play with a team of three people who I know in real life, workmates and the like, and when we're all yacking about tactics and how to get the upperhand on the other team it's all good fun.
    I don't find it anywhere near as fun when I'm on MP on my own, with a team who are all being quiet.
  • Penguinzoot #52 4 years ago

    Damn. Another fine game. I think the old plastic is gonna get ever so slightly hammered this month.
  • bonker #53 4 years ago

    Yes, on COD2 I 'learned' the game on Normal then spent DAYS beating it on Veteran.

    I swore I'd never put myself through it again but maybe the psychological scars have healed enough now and I'm ready for another crack at Veteran on COD4 :)
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 13:06
  • smoothpete #54 4 years ago

    People that came to the beta late and got shot a lot: I found the same thing, I was level "fuck all" and everyone else was kicking my arse, but you level up quickly. The key for me was adding some perks, Deep Impact and Stopping Power. That really made a big difference, I went from thinking everyone else were l33t as fuck, to running round like a psycho killer bastard in no time
  • krudster #55 4 years ago

    That Chernobyl extraction was a tough one, but easy when you know where to hang out :)
  • Dixons #56 4 years ago

    Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?

    Kind of. That's why I basically ignored BioShock and Half Life 2, and got my fill with Halo 3 (and what a fill it was too, awesome game!). I'll also be giving CoD4 a wide berth. Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect and Tomb Raider Anniversary are what's on my menu over the next while. Shooters can wait.
  • Chewy #57 4 years ago

    PS3 or 360? I do have a 1080p 42 incher!

    P.s. I don't have xbox live and a mate of mine has recently bought a PS3 who will probably get this when I tell him too.
  • krudster #58 4 years ago

    We didn't get sent the PS3 version, hence we can't talk about it. Most publishers only send out 360 code. Go figure.
  • Milbe #59 4 years ago

    One thing I miss is that you can not see your own body and shadow, while everything else is on screen is beautifully crafted. Same for HL2. I want to be more than just a floating camera with hands.
  • Kingofnothin #60 4 years ago

    After playing the Beta for this game I knew it was going to be the finest shooter out for a long time, I won't even compare it to Halo 3 because there too different and COD4 is streets apart.

    Roll on Friday.....goodbye fresh air and sunshine for a few months at least :p
  • Stormflood #61 4 years ago

    "Most publishers only send out 360 code."

    Thats because they do shit ports, but this time things are a little different. From the cross platform reviews I've read of COD4, the PS3 version is identical, but has the 1080p edge. This must be a first and, hopefully, the beginning of a trend for PS3 owners.

    Look forward to the EG opinion on this...

  • Darren #62 4 years ago

    The PS3 version of CoD4 is supposed to be better than the 360 version according to the developers, or so I've read. IGN have reviewed all three versions of CoD4 (including the PC one) and made no mention of any differences between them bar the number of players online (18 for the 360/PS3 versions and 32 for the PC). I think it's safe to assume from that that the PS3 version is every bit as good technically as the 360 version but the decider for me is the superior 360 controller (plus rumble) otherwise I'd have bought it on the PS3 just for a change if nothing else.

    Still, I'm less excited about this game than I should be, mainly because when I pre-ordered it back in February, I was more excited about FPSs than I am now. While I'm sure it's a great game, the short campaign combined with my lack of interest in the multiplayer mode (sorry, but I find them far too repetitive when stripped of a storyline) means that this won't last me all that long by the sounds of things.

    Oh well, there's so many other games coming out I want to play, that is probably a good thing anyway. :)
  • BobsUncle #63 4 years ago

    I agree with Nick. Halo 3 can suck my balls. Except it can't because it's too busy jumping around being annoying.

    I totally agree with the "wasting full assault clip ending in a punch in the face" comment, that really pissed me off too. The CoD4 Beta really showed up Halo 3 MP as piss poor in my eyes, which is why it now takes pride of place sat on the shelf never to be used again. Except maybe for a trade.
  • Monkey_Puncher #64 4 years ago

    Infinity Ward are a great developer who like to please all their fans, don't expect this kind of treatment of multiformat releases from most though. The Ps3 will still get shit on by the majority of other dev's, well until it either become easier to programme for or the sales shoot up massively.

    Oh and I can't wait to play this game, COD2 is still one of the best games on 360 and Veteran mode was absoloute gaming gold!
  • jaxon58 #65 4 years ago

    A change is as good as a rest. Unless you're a snooker player.
  • smoothpete #66 4 years ago

    IIRC the PS3 version scored very slightly lower on 1up. No explanation AFAIK
  • Darren #67 4 years ago

    P.S. There's a 720p video review of this game over on GameTrailers.com, which shows footage from both the PS3 and 360 versions (made obvious by the reload button prompt appearing onscreen, X for the 360 and Square for the PS3) and both appear to be graphically identical to me, i.e. bloody excellent.
  • gaijin #68 4 years ago

    It's "Hooo-arrrh". From HUA - Heard, Understood, Acknowledged.

    But i might just excuse the inaccuracy and get it anyway... :-)

    Edited for inaccuracy...
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 13:42
  • Darren #69 4 years ago

    @Smoothpete - Perhaps IGN rated the PS3 version less because of the controls and lack of rumble? Personally I find the SIXAXIS' analogue sticks a tad too loose-feeling and the trigger buttons are pretty awful too so it was always the 360 version for me.
  • krudster #70 4 years ago

    The subtitle text in the game actually says "Ooorah", so take it up with Infinity Ward :)
  • RedPanda #71 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012
  • mkreku #72 4 years ago

    Slightly off-topic: wouldn't the introduction of the new rumble controller for the PS3 be an excellent time to fix those bumper buttons too? Just add a rubber surface to them! Or make them concave?
  • moggsy #73 4 years ago

    @ Dixons

    That's why I basically ignored BioShock

    That's a mistake of quite massive proportions ;-)
  • qball #74 4 years ago

    not as good as halo 3 then? ;)
  • krudster #75 4 years ago

    The phrase "cutting your nose off to spite your face" springs to mind.
  • Darren #76 4 years ago

    @Arbiter - Anything with guns in it and an online mode is going to appeal to trigger-happy Yanks (just kidding!!!) so it's a forgone conclusion that Call of Duty 4 will be a massive hit, especially over there.

    Still with each FPS on the 360, there's a feeling that developers have no where else to take the genre and that it's in serious danger of becoming stale. Even Crysis was pretty disappointing in my opinion; despite all the hype about how it's the next step in FPSs, to me it's just Far Cry with better physics and prettier graphics.
  • FortysixterUK #77 4 years ago

    Nick261007 wrote this'......I tried to like Halol 3 multi player, but all that jumping around trying to shoot people that looked like power rangers kinda melted my brain after a hour. And unloading a full assault rifle clip into some 12 year old only to see him melee me once and kill me kinda grates on the nerves and makes me say ? lame. ...

    How very true, an excellent observation, I don't mind twitch gaming when you at least have a chance, ( UT Gib sessions with big orange lasers) but it seems odd that people survive a clip and half to the face and manage to kill you by effectively kicking you in the shin in Halo 3. Great Singe Player tho, and it DOES have a sort of GIB match thing going on with pistols ( goldeneye mode I think) but even thats a tad irregular when scoring what looks like direct hits on other players. Essentially Twitch gaming is not much fun, it's more like Twit gaming.
    ( see what I did there ? )

    ANYWAY, back to the matter and subject at hand...COD 4 is a goer on xbox 360 for me and an good review to boot ( well done review person )...just a shame they've borked the gamer score so you have to be some game uber god guru to get the best from it....maybe I'll just get it on PC instead ?

    Hugs

  • Apologie #78 4 years ago

    Accoring to devs the PS3 version will look slightly better than the 360 version...
  • SeesThroughAll #79 4 years ago

    @ Apologie,

    Please stop that shit, it's annoying.

    In fact, to everyone who's been going on about this, who cares which version looks slightly better? I know I'm interested in this game, and I'll glady buy it for my PS3 given the opportunity.
    Edited by 3 at 06/11/07 @ 14:06
  • DjFlex52 #80 4 years ago

    "Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?"

    As much as I got bored with the overload of platformers during the SNES/Genesis or Saturn/N64 eras....which means NEVER.
    I could even mention the overload of 3D games during the PS1 era.
  • ParanoidZombie #81 4 years ago

    I hate respawning enemies. I beat COD2 on Veteran, and those parts where enemies kept on respawning until you reached a specific point simply drove me insane. No coop + 6 hour campaign + respawning enemies = no way. Multiplayer seems to be designed with hardcore FPS fans in mind, so I'll pass, thanks. You may hate halo3, but you have to admit that halo's matchmaking+trueskill system is perfect for casual FPS gamers like myself.
  • GamesConnoisseur #82 4 years ago

    Apologie cant help it, no point in us berating him! He is just who he is as I called him the other day, 'ardent apologist for Sony!'

    Based on the track record, X360 should just edge it for;

    a. Rumbling out of box
    b. Bit better gfx (texture, lightening)
    c. Less frame droppings
    d. Better controller for fps
    e. Optional for those who cares, Achievement Points (ie moi!)

    But there will be time where PS3 version 'beats' X360, yet to see confirmation for this case but when that happen, wont mean X360 is finished as it does for PS3 despite being 'beaten' repeatlingly on many titles!

    Just be happy you can get to play COD4 whatever version you are playing it, still be damn good either way!
  • Apologie #83 4 years ago

    ...Infinity Ward personally assured us that development occurred simultaneously on all three platforms, and that there wasn't a base system. With that said, the console similarities end when it comes to textures, lighting and resolutions, because those three areas make the PlayStation 3 version definitely excel over the Xbox 360 SKU. Regardless, every console owner will proudly use Call of Duty 4 to showcase their high-definition TV, because COD4 is by far the best-looking console game you will see this year...
  • SeesThroughAll #84 4 years ago

    Just be happy you can get to play COD4 whatever version you are playing it, still be damn good either way!

    Amen!

    Give it a rest, Apologie, it's a good game and everyone who can play it will love it.

    kthxbye
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 14:16
  • krudster #85 4 years ago

    The respawning is a bit cheap, tbh, but mercifully rare.

    HOWEVER: There's one section in the Middle Eastern levels that I recall where you'd walk down a street with ruined houses either side. Each one would have enemies firing at you from the windows, and you'd sometimes kill about 30 people in each, and every single time someone would take their place. Then you'd find yourself in a position to enter the same house, and only when you'd physically taken out everyone inside did they stop respawning. Lazy design.
  • Darren #86 4 years ago

    @Apologie - The developers might claim that the PS3 is better than the 360 version but the GameTrailers video review I've seen with footage from both games shows that they're practically indistinguishable. In fact, if it hadn't been for the reload button appearing onscreen I wouldn't have even known that there was footage from the PS3 version! It appears that this graphical superiority may just amount to the PS3 version running natively at 1080p, something I obviously cannot tell from a 1280x720 video! ;)

    Whatever the truth, the PS3 has at long last got a multiformat game that not only looks and runs as well as the 360 version but is also launching at the same time. That must be a relief for PS3 owners used to getting sloppy hand-me-downs months after the 360. Well done, IW.
  • captainrentboy #87 4 years ago

    Is that true Apologie?... Noooooooooooooo! The PS3 version looks slightly better huh? Well fuck Infinity Ward, I'm no longer buying the game on Friday for my 360, how dare those bastards rob me of barely noticeable textures, and subtle differences in lighting :(
  • smoothpete #88 4 years ago

    ParanoidZombie - you beat CoD2 on veteran and you call yourself a casual FPS gamer?

    Most modest comment I've read on here!
  • Runtime #89 4 years ago

    360 version for me i think. I prefer the Xbox controller for FPS's.
  • Lexx87 #90 4 years ago

    Might have to get some black sabbath going along to me playing this. Light down, girlfriend locked away somewhere, uni work forgotten about and just...uh. Have fun!

    Edit: Couldn't find a way to end that well
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 14:32
  • ParanoidZombie #91 4 years ago

    "HOWEVER: There's one section in the Middle Eastern levels that I recall where you'd walk down a street with ruined houses either side. Each one would have enemies firing at you from the windows, and you'd sometimes kill about 30 people in each, and every single time someone would take their place. Then you'd find yourself in a position to enter the same house, and only when you'd physically taken out everyone inside did they stop respawning. Lazy design"

    yeah, this is it. This is exactly what killed COD2 for me. You get your fancy sniper rifle, you waste every bullet on those window guys because you didn't figure out what the script was about, and you finally "die" because you killed one of your teammates by accident. It just kills the "suspension of disbelief" and is no fun at all.
  • Hughes. #92 4 years ago

    Big buckets o' awesome for November. Good times for gaming. Expensive, but good.
  • Apostle #93 4 years ago

    Hasn't it always been like that in CoD games though Krudster? Until you move on to trigger an event, by killing all the enemy, or passing through a door or something, a lot of games do this. Half-Life 2 for example. I can imagine it's difficult to change that design, if you killed everyone then you'd be left thinking "where do I go?", as often the enemy 'pushes' you, or vice-versa, draws you to them, therefore the developer controls where you are going without the player thinking they're being controlled. Right? :)
  • Guv #94 4 years ago

    360 or Pc... that is the question. 32 online does sound more fun... but every time I sit down infront of the PC I wanna play TF2 :S
  • ParanoidZombie #95 4 years ago

    Halo3 doesn't use respawning enemies. Neither does FEAR. That's how I like my FPS: once the guy's dead, he IS dead, not respawning someplace else like a fucking cylon.
  • dr_swin #96 4 years ago

    I seem to be in a minority of one but I hated the beta of this. the graphics seemed gaudy and low res. The guns were lethal, far too easy to die. I seemed to remember getting shot from behind cover many times. It was hard to tell what teams people were on. I gave up after 15 minutes or so of not having any fun. Also the kill cam just made it frustrating. lag is something that you cant do much about. i think you're better off thinking that your poor performance is due to lag than having it proven to you.

    did you get a chance to have a look at the pc version Krudster?
  • Xerx3s #97 4 years ago

    Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?

    ....RPG's, Adventures, Puzzle games, Casual games, etc. Maybe just gaming in general?
  • Apostle #98 4 years ago

    "360 or Pc... that is the question. 32 online does sound more fun... but every time I sit down infront of the PC I wanna play TF2 :S"

    I wouldn't nessecarily agree more players = more fun. I think it's maximum 18 players on console versions right? Well 9 vs 9 seems like a good number for this type of team based game. Maybe if you'd like to play more deathmatch/team deathmatch the PC version would be the way to go?
  • Xerx3s #99 4 years ago

    We didn't get sent the PS3 version, hence we can't talk about it. Most publishers only send out 360 code. Go figure.

    Is this some promotion deal that ms has with publishers or is the ps3 version coming later?
  • krudster #100 4 years ago

    Again, re: PC -it's up to the publisher which versions they send out. I can but ask.
  • Xerx3s #101 4 years ago

    Halo3 doesn't use respawning enemies. Neither does FEAR. That's how I like my FPS: once the guy's dead, he IS dead, not respawning someplace else like a fucking cylon.

    Actually, that's not true.

    In the big battles, H3 constantly has dropships deliver new allies and enemies to the battlefield until the objective is completed.
  • bdc #102 4 years ago

    NOT AS GOOD AS HALO 3 LOL
  • donpawley #103 4 years ago

    Looking forward to this after blasting through Halo 3 and then not finding the multiplayer all that. Glad to read I am not the only person who feels that way about Halo 3. All I need to do now is make it back from China in time to pick it up from Tesco before it sells out........ wish me luck
  • crozon #104 4 years ago

    god damn publishers can ya send out the PC version so someone can compare the two versions, there was a talk a while back that the PC version would have bigger multiplayer maps.

    Also curious i wonder how the three platforms compare graphically
  • Beek4257 #105 4 years ago

    "having worked solidly on World War II shooters for longer than can be strictly healthy."

    Taking into account that most of IW lead designers also worked on MoH: Allied Assault, they've worked on WW II shooters longer than it took to, you know, actually fight the war ...
  • Bumhug360 #106 4 years ago

    For added publicity they should of just stuck a poppy on the front of the box, worked for cannon fodder
  • Apologie #107 4 years ago

    ...Infinity Ward personally assured us that development occurred simultaneously on all three platforms, and that there wasn't a base system. With that said, the console similarities end when it comes to textures, lighting and resolutions, because those three areas make the PlayStation 3 version definitely excel over the Xbox 360 SKU. Regardless, every console owner will proudly use Call of Duty 4 to showcase their high-definition TV, because COD4 is by far the best-looking console game you will see this year... along with Heavenly Sword, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Bioshok.
  • captainrentboy #108 4 years ago

    LoL@Apologie, did you just post exactly the same thing that you did an hour ago because people weren't paying enough attention to it the first time?
    That's quite sad.
  • Lexx87 #109 4 years ago

    Why are people horrible to each other in these comment things. The forums are usually quite a happy place, this place is a level of hell. Good for a laugh tho
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 15:37
  • Apologie #110 4 years ago

    captainrentboy

    no asshole, i just forgot to mention Heavenly Sword, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Bioshok.
  • JDub #111 4 years ago

    Shit! The gf's gonna be upset with me this Christmas!! LOL

    /counts gaming budget
  • richardiox #112 4 years ago

    Apologie is my new fave troll. Keep up the good work that man.
  • captainrentboy #113 4 years ago

    Apologie, the fact that you have now put those extra titles in your original post doesn't make it any less shit :)
    And for FFS, it's Bioshock, SHOCK!!!
  • Trane #114 4 years ago

    Apologie is my new girlfriend, he likes being whipped like the naughty sony lapdog biatch that he is.

    OT - This looks pretty good too, may have to give it a miss between orange box and gears of war (PC) tho =/ WTB more time.
  • tancredo #115 4 years ago

    Apologie
    Always someone comparing consoles and games. Guess it has to do with masculinity issues, comparing yourself to others

    For me, I am just happy I get to play this great game on my 360.

    I do not care if the Play 3 version is better as I do not have both consoles and not have to decide on which version to get. But based on the recent history of games, cross platform games come out tipically worse on the P3. Maybe this trend will change with this game, but personally I could not care less.
    Why would you come to a 360 forum and comment on a Play 3 version? doesn't make sense. don't you have your own forums for that...

    masculinity issues...
  • zuljin #116 4 years ago

    @tancredo
    "Why would you come to a 360 forum and comment on a Play 3 version? doesn't make sense. don't you have your own forums for that..."

    Actually, the Eurogamer front page shows a PS3 and 360 icon for this review. Hence I guess why a few people wanted to know how the PS3 version ran.
  • tancredo #117 4 years ago

    That is true. Sorry about that.
    But inmy defense, he is not comparing versions, just downgrading the 360's compared to the Play 3's, based on nothing the article mentions.

    But whatever, i do not personally care, I am just tired of people writing on forums downgrading other platforms. Just be happy it is a 9-10 game. If it comes the same or better on the P3, happy for them.
  • rashes #118 4 years ago

    Whatever about the best version. Can we end that now?

    What I'd really like is if it supported cross-platform play between PS3 and 360.
    Far more interesting (but more difficult) than doing it between 360/PC.

    Great game, by the way... loved the Beta. Have been looking forward to this more than H3 and OB.
  • PearOfAnguish #119 4 years ago

    "That's how I like my FPS: once the guy's dead, he IS dead, not respawning someplace else like a fucking cylon."

    It works in CoD4, though. Forces you to be constantly pushing forward - sit in one place too long and you're overwhelmed.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 16:15
  • SeesThroughAll #120 4 years ago

    What I'd really like is if it supported cross-platform play between PS3 and 360.

    I think we would see a console built by Microsoft and Sony together sooner than that.
  • Stonker #121 4 years ago

    PlayStation 3 version definitely excel over the Xbox 360 SKU

    Quite simply not true. Not a fanboy speaking just a fact.
  • GamesConnoisseur #122 4 years ago

    It no fault of PS3 owners if the multi platform title for X360 and PS3 (PC too!) that will be released on same day but X360 only get reviewed and thus all COD4 fans swamp onto X360's COD4 comments section.

    Personally, I dont have problems with cross platform talk it may be that at this point of time (things can change), X360 is leading the attention with bit better devs support (ie on time and only sending X360 version to EG and other reviewers) and wider user base.

    Only hope that we can keep to the standard in the posts, I know some have commented that there is 'immaturity' from some posts, I am only grateful that EG forum (so far!) is far above the crass, brash and loud posts as evident in USA sites. I mean wading in there is a danger to your mental health!

    We tend to forget that there could be wide variety of people posting inc school kids (serously I m not looking at Apologie here!), although serious gamers with investments of money do point to certain category being the main bulk of regular readers.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 17:19
  • pjmaybe #123 4 years ago

    Ooh a 9.

    Nice to know

    /polishes preorder

    Peej
  • KraftWerk #124 4 years ago

    "allowing you to 'shoot from the hip' far more effectivel"

    Typo, or my browser messing the page up somehow?
  • t8yman #125 4 years ago

    I am creaming for this game. Played the beta to death, and have got very bored with halo3 over the last few days (you can check my bungie stats for proof).

    as well as all the points nick made earlier, I play lone wolves, and team slayer ranked. if those 2 game types are your bag, you have about 6 maps to choose from, and you also have to play shitty oddball, and shitty king of the hill every few games.

    I'll be glad to have a shooter with an mp with some variety of maps, and more than 5 players on the map.

    There are 16 mp maps in COD4 BTW.
  • rashes #126 4 years ago

    @t8yman

    Good points.

    Will EG multiplayer review potentially affect the score?
  • Daymare #127 4 years ago

    Maybe the reason developers usualy send out X360 versions for review is because DVDs are cheaper then BD?
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 16:57
  • gaselite #128 4 years ago

    What is all this 'hmm will the 360 version be better or the ps3 version?'

    Personal. fecking. Computer.
  • Pulsar_t #129 4 years ago

    And what's with the ultra-short campagin? Infinity Ward just pulled an Airborne on us. Buy fools buy! I reckon by 8th gen the soloplay in this type of games will be reduced to 1-2 hours minus cutscenes!
  • skillian #130 4 years ago

    Maybe the reason developers usualy send out X360 versions for review is because DVDs are cheaper then BD?

    I suspect it's simply because more people have a 360, so the publishers would prefer 360 reviews online. Though I don't understand why they can't provide all formats - surely it can't cost them that much.

    Then again, somehow I can't see the reviewer playing all three versions just to get a rounded opinion, so the same decision would still have to be made.

    edit: But yes, it is kinda strange to see how Call of Duty has now really become a console game more than anything else. It's always felt like a PC game in my head.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 17:34
  • bonker #131 4 years ago

    Yeah it's depressing the shit outta me all this focus on the MP and just a small SP mode and tiny, if any, co-op which is where I think dev's need to concentrate now ...
  • bonker #132 4 years ago

    "Maybe the reason developers usualy send out X360 versions for review is because DVDs are cheaper then BD?

    I suspect it's simply because more people have a 360, so the publishers would prefer 360 reviews online. Though I don't understand why they can't provide all formats - surely it can't cost them that much. "

    Surely it's because the 360 is likely to show a game in its best light?

    Certainly if I was a marketing dude I'd be worried about all the bugs a reviewer may encounter on the PC version (assuming they got it running in the first place!) and also, the PS3 versions have been weaker so far so again, I'd be plumping for the 360 version if I was them ...
  • skillian #133 4 years ago

    Normally I'd say you have a point, but from what I've read the 360 version is no better than the PS3 version (in fact there's more comments saying it might be the other way round), and maybe it's just me, but when it comes to Call of Duty it's actually the PC version that really shows it in it's best light.

    I don't think being able to get the game working will be a problem for most games reviewers, they aren't retards ;)
  • Machiavellian #134 4 years ago

    Personally I can care not for the epenis on which console is better but I would like to know what makes the PS3 have better textures than the 360 since both have 512mb of memory but the PS3 memory is segmented. Also the PS3 memory is taken up more by the OS footprint (last time I heard) and thus the total amount of texture memory is not the same compared to the 360. @Apologie, you have made some bold statements can you actually shed some light on those statements or are they just some made up BS.

    I would believe that the PS3 has the edge in Physics but then again I would believe that the 360 would have the edge in AI. Lighting will be something I have to see but I have to agree with Darren that I could not tell the difference with the HD review from Gametrailers. The lighting looked exactly the same. On the resolution part, this can easly go to the PS3 since someone said that it's native res is 1080P. What I would like to know, when you run the game at 1080P does it keep the rock steady 60fps that the game enjoys at 720P.

    Anyway I am hoping that Apologie can shed some light on the issue since he appears to be in the know. I
  • Apostle #135 4 years ago

    Krudster can you please ask IW if they'll put an option to turn off "auto aim" in multiplayer? I can't stand it! Please?!
  • ASHBERY76 #136 4 years ago

    COD2 with new skins shouldn't get a 9.
  • dryden555 #137 4 years ago

    Personally I am not excited about these squad-based games but they are hugely popular so what do i know? The AI for your squad never seems remotely realistic and at that point I'd rather play an FPS without the squad.
  • rashes #138 4 years ago

    @ASHBERY76

    You obviously didn't play the beta.
  • mcmonkeyplc #139 4 years ago

    STOP FUCKING RELEASING GOOD GAMES!

    I DONT HAVE THE TIME!
  • gogobaka #140 4 years ago

    5-6 hours on normal? How can you justify a 9/10?
  • bonker #141 4 years ago

    "COD2 with new skins shouldn't get a 9. "

    I agree.

    It should get a 10.

    IF they've kept it as atmospheric as COD2.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 19:25
  • barchetta #142 4 years ago

    @gogobaka: 5-6 hours on normal? How can you justify a 9/10?

    Endurance is not a sign of quality. Or so says my better half.

    Wait....

    The above anecdote was a JOKE.
  • sanctusmortis #143 4 years ago

    I'll consider trading Bioshock for it. I'll wait to see how Assassin's Creed scores first, however.
  • GitSomE_UK #144 4 years ago

    YES! I cannot wait I'm giddy with excitement about this (rare for me to get over excited about a game).

    Preordered and looking forward to EG team combat.
  • figaro7 #145 4 years ago

    Really looking forward to this, just something about these COD games! Even enjoyed COD3!
  • thinred #146 4 years ago

    Why the hell isn't the review of the PS3 version up yet???

    The more it goes, the more EG confirms its strong bias for 360. It's starting to put me off from visiting the site, it's just not worth it.
  • Chufty #147 4 years ago

  • Machiavellian #148 4 years ago

    Ahhh thinred you have just made yourself look the ass. Maybe next time you should read through the comment section or just ask a question without accusations until you are sure that your accusations have merit.
  • ASHBERY76 #149 4 years ago

    There is something suspicious about these average console games getting overblown scores Halo,Bioshock and now COD2 with new skins.Meanwhile the PC only "the witcher" gets 7.Very strange.
  • Pablo2k5 #150 4 years ago

    Thanks for ther PC review EG you c*unts.
  • Waldo #151 4 years ago

    the penultimate level on Veteran took me about eight hours to do

    What was the last level like? Even more difficult?
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/07 @ 21:46
  • Dixons #152 4 years ago

    MoGamer2006 said: "Is anyone else getting bored of FPSs?"

    Dixons said: "That's why I basically ignored BioShock"

    moggsy said: "That's a mistake of quite massive proportions"


    I know I've basically committed gamer sacrilege with what I just said and I know Bioshock is meant to be all art deco and stuff but at heart it's still a shooter and over the last year or two I've simply had my fill. That said I do love the Halo games. In fact, they're about the only shooter I can really abide by these days. But the rest generally leave me cold, irrespective of how good they are.

    Like I said, I've basically given the likes of Bioshock and The Orange Box a wide berth, in favour of saving my monies for more adventure-tastic games like the upcoming Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, Tomb Raider Annie, etc.
  • barchetta #153 4 years ago

    Christ, just read last comment and thought there was an ANNIE game coming to 360.

    /baggsy being Daddy Warbucks
  • jgh3001 #154 4 years ago

    This is what an Infinity Ward programmer had to say about the PS3 and 360 versions:

    "There are minor visual differences between the 360 and PS3 versions, due to the platforms being extremely different from an architectural standpoint. This results in us having to make different tradeoffs on both platforms to hit our framerate targets. They're very nearly identical, but you'll be able to pick screenshots in which both versions are "clearly" the better version. They're as close as we could make them without going completely batcrap insane (though whether or not we are already completely batcrap insane is a matter of some debate.)

    Tradeoff example: Shadow filtering. We use different techniques on PS3 and 360 to filter shadow edges, which gives them a bit of a different look. I think it's a matter of taste as to which way looks better, but we did it that way because it was the most efficient way to do it on both platforms that yielded a look that was good enough."

    [link url=http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=84178 99&postcount=331
    ]http://ww w.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php...[/link]
  • kali_mist #155 4 years ago

    Im just not sure wheter to pick this up on pc or 360. 32 players compared to 18 is a big deal, and theres a bigger PC MP community in Europe than there is for 360. But it is tempting on the 360. No fiddling around with resolutions for HD etc.

  • projectmayhem #156 4 years ago

    @lavalant: As much as I agree with you, and adore Edge, they can get cought up in a games' hype as much as anyone else. The difference is that people respect Edge, even if they're a bit dumb with scores sometimes...
  • drumm23 #157 4 years ago

    The multiplayer alone deserves a 9 to be honest. It's just superb.
  • krudster #158 4 years ago

    "The old skool Eurogamer review would have this on an 8/10"

    I suggest you go back and see who reviewed the other Call of Duty games for Eurogamer....
  • Strac #159 4 years ago

    As stated before, they only got the x360 version, so not that strange that it's the only review up.

    from gamespy btw:
    "Control-wise, both the PS3 and 360 games fare very well. There are really no big differences between the two setups, and this in indeed true of the game as a whole. Anyone looking to pick holes in either version will be promptly stumped; this is truly the best example of how one game can look, play and sound identically on two different console platforms."
  • JYM60 #160 4 years ago

    Fuck all of these shit comments, from what I've seen this game look damn awesome. So there.
  • zuljin #161 4 years ago

    Well I'm annoyed cuz Play haven't sent my copy yet. Usually they send it 2 days ahead of release, so it arrives day of release or if you're lucky, day before.

    Grrr.
  • Spydez #162 4 years ago

    Great review! Looking forward to getting this on Friday.
  • kangarootoo #163 4 years ago

    @barchetta

    "The above anecdote was a JOKE"

    We might have believed you, if you hadn't felt the need to point it out ;)
  • tobsen #164 4 years ago

    Is it actually possible for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners to play on the same servers together?
  • BobsUncle #165 4 years ago

  • asifasifasif #166 4 years ago

    Whether or not the PS3 is better is better than the 360, looking is always better than guessing...

    [link url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=17 5122
    ]http://ww w.computerandvideogames.com/art...[/link]
  • krudster #167 4 years ago

    Last level was pretty easy next to the penultimate one. When you're under some sort of time limit, it gets pretty crazy because you're forced to take so many risks.
  • ronuds #168 4 years ago

    This SP is pretty intense and a notch or two above CoD3's campaign in terms of fun. VERY similar to CoD3's campaign, though, which isn't the worst thing in the world. But if you took the layout of each area in CoD3 and added some "modern" flare to it, you'd have CoD4.

    Still some issues bother me about the SP, as was the case with CoD3.

    1. Why can't I save 2 games at once? Dumb.
    2. If you don't continuously move forward, you will get stuck at parts where the enemy continuously respawns forever and ever. I'm a "hunt and peck" type of player and for me it's frustrating to almost be forced to jump directly into the middle of the fray.

    Otherwise, so far it's excellent!
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 17:06
  • SomaticSense #169 4 years ago

    God I hope not. CoD3's campaign was awful.
  • NegativeZero #170 4 years ago

    I haven't quite finished the single player, but with the exception of the ghillie suit sequence, I'm finding it's a pretty average shooter to be honest. Nowhere near as good as people have hyped.
  • polar #171 4 years ago

    They still haven't sorted out the stupid re-spawning enemies this time around!? There's no way I'm rewarding such lazy design. I play games to have fun, but to frustrated by wave after wave of respawning enemies who can only be beaten by one lucky Kamikaze run in a hundred.
    Edited by 1 at 08/11/07 @ 00:49
  • smurphs #172 4 years ago

    I've only just started COD2 and am loving every minute of it. Can't wait to move on to this one in a few months (very slow with games due to family!) I notice there's no mention of COD3 in the comments - is it worth skipping straight to COD4?
  • clockworkzombie #173 4 years ago

    @smurphs
    CoD 2 single player is much better than CoD 3. I played 3 before 2 luckily so I really enjoyed 3 and then happily found that 2 was better. Buy it and play it anyway, it will be quite cheap on ebay etc.
  • Fab4 #174 4 years ago

    You are doing it wrong if you need suicide runs to beat respawn points. There is always a logical way of approaching it. I never had much problems with CoD2 or CoD3 on Veteran.
    Edited by 1 at 08/11/07 @ 05:02
  • OnlyMe #175 4 years ago

    Is there a co-op campaign mode in this?
  • smurphs #176 4 years ago

    @clockworkzombie

    cheers for the info. Given limited time I think I'll skip COD3 for the time being. Got to get onto Halo 3 someday.....
  • TheBlueShmoo #177 4 years ago

    Great review thanks Krudster. I missed out on the beta but did get the PC demo down the other week. I was gobsmacked by it. Roll on tomorrow!

    :o)
  • mkreku #178 4 years ago

    Gaming is in a sad state when a 5 hour long game scores 9/10 and people think it's OK.
  • levis #179 4 years ago

    Got it yesterday, the graphics are the best i've ever seen with no drop in frame-rates. It's also got the best double intro ever!
  • krudster #180 4 years ago

    It's not a 5 hour game if you play it on Hard or Veteran - so just ignore the wussy Normal mode and play it properly and stop whining!
  • UncleLou #181 4 years ago

    Short games = good, at least in most genres. Especially linear shooters have a tendency to outstay their welcome if they're too long. Besides, I've read several times that it is as long as CoD 1 and 2, which is more than enough in my opinion.
  • bonker #182 4 years ago

    "I've only just started COD2 and am loving every minute of it. Can't wait to move on to this one in a few months (very slow with games due to family!) I notice there's no mention of COD3 in the comments - is it worth skipping straight to COD4?"

    Do COD2 on normal then do it on Veteran.

    Then check out COD4.

    COD3 for multi-player only, the single player game isn't fit to wipe COD2's arse.
  • rhinoxious #183 4 years ago

    If I get 8-10 hours out of it on Veteran, and then the same again on multiplayer (as an absolute minimum) then thats 20 odd hours for £40, compared to DVDs, or going out for a meal or the cinema, that's still good value entertainment.
  • GI-Joel #184 4 years ago

    IF you play this game and do well at it, you will be carted off to the middle east when world war 3 breaks out. They will use your gamerscore to assign your rank and class type ...... DONT SAY I DIDNT TELL YOU ;)
    Edited by 2 at 09/11/07 @ 19:39
  • krudster #185 4 years ago

    If you can do this on Veteran in 10 hours or less you deserve a medal :)
  • jetsetdemo #186 4 years ago

    I decided to buy this on the 360, main reasons it was a fiver cheaper than the ps3 version. I traded Halo 3 and Resistance fall of man, I did not really think Halo 3 was all that either. I only have Motorstorm left now for my PS3. Oh and by the way if you own a 360 and haven’t played Bioshock then you are only denying your self one more of life’s pleasures. If there is any one out there with both systems who decided to go the other way and get it on PS3 it would be interesting to get there thoughts?
  • gogobaka #187 4 years ago

    This game really is super-mega-awesome.

    I was planning to hold onto Halo 3, but now I think I'll be trading it in for SMG next week.
  • bonker #188 4 years ago

    I did my first Halo experience the other day and it's been dumped quick-style. I was shocked at how piss-poor it is when compared to IW's latest class act.
  • captainrentboy #189 4 years ago

    Just finished the Sniper level, the one set 15 yrs ago, my God this game has been awesome pretty much continuously, shame it's almost over already :/
    I have never played a FPS where it felt so much like you're in an actual battlefield, so bloody hectic, bullets zinging past everywhere, the last one I remember was actually COD 2 and only really the last level of that comes close to the battles in this one.
    As much as it hurts to say it, this single player campaign has really shown what an unfulfilling Campaign Halo 3 had. The conclusion of the US Seals level where you save the downed helicopter pilot (Don't want to ruin it for others) was one the most dramatic I've ever seen/played, it was very well done and quite friggin dramatic.
  • Luckz #190 4 years ago

    I'd take a 5-10 hour campaign over the pain that is Halo Combat Evolved any day.
    A good game you can even play again the odd time, while making a game longer by cutting and pasting the same room into one level many times over just leads to a permanently tedious gaming experience.
  • Arwin #191 4 years ago

    Don't know if it was mentioned before but both versions are actually upscaled from 1024x600! This keeps the 360 version in the EDRAM without tiling, and does seem to discredit somewhat Infinity Ward's claim that the game was developed for both platforms at the same time, but certainly discredits their l337 programming skills.

    However, what's even more striking to me is how DVD limited this game is. The 360 disc can only hold 6.8MIB and it's stuffed, video sections have very ugly compression ratios, and there's a significant texture budget limitation that for instance has removed a lot of blood textures for the multiplayer maps. They've obviously really gone out of their way to keep the graphics and everything else the same on both platforms, because they could have easily given more and better textures to the PS3 version (though their engine problably wouldn't have been able to make too much of them) and they could have easily also done that other thing that matters for us Europeans, which is give us more language options on the same disc. Because as with Halo, you can't play the game in English if you buy the German version and so on, which is a shame for those that care (and there are a few of those).

    DVD is not good for next-gen. Fortunately there are developers like Insomniac and Naughty Dog; may Ratchet & Clank and Uncharted show us the path to the light. :)

    How long this will hamper multi-platform games though, is anyone's guess. But it's a darn shame.
  • captainrentboy #192 4 years ago

    Do you actually believe the utter bollocks you're spewing out?
    I've got to admit it's one of the more novel excuses I've heard as for why the PS3 is underperforming so far.
    ''Ughh, yeah it's ummm the 360's fault, the 360 is holding back the PS3's true magic, because as Heavenly Sword and Lair have shown us when games are specifically designed just for the PS3 they are both wonderfully epic in game length and absolutely grand in the graphics department''....
    Those Lair water textures up close were spellbinding weren't they? And Heavenly Sword's 5 hour campaign fooking blew my mind :) Thank God for Blu-Ray huh?
    As long as games like Assassin's Creed are coming out for the 360, with absolutely gorgeous graphics and game lengths of 25 hours+, I'd refrain from complaining about how DVD is destroying this generation of gaming.
  • bonker #193 4 years ago

    "Just finished the Sniper level, the one set 15 yrs ago, my God this game has been awesome pretty much continuously, shame it's almost over already :/
    I have never played a FPS where it felt so much like you're in an actual battlefield, so bloody hectic, bullets zinging past everywhere, the last one I remember was actually COD 2 and only really the last level of that comes close to the battles in this one.
    As much as it hurts to say it, this single player campaign has really shown what an unfulfilling Campaign Halo 3 had. The conclusion of the US Seals level where you save the downed helicopter pilot (Don't want to ruin it for others) was one the most dramatic I've ever seen/played, it was very well done and quite friggin dramatic. "

    Indeed.

    There were moments, actually lots of them, when the part of my brain that gets stimulated by movies was being spiked by the game. Peter Jackson/whoever wants to look at movie/game crossover could do a lot worse than check out Infinity Ward's talent in this area.

    I'm gutted at how short the SP game was but my god did it ever push the bar higher for shooters. H3 isn't fit to wipe it's arse.

    Yes, COD4 is more intense and, I think, more difficult than COD2. I guess they ramped it up a bit as the game is so short.

    The helicopter pilot level actually frightened me - talk about disorientation and genuine shock etc at the end!

    I don't wanna go through the pain of Hardened but I know I'm gonna be pulled back into it lol

    Want to talk about more highlights (there are lots) but don't want to spoilt it for late-comers :)

    God bless you Infinity Ward.
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/07 @ 13:02
  • bonker #194 4 years ago

    "The 360 disc can only hold 6.8MIB and it's stuffed"

    ???
  • levis #195 4 years ago

    Did any one else feel the level where you had to machine-gun/grenade/bomb the enemies using the helicopter camera was amazingly realistic? I actually felt sorry for some of the people I was gunning to bits with the machine gun lol...
  • Corben_Dallas #196 4 years ago

    There are no Multiplayer Achievements in COD4, wtf inifity ward.
    :|

    gr8 game tho
    Plus US Marines No not EVER use RPG-7's, Should have put TOW's or something in.
    Edited by 1 at 13/11/07 @ 11:01
  • Yaz #197 4 years ago

    Arwin wrote: "DVD is not good for next-gen."

    DVD is more than good enough, and games like COD4 shows that.

    There was nothing stopping the devs using two DVDs or more if they REALLY wanted extra content in the game, with the PS3 version on one Blu-ray disk. There was nothing stopping them creating high quality videos for the PS3 version (since it has the space on disk) and using lower quality video for the 360 version (as seen with games last gen on the GC). And the texture quality looks on par with anything I've seen in PS3 games, so whilst Blu-ray could have provided more variety overall, it doesn't mean the texture quality would be higher in game (as I think you accept yourself in your post).

    Equally, there was absolutely nothing stopping them running the game at 720p natively on the PS3 if they wanted to, so obviously there were benefits to 600p to BOTH versions, with a lower fillrate for a better framerate being the most likely reason.

    "How long this will hamper multi-platform games though, is anyone's guess. But it's a darn shame."

    I doubt it is hampering multi-platform games anymore than the PS3's 40MB less ram for games is hampering them.

    Multi-platform games have to deal with the pros and cons of ALL the formats involved, so it's pointless and rather unfair to single out one issue as 'harming' games whilst ignoring others.

    IMO, the whole idea that DVD alone is holding back PS3 versions of multi-platform games is a gross exaggeration, especially as there are many factors affecting games (including time, cost, dev talent & experience, ram, CPU & GPU power, industry politics etc).

    So let's quit pretending that PS3 multi-platform games being of lower quality than YOU would like is all because of the 360, please. :) ;)
    Edited by 1 at 13/11/07 @ 10:07
  • paulf #198 4 years ago

    i think you are gonna have to add one to the score once you play the multiplayer, excellent game
  • Velios #199 4 years ago

    Got the game on Fraday, I think it's totally amazing and for me personally I found the game to be much more intense and exciting than the experience offered by Halo.

    Remember the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan? This game at times delivers a similar experience, especially in multiplayer which I find to be the best on-line FPS game I have ever played, and I've played most of them.

    Highly recommended.
  • chischis #200 4 years ago

    CoD4 deserves a 10/10.

    I'm rather too tired to argue about it, but having gone through the single player campaign, I can safely say that I have never, EVER felt so involved, and felt so much personal attachment to the on-screen action. The AT-130, the ghillie suit mish "turning on itself" at the halfway point, the aftermath of Paul Jackson rescuing the helicopter pilot, and the ending. Bloody hell... I felt like a proper fucking hero after that ending.

    10/10, damnit. Even Bioshock feels a bit... pretentious and silly after playing CoD4.
  • Fab4 #201 4 years ago

    "How did a muppet like you pass selection?"

    Absolutely great game and the SAS dialogue is brilliant. Stunning missions and nice, interesting loads between them, creating an almost relentless feeling of moving from one battle to the other. Plus the Mile High Club level is a work of genius...manic genius on Vet, but genius nonetheless :)

    And they threw in MP for free!!...excellent ;)
  • sickboy #202 4 years ago

    when is the multiplayer review coming out???
  • bengray66 #203 4 years ago

    good point. when is the multiplayer review coming out? says "next week" about a month ago... very slack.


    As for the game, i stupidly started it on Veteran because after the training bit it suggested that i do... Its bloody rock solid. Taken me ages to get to the "hunted" level, and now i can't get past the bit with the helipcopter where price says we need to find ariel cover...
  • dr_swin #204 4 years ago

    what a fantastic game. thanks IW. this is the first COD game I have played to completion. did it on hardened and now those veteran achievements are winking at me. The single best thing about this game is the feeling of being involved in a real conflict with potentially apocalyptical results if you fail. might go back and pick up cod 2 on the cheap now and have another go at that.

    the voice acting of the sas soldiers and the scripting was spot on as well. it made such a refreshing change.
  • fujimaster #205 4 years ago

    Truly incredible game. Have nearly completed it (currently taking the dis-arm codes to the nukes) but have enjoyed every second so far. The graphical variety is great, the way it seamlessly flows from scene to scene, the flash backs, the sniping, the sheer gun play. Really something else.

    My only downside is the 'advance or get caught in a never ending enemy re-spawn loop', which is quite prevalent in some sections. Also the way your team magically beam ahead of you can grate sometimes. But they are minor distractions from what is overall an incredible experience.
  • tgigreeny #206 4 years ago

    This really does deserve its own multiplayer review. The single player game is excellent, but really not all that special apart from some fine set pieces and lovely audio texturing. But the multiplayer is the single best online experience since Counterstrike. ANd actually, its ever better than that. Best online game ever. You bet.
  • djed #207 4 years ago

    counter weight:
    the 'set pieces' are terrible and serve only to break up the flow of the game. 'ooooh, i'm blinking very slowly after surviving a heli crash! AWESOME, IT FEELS LIKE I'M THERE!!!' blargh.
    The game world seems like it's made of titanium and diamond (the two hardest METALS known to man) since it's completely unmovable and indestructible
    Your squad is indestructible...
    ..which is super annoying considering all the times you'll want to watch them die slowly for being just bloody useless.
    The enemy can 'shoot blind", you can't. i FREAKING HATE IT when enemies can do trivial stuff and i can't. NEXT GEN YEA!
    and you can't very well jump over things knee-high unless the game has decided it's ok and gives you a special icon.
    On veteran, random deaths are inevitable
    Enemies spawn endlessly (no, not coming in from helicopters, just 'WOOSH HELLO'-spawning) until you take one step forward.

    all in all, a pretty good game. according to my own, completely subjective, measurement system, it's an 8/10.5