Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Review
After more than two decades of annual releases, Call of Duty has become one of gaming's most recognisable franchises. It's a series I've been playing for years, and while there's always a reason to get excited about another instalment, I think it's fair to say that some recent entries have struggled to capture the magic that made the franchise such a powerhouse in the first place. Whether it's the familiar multiplayer formula, the gunplay, the weapons or simply the excitement of jumping into another year of Call of Duty, there's still plenty to enjoy. But for me, a genuinely great single-player campaign can be one of the biggest reasons to pick up a new release.
After playing Modern Warfare 4, I can honestly say I haven't been this impressed by a Call of Duty campaign in a very long time. In fact, I genuinely believe this could be one of the best campaigns the franchise has ever delivered. It's not just that the gameplay is enjoyable, the action looks fantastic or the missions are entertaining. It's the story, the characters and the way the game manages to pull you into what's happening. I found myself genuinely invested in the people involved, even when that meant rooting for characters and factions on opposing sides. That's something I don't think Call of Duty achieves particularly often, and it's a big part of why Modern Warfare 4 has left such a strong impression on me.
It's not perfect across the board, though. While the campaign has been an absolute highlight, I've had a more mixed experience with multiplayer, and the return of DMZ gives players another substantial experience for those who enjoy something a little different from the traditional Call of Duty formula. There's plenty to unpack here, but it's the campaign that deserves most of the attention.
A campaign that genuinely surprised me
Let's start with the campaign, because this is where Modern Warfare 4 really shines. I've played plenty of Call of Duty campaigns over the years, and while I've enjoyed most of them, I don't think I've often finished one feeling quite as invested in the story as I did here. Call of Duty campaigns are generally enjoyable experiences. That's hardly surprising, given how good the gameplay has traditionally been. Most deliver entertaining shooting, exciting action sequences and the sort of cinematic moments you'd expect from the franchise. They're usually a good time, and that's often enough to make them worth playing. But there's a difference between a campaign that's simply fun to play and one that genuinely draws you into its story. Modern Warfare 4 manages to deliver both.
What really stood out to me was just how invested I became in the characters and everything happening throughout the story. Rather than simply approaching everything as a straightforward battle between good and bad, the storytelling gives you reasons to care about the different people involved. I found myself understanding the motivations of characters on seemingly opposing sides, wanting to see how their individual stories would unfold and genuinely hoping things would work out for people I probably wouldn't have expected to support. That's a big achievement, and it's something I think deserves more recognition. A good Call of Duty campaign should make you want to keep playing, but a great one should make you care about what's happening beyond the next firefight. Modern Warfare 4 had me invested in its story in a way that I don't think many previous entries have managed.
The campaign also takes some welcome steps towards giving players a different perspective on the conflict. The story centres around a North Korean invasion of South Korea, introducing a group of South Korean soldiers caught in the middle of a devastating situation. It's a refreshing change from relying entirely on familiar special forces operatives who seem capable of taking on just about anything. There's a greater sense of vulnerability here, and it helps create some genuinely tense moments throughout the campaign. Captain Price also returns, continuing his increasingly complicated personal journey and dealing with the consequences of earlier events. While I think some of the newer characters and their stories make the strongest impression, it's good to see familiar faces still have a meaningful role to play.
One of the things I particularly loved about the campaign, though, was the inclusion of open-world elements. It's an approach that I think works incredibly well, and it adds another dimension to what is already a really engaging and gripping storyline. Rather than constantly pushing you from one linear mission to the next, these sections give you room to explore, approach situations differently and make decisions about how you want to progress. There's something about being dropped into a larger environment, being given objectives and then being allowed to decide how you want to tackle them that makes the experience feel much more personal. You're not always following a predetermined path or waiting for the next scripted moment to happen. You have a degree of control over how you approach things, and that sense of freedom makes you feel more involved in what's unfolding.
What I particularly like is how that freedom complements the storytelling. The overall narrative is already gripping enough to keep you wanting to know what happens next, but the more open sections give you additional time to immerse yourself in the world and feel like you're part of the operation rather than simply watching a story play out in front of you. You're actively involved in moving things forward, choosing how to approach objectives and deciding what you want to prioritise along the way. I don't think every Call of Duty mission needs to be open world, and I certainly wouldn't want the franchise to lose its traditional cinematic, linear missions. Those explosive, tightly scripted moments are still a huge part of what makes these campaigns so enjoyable. Modern Warfare 4 does a great job of blending the two styles, giving you the best of both worlds. It's one of the campaign's biggest strengths, and it's an approach I'd love to see explored further in future Call of Duty games.
The campaign also isn't afraid to take some big swings. There are moments that genuinely caught me off guard, including some shocking character deaths and story developments that I wasn't expecting. I'm not going to spoil anything here, but there were points where I genuinely had to stop and process what had just happened. It gives the story a sense of consequence and makes you feel like the characters aren't simply protected by the fact that they're part of the main cast. I also think the variety between missions helps keep things interesting. One moment you're navigating a tense encounter behind enemy lines, and the next you're caught up in a much larger military offensive. The missions feel like they have a purpose, and I never felt like I was simply working through a series of firefights to get to the next cutscene.
There are a few areas where I think the campaign could have done more. At around six hours, it's relatively short, particularly when you consider just how invested the story made me. Some characters and villains also deserved more time to develop, and there are storylines that I think could have carried considerably more weight with a little extra attention. I would have happily spent more time with these characters and explored some of the story's ideas further. Nevertheless, these shortcomings don't change how much I enjoyed the experience. If anything, they left me wanting more, which is a pretty good indication of just how much the campaign got right.
I've played plenty of Call of Duty campaigns that I've enjoyed, but it's rare for one to leave me thinking about its story and characters after I've finished playing. Usually, I'm happy to have enjoyed the action, experienced a few memorable set pieces and moved on to the next game. Modern Warfare 4 was different. I was invested in the story, I cared about the characters and I genuinely wanted to know what happened next. I went in expecting another enjoyable Call of Duty campaign, but I came away thinking it was something considerably better.
Campaign: 10/10
Multiplayer: I'm not quite as convinced
Unfortunately, my experience with multiplayer hasn't been quite as positive. This is probably the section where I'm going to sound a little like an old man complaining about how things used to be, but something about the multiplayer in Modern Warfare 4 just hasn't clicked with me in the same way previous Call of Duty games have. I actually think the maps are pretty good, and there are some enjoyable locations to play through. I haven't come away thinking that map design is necessarily the biggest problem. Instead, it's the overall feel of the gameplay and the way matches play out that I haven't connected with.
Movement feels slower and, at times, a little laboured. I'm not necessarily saying that faster movement automatically makes a better multiplayer experience, but I do find myself missing the more familiar, responsive feeling of older Call of Duty games. There's a particular rhythm to the multiplayer that I've come to enjoy over the years, and Modern Warfare 4 doesn't always deliver that for me. I also find myself wondering whether some of this is simply down to getting older. Perhaps I'm not quite as good at Call of Duty as I once thought I was, or maybe my expectations have changed after playing so many entries in the series. It's entirely possible that players who enjoy the current direction of the franchise will get much more out of it than I have.
That's not to say there's nothing to enjoy here. The underlying gunplay is still excellent, there's plenty of customisation to experiment with and the maps provide some good environments for competitive matches. I can jump in, play a few games and have a good time, but I'm not necessarily finding myself desperate to keep playing. Some of the matchmaking experiences can also be frustrating, particularly when matches feel unnecessarily one-sided or you're up against considerably more coordinated opponents. These are familiar frustrations for longtime Call of Duty players, and they do take a little away from the overall experience.
I don't want to suggest that multiplayer is bad, because I don't think that's necessarily the case. There's a solid experience here, and I know there will be plenty of players who enjoy its direction considerably more than I do. Personally, though, I haven't found myself getting quite as hooked as I would have liked. It's enjoyable enough, but it's also a noticeable step down from how strongly I feel about the campaign.
Multiplayer: 7.5/10
DMZ is back.
Another major part of Modern Warfare 4 is the return of DMZ, which brings a very different style of gameplay to the usual campaign and competitive multiplayer experiences. Rather than simply jumping into a traditional match, DMZ is built around an extraction shooter format, where you head into the world, complete objectives, collect resources and equipment, and try to make it out alive. It's a different sort of experience, and one that gives players another reason to spend time with the game beyond the campaign and traditional multiplayer.
The new DMZ experience takes place in Hajin, with players able to deploy alone or as part of a squad. There are Story Missions, Dynamic Operations, Side Ops and high-value targets to pursue, giving you plenty of reasons to head back into the area. You'll also encounter hostile AI and other players, so there's always a degree of uncertainty about how a run is going to unfold. You might head in with a simple objective in mind, only for things to become considerably more complicated along the way. That's a big part of the appeal of extraction shooters. You never quite know how things are going to play out, and even a relatively straightforward deployment can turn into a desperate fight to get out safely.
The risk-and-reward element is what makes this style of gameplay particularly interesting. You can spend time gathering valuable equipment and resources, but getting greedy or failing to extract can mean losing what you've collected. It creates a very different sort of tension compared with traditional multiplayer. It's not simply about getting the most kills or finishing at the top of a scoreboard. Sometimes the smartest decision is knowing when you've got enough and getting out before things go wrong. It's a different approach to Call of Duty, and one that gives the overall package a bit more variety.
There's also a longer-term progression system built around the Forward Operating Base, which acts as your central hub between deployments. You can manage your Operators, equipment and stash, work on crafting, access weapons and upgrades, and prepare for your next run. Persistent Operator progression and traits give players additional reasons to keep coming back, while the different mission types and objectives help give each deployment a purpose. I like the idea of DMZ being a more substantial part of Modern Warfare 4 rather than just another side activity tucked away in the menus. It gives players something different to work towards and offers an experience that can sit alongside the campaign and traditional multiplayer.
Of course, extraction shooters aren't going to appeal to everyone. The possibility of losing equipment and progress from a failed run can be frustrating, particularly if you've spent a considerable amount of time building up your Operator. It's a very different style of gameplay from the more immediate, pick-up-and-play nature of traditional Call of Duty multiplayer, and I can understand why some players might not be interested. What will ultimately determine the success of DMZ is how well it's supported over time. New objectives, content and reasons to return will be important if it's going to become an experience players stick with for months rather than something they spend a few weeks exploring. There's plenty of potential here, and its inclusion makes Modern Warfare 4 feel like a broader package than just another annual Call of Duty release.
DMZ: 8/10
The gunplay is still a highlight
One thing Call of Duty has rarely struggled with is the actual shooting, and Modern Warfare 4 continues that tradition. The gunplay remains one of the franchise's biggest strengths, with satisfying weapon handling, responsive controls and the sort of combat that few competitors have consistently managed to replicate. Whether you're clearing a building at close range or engaging enemies across a larger battlefield, there's a level of feedback and responsiveness that makes every encounter enjoyable.
Weapons feel powerful, the action has a satisfying weight to it, and the overall shooting mechanics are a big part of why the campaign works so well. It's also what makes the multiplayer enjoyable, even when I'm not entirely convinced by the movement and overall feel of the online experience. I don't think Call of Duty needs to completely reinvent its gunplay every year. The fundamentals have always been exceptionally strong, and I'd much rather see the developers continue refining what works than make unnecessary changes simply for the sake of innovation.
It's worth recognising just how important that familiar gameplay is to the overall experience. Even when the story takes you through some unexpected situations or the multiplayer doesn't quite click, the shooting itself remains consistently enjoyable. It's one of the reasons I've continued coming back to the franchise over the years, and Modern Warfare 4 is another reminder of just how good Call of Duty can feel when everything comes together.
The graphics and presentation are excellent
One thing that's hard to overlook is just how good Modern Warfare 4 looks. The campaign in particular is a fantastic showcase for the game's presentation, with detailed environments, impressive lighting and some excellent cinematic moments. There are plenty of scenes that look spectacular, and the visual quality helps sell the scale and intensity of what's happening. Large-scale battles are particularly impressive, with explosions, smoke, debris and environmental detail combining to create the sort of chaotic atmosphere you'd expect from a major military shooter.
It's not just about having impressive graphics for the sake of it, either. The presentation plays a big part in making the campaign feel immersive. Character models, animations and facial performances help bring the story to life, and when combined with the voice work and storytelling, it makes for a genuinely engaging experience. I also think the cinematic approach helps give the campaign its blockbuster feel. The way missions unfold, the scale of the action and the attention to detail all contribute to an experience that feels like a major production.
The sound design deserves just as much recognition. Gunfire has real weight, explosions are suitably thunderous, and the combination of environmental audio and battlefield effects helps make the action feel much more immersive. Call of Duty has always benefited from enormous production budgets, but Modern Warfare 4 is a reminder of just how impressive the franchise can look and sound when those resources are put to good use. It's a fantastic-looking game, and the presentation helps elevate an already excellent campaign.
Final thoughts
Modern Warfare 4 has reminded me why I still get excited about a new Call of Duty release. While I haven't fallen completely in love with every part of the game, the campaign alone has made this one of the most memorable entries in the series for me. I genuinely wasn't expecting to come away feeling this strongly about the story. The characters, the writing, the unexpected moments and the way the campaign had me invested in people on all sides made it something special. I've enjoyed plenty of Call of Duty campaigns over the years, but this one felt different. It wasn't just something I played because I wanted to experience the latest Call of Duty action. I actually wanted to know what happened next.
The open-world sections were a particularly welcome surprise. I loved having the freedom to explore, make my own decisions and choose how I wanted to approach different objectives. It's an excellent addition to the traditional Call of Duty formula, and I think it makes an already gripping storyline even more engaging. I'd love to see the developers continue experimenting with this approach in future campaigns, because the combination of cinematic missions and more open-ended gameplay works incredibly well.
Multiplayer is still enjoyable, but it hasn't quite hit the mark for me. I think the maps are pretty good, and the core gameplay is still there, but the movement and overall feel haven't clicked in the way I'd hoped. DMZ, meanwhile, gives the game another substantial experience and has plenty of potential, particularly if it receives the ongoing support it needs. There are a few familiar frustrations across the package, including the relatively short campaign and some characters who deserved more time to develop, but none of that takes away from how much I enjoyed the overall experience.
If you're someone who primarily buys Call of Duty for its campaign, I think Modern Warfare 4 is an easy recommendation. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the campaign is reason enough to pick this one up. It's an outstanding experience, and I genuinely believe it's as good as, if not better than, any Call of Duty campaign we've had before. I don't say that lightly, particularly after playing the franchise for so many years.
Modern Warfare 4 isn't perfect, but it's the sort of release this franchise has needed. It doesn't need to reinvent itself every year, and sometimes all it takes is a great campaign, excellent gunplay, enjoyable multiplayer and enough variety to keep players coming back. Modern Warfare 4 gets most of that right, and for me, it's one of the most enjoyable and memorable Call of Duty experiences I've played in years.
Given that Call of Duty is bought mainly for the multiplayer elements, it has to hold some extra weight in the overall review score, leading to our overall being an 8. That being said, looking at the campaign as a stand alone, it could easily be considered one of the best COD Campaigns of all time, and if it were longer, would possibly make Modern Warfare 4 a contender for GOTY in my opinion.
