Bucking the Trend

For someone who fell in love with the original CALL OF DUTY clear back in 2003 (!), almost every year since then, we’ve received an entry in one of the largest franchises in entertainment history. While the results have been generally ranged from ok to excellent, there have been years where the series has really been too much with too little of wait in between. To be completely honest, when I first heard CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE announced, I was a bit hesitant as I feel the modern warfare aspect has been done to death and I’d love to see other conflicts, especially Vietnam, revisited. After booting up the game on PC, I knew I was in for something different from previous years..

What a relief to see a full blow, extremely solid Campaign, a meaty Multiplayer and a fully fleshed out Co-op section as well. Immediately, I was stoked to see all the core components that most previous titles in the series either scrimped on or just left out all together. First off, the Campaign is absolutely stunning though not light hearted or for the casual consumer. It’s brutal, realistic, and I feel, important for those interested in actual modern combat or warfare. Yes, there are some exaggerations but overall, the Campaign is a complete tour de force and one of the best in the series. The older I get, the more I actually flinch at realistic violence but for those interested in the genre, it’s one of the greatest.

Gorgeous Crossplay

I can’t write another paragraph without expressing how gorgeous Call of Duty: Modern Warfare really is. Whether it be on PS4 Pro or maxed out on PC (See screenshots included), the series is finally holding its own with the likes of Battlefield V and other gorgeous shooters. Even in the fast paced multiplayer modes, the visuals shine and it runs completely smooth. Now, with that out of the way, let’s talk about what makes Modern Warfare really unique: Complete and total inclusion when it comes to crossplay. That’s right, during many MP sessions, I was on PC, with mouse and keyboard naturally, yet we had a Xbox One player with controller and yet another on PS4 Pro with mouse and keyboard. The party system and matchmaking worked flawless across every mode tested, BRILLIANT! I’m sorry, but now I am spoiled. Every shooter should have this feature in the future and if it doesn’t, it just won’t be played as much as Modern Warfare..

Nearly Perfect

I could continue to gush about COD: MW but what must be said is that is the completely package, a stunning achievement and the modern pinnacle of the Call of Duty series. Is it perfect? No but darn near. We need more MP maps, some spawn points are camped, and killstreaks can be extremely OP. That being said, these are items that are being resolved and from the recent patch released, I know the wizards at Infinity Ward are on the right track. Niggles aside, it’s a true triumph, especially on PC.

For the first time in years, I give this Call of Duty entry my highest recommendation, even if you are just remotely interested in the series or genre. It truly is one of the greats and really ups the ante for the future of mainstream shooters.