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Sometimes James Bond, sometimes John Wick, then MGS 5: Modern Warfare 4 shows just how varied a shooter campaign can be.
After the Black Ops 7 campaign—which I found extremely disappointing—I had actually written off Call of Duty. The whole thing felt like a failed experiment where the developers apparently couldn’t decide between a co-op and a single-player adventure.
And for years, I’ve kept hearing people say, “Nobody plays Call of Duty for the campaign—they play it for the multiplayer.” I have to disagree on two counts. First, I’ve always played the series exclusively for its single-player campaigns. And second, Activision would hardly invest millions in elaborate single-player adventures if no one were actually interested in them.
Surprise: My initial skepticism toward Modern Warfare 4 didn’t last five minutes. “I hope this isn’t another flop” quickly turned into “Holy shit, what’s going on here?” When the credits rolled after about seven hours, I immediately started a second playthrough. Partly because I absolutely wanted to experience this spectacle all over again. And partly because I was curious to see if the decisions you have to make in some missions actually influence the rest of the story. Here’s this much I’ll reveal: Anyone expecting consequences as far-reaching as those in *The Blood of Dawnwalker* will have to significantly lower their expectations.
With its campaign, Modern Warfare 4 proves just how much more a first-person shooter can offer. James Bond-style spy action, hard-hitting close-quarters combat in the vein of John Wick, and sandbox exploration like in MGS 5, combined with the usual unrestrained Call of Duty bombast. And before any of these elements can get old, Infinity Ward already has the next surprise in store.
A colorful array of violent excesses
One moment you’re chasing an enemy across the rooftops of New York in true parkour style; the next, you’re fighting your way through a nightclub. Then you’ll race through downtown Paris in a wild car chase, rappel down the facade of a skyscraper in Mumbai at night, or fight for survival on the Korean Peninsula in the midst of a brutal invasion.
Infinity Ward isn’t just mindlessly swapping out the backdrops, though. In terms of gameplay, Modern Warfare 4 also throws one surprise after another: You’ll sneak, climb, drive vehicles, dish out punches, solve little puzzles, operate heavy machinery, and, of course, fight your way through enemy positions with an assault rifle in classic style. While Black Ops 6 already headed in this direction, Modern Warfare 4 now completely shatters the old constraints.
The only thing more impressive, really, is the unbridled audacity to be wasteful. Some game mechanics are used for just a few minutes and then disappear never to be seen again. While other studios would immediately build a progression system around such an idea—complete with three skill trees and 20 hours of grinding—Modern Warfare 4 has long since moved on to the next attraction.
Beneath all the madness, it’s still Call of Duty
Without a solid foundation, this flood of ideas would quickly collapse like a house of cards. The fact that this doesn’t happen is thanks to the excellent gunplay: the weapons pack a serious punch, hits feel powerful, and the controls respond with their usual precision. As atypical as the whole thing gets—as soon as I pull the trigger, Modern Warfare 4 unmistakably feels like Call of Duty.
This solid foundation is also why the campaign doesn’t devolve into a mere collection of spectacular gimmicks. It’s like Destiny 2, where even the weakest new story DLC wasn’t a total flop because the basic framework—namely, the phenomenal gunplay—is rock-solid.
The fistfights and knife duels, however, are an exception. While they’re spectacular and staged like a movie, they feel a bit imprecise. Above all, in the heat of battle, it’s not always clear when I should block an attack and when I should strike.
My personal highlight
The “Stranded” chapter deserves special praise. After your unit crashes behind enemy lines in North Korea, the otherwise largely linear shooter suddenly transforms into a mini open-world adventure. You can tackle mission objectives in any order, explore the environment on your own, complete optional tasks, and collect plenty of loot. In your hideout, you can upgrade weapons and gear or trade items with your teammates.
By this point at the latest, Modern Warfare 4 feels more like Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain or Far Cry 6 than a classic Call of Duty. You cruise around in vehicles, jump off towers or cliffs, deploy your parachute, and glide unnoticed past enemy checkpoints. If you’re not in the mood for stealth, you can instead pilot a bomb drone right into the middle of a group of enemies, run over soldiers with a truck, or take them out with a sniper rifle from the roof of a radio tower. And those are by no means all the possibilities.
Depending on whether you focus on the chapter’s three main objectives or complete all the optional tasks as well, you can spend two, three, or even four hours in this mini-open world. Above all, this foray into the open world works significantly better than the open-combat missions in Modern Warfare 3.
To me, it seemed as though the multiplayer maps were designed first, with the mission objectives added later by the developers.
The storyline functions adequately
Infinity Ward excels in gameplay, but the plot should not be analyzed too closely. The premise of North Korea invading the South serves as a backdrop for larger forces at play, with Captain Price entangled in an international conspiracy.
The narrative lacks believability. Modern Warfare 4 is not a political thriller; rather, it uses world politics to propel action sequences. Anyone expecting a deep analysis of the Korean conflict here is as misguided as someone mistaking *Fast & Furious* for a documentary on traffic laws.
Nevertheless, I appreciate the characters, particularly Park and his comrades, who deviate from the typical super-soldier archetype. They display vulnerability and fear, making them relatable and adding a human element to the story.
On the other hand, Mads Mikkelsen’s portrayal as “The Shooter” falls short due to limited character development. Despite Mikkelsen’s commanding performance, the script does not allow him to create a truly memorable villain.
Enhanced strategic depth needed in enemy behavior
During slower moments in Modern Warfare 4, the flaws in enemy AI become apparent. Enemies exhibit poor cover choices and obliviousness to nearby events. While these issues may go unnoticed in chaotic battles, they are glaring in more controlled combat scenarios.
The audiovisual presentation of the game is exceptional. The battles are visually stunning, with destruction and chaos unfolding dynamically. The environments are rich in detail, creating a lively backdrop of activity and noise.
The level of detail and effort put into Modern Warfare 4 is evident in every aspect. The sound design, in particular, stands out as exceptional, creating an immersive experience unmatched by other shooters.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – Review Summary:
Following Black Ops 7, my expectations for another Call of Duty campaign were low. However, Modern Warfare 4 has reignited my interest. While the story and enemy AI may lack depth, the game impresses with its visuals and sheer entertainment value. The game delivers a cinematic experience that leaves a lasting impact. If Activision continues to produce campaigns like this annually, focusing on high-octane action without filler, I would eagerly anticipate each release.