Verdict: Call of Duty jumps into the 21st century with a bang.
This latest edition of Call of Duty marks a quantum shift in the game's evolution. Instead of WWII combat - fighting as a squaddie for one of the three main European protagonists - you're now engaged in modern-day combat. You take on the two roles of a US Marine and a British SAS operative, along with a few other one-off roles, such as gunner in an AC-130 Spectre gunship.
The game's overtones are also more subtle than those of previous CoD games. While the WWII scenarios comprised a simple battle of good vs evil, this game is more complex. We won't give the plot away - suffice to say that it twists and turns in unexpected ways, and the old adage 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' doesn't always hold true.
The gameplay is also different, involving a series of story-driven squad-based missions as you fight your way across the globe on the trail of a Russian ultra-nationalist. Of course, no fictional fight would be complete without a Middle East conflict, and in this case, an oil-rich country on the Red Sea has been taken over by fundamentalists, and the USA is poised to invade.
In true first-person shooter style, the controls are a basic combination of the mouse and keyboard, although it supports a gamepad. The game also suggests a difficulty setting, depending on how well you do in training.
The levels are exquisitely designed and, in many respects, the game's more Rainbow Six than Medal of Honor, with napping sentries, a wide range of weapons, a gripping plot and an atmosphere you can cut with a commando knife. This isn't to say the old human-wave battles are gone in CoD 4; some of the urban fighting (which bears an uncanny resemblance to the marine assault on Fallujah) is a fragger's dream. However, there are also missions that involve stealth, assassination and extraction, in which one false move will bring half the Russian army down on your head.
The AI has also been improved over previous editions, with enemies actively seeking cover and grabbing tactical fire positions. However, the game's improved ballistics mean that you can also hit (and be hit) when you're taking cover behind a thin material, such as a wooden box or thin wall. You now need some brainpower in addition to an itchy trigger finger.
There is, of course, a downside to all this, which is the fact that the single-player campaign is over very quickly - less than a day if you're reasonably competent. The Veteran difficulty setting, however, is very challenging. Thankfully, there's a fantastic multiplayer experience to be had, with gameplay options ranging from a generic frag-fest (with fixed-place weapons on the ground) to an almost roleplaying style in which bonus abilities are unlocked as you play.
It's a bold move for a first-person shooter to break away from its traditional timeline, and the new gameplay style is a similarly brave approach. Nevertheless, it works and the game is a winner. There's enough to keep you glued to the PC for a while, although history aficionados may be disappointed that the king of WWII shooters has moved on.
