Platform: PS3, XBox 360, PC & Mac Publisher: Activision Developer: Infinity Ward Genre: FPS Number of Players: 1 Age Rating: Mature Release Date: Nov. 5, 2007 MSRP: $59.95 Gameplay: 8 Visual Appeal: 9 Audio Appeal: 8 Re-Playability: 10 Overall Rating: 9 Website: Connect Buy - Rent

 For the first time, a Call of Duty game takes place in the modern era.  In the three previous games the settings was during the Second World War.  With the multiple first person shooters focusing on the Second World War, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a breath of fresh air.  This is also Infinity Ward's third time producing a Call of Duty game.  Treyarch produced the third game.

 The story takes place between the Middle East and northern Russia.  A group of terrorists has their hands on nuclear material and it is the job of an American and a British task force to stop the terrorists from achieving their goals.  Until the end, the groups always seem to be just a second too late.

 The game play is what one expects of a first person shooter.  Fire a gun, jump, and run, throw a grenade and hide.  What CoD4 does differently is it throws in some newer technology and allows players to shoot from a flying gunship and a Blackhawk helicopter.  In addition, players can even call in air attacks.

 Depending on if you get a console or the computer version of this game determines the controls.  Players should get whichever version they are most comfortable with, else they should expect to play the same checkpoints multiple times until they adapt, no matter the difficulty.  If a player is used to using a computer keyboard and tries to play on a game console controller, there will be a significant learning curve.  It is best to keep with that a player already knows if they wish to survive.

 As the forth game in the series, CoD4's looks have improved from the previous versions.  The imagery is clearer, the faces look more like faces and the bodies look more like bodies.  The mission briefing animation even looks near realistic.  The sounds are those of war.  If there is an extended bit of silence, music begins to play softly.  The only issue is the player audio.  Sometimes the quality is not very good and other times players have their microphones set too sensitive and cause over modulation.

 At the time of this review, Halo 3 is the only other FPS with a comparable online player base.  The difference is that CoD4 is not a one-trick pony; it has a number of different online modes.  The modes include the standard free-for-all, a team battle and a team capture the flag.  Other modes are unlocked as players gain experience.  As players progress they can also unlock additional weapon classes.  There is even downloadable content for this game, including new map packs.