The gameplay in Call of Duty 4 has changed somewhat from the previous Call of Duty games but it still feels like the same experience but with a refreshing twist. This game is set in modern times so you will be using a lot of semi-automatic guns and ducking and finding cover is essential. Stealth is also important at times but isn’t always required. However, don’t mistake this game for a slow-paced shooter. There is a lot of intense action to be found within.

Campaign:
The campaign in Call of Duty 4 is very well done. The introduction sequence was amazing and the ending is fairly good as well. The campaign removes most of your HUD when you don’t need it, giving it a more realistic feel. Call of Duty 4 is fairly easy on Recruit difficulty (as it should be) but on Veteran it is by far one of the most challenging shooters I’ve played. You get to experience a variety of different objectives and missions. One mission makes you go on a AC-130 gunship and take out tangos from the air while you see everything through heat vision. Other times you might have to play a lot more stealthily and letting the enemy know your location will lead to a very difficult game. Sometimes you will receive a lot of backup so you can go in, kill, wait for your backup and kill some more. Other times you will be outnumbered and the game will become much more strategic. This is a very realistic and cinematic game and really makes you feel as if you are in the story.

Multiplayer:
Call of Duty 4 has an amazing matchmaking system. It has many different and unique game types such as Headquarters. In Headquarters, the two teams fight for control of moving objectives. However, the team that is in control of an objective cannot respawn. There are also typical game types such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy (similar to Halo 3’s assault) all make up the playlists. Also unlike Halo 3, you do not need to press the D-pad when trying to speak. Most of the playlists give you a HUD with a radar, experience bar, and weapon info. But there is also hardcore playlists where you receive no HUD giving it a more realistic feel.

All though there aren’t any online achievements to get there are still many online challenges. These challenges give you experience points and unlock new weapon attachments and camouflage styles. Some of these challenges are completed by getting a certain number of kills or headshots with a certain gun. Other challenges can include: cooking a grenade and killing someone with it, running 26 miles, or even jumping from a large distance and killing yourself. The challenges are fairly unique and quite fun to get. Based on the game type you receive experience points for kills and completing objectives.

Parties can be made and be used to enter Call of Duty 4 matchmaking together. You can create your own custom classes and customize the weapon, the add-ons, the camo type, type of special grenade and your special perks; all of this is used based on your chosen strategy. As yougain experience points you are awarded medals and levels. The levels also unlock new perks, challenges and weapons.

Custom games in Call of Duty 4, however, aren’t really as amazing. There is minimal customization in it. There also is no online co-op which is sad and you can’t bring guests into matchmaking which is also a downside. Overall the gameplay is amazing and will satisfy a lot of people. But if your more of a Halo or Unreal Tournament gamer you might want to rent it to see if Call of Duty 4 suits your style or not. Also spawn points cause some issues in multiplayer because it spawns you where all of your teammates are (commonly in the middle of combat) so you sometimes end up spawning and dying. But multiplayer really is the gem of this game.