Infinity Ward has established itself as the primary studio for single-player campaigns within the Call of Duty franchise. With the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and its sequel remaining benchmarks for the series, the 2019 reboot set a high bar. The latest entry, Modern Warfare 4, meets that standard. According to Polygon, the campaign is genuinely one of the top five in the entire franchise, despite a runtime that feels somewhat short.
Dual Narratives and Real-World Tension
The game splits its focus between two simultaneous storylines. The first follows Sierra-1, a joint unit of South Korean and United States soldiers. Players battle through the fictional Hajin City, navigate snow-covered wastelands in North Korea, and fight to prevent a nuclear reactor meltdown. The second storyline returns to the traditional Modern Warfare cast, placing players in the role of Captain John Price. After assassinating General Shepherd at the end of Modern Warfare 3, Price is on the run. He hunts for the Russian defense minister known as the Archer, played by Mads Mikkelsen. This path takes Price and his allies through New York, Paris, Mumbai, and eventually North Korea.
The narrative draws heavily from current geopolitical tensions. The possibility of a North Korean invasion of the South, potentially aided by Russia, feels grounded in reality. This realism enhances the impact of the gameplay. Players experience the war through two different lenses. Sierra-1 focuses on survival and direct combat, while Price and his team, including Ghost, deal with political manipulation and espionage.
Intense Set Pieces and Stealth Mechanics
Call of Duty campaigns generally fall into two categories: those with lasting memorable moments and those that are easily forgotten. Last year’s Black Ops 7 struggled with nonsensical hallucinations and over-the-top boss fights. Modern Warfare 4 avoids these pitfalls. The opening mission, which features an EMP strike on Hajin City, immediately sets a high bar. Players fight in darkness and parachute into a sports stadium, creating a chaotic and engaging start.
Almost every mission contains standout moments. One sequence sees Captain Price hunt Vladimir Makarov in a New York nightclub, drawing inspiration from action films. Another mission, where Sierra-1 retakes Hajin City, mirrors the D-Day landing from Saving Private Ryan. Allied troops disembark from naval vehicles under heavy fire, pushing toward the shore.
Infinity Ward has also refined hand-to-hand combat and stealth mechanics. Several missions place players in outnumbered and outgunned situations. Players can choose to sneak past guards or eliminate them from behind. The tension in these levels is high, with some prison corridor sequences evoking the atmosphere of horror games like Outlast.
Open-World Section and Technical Issues
The campaign shifts tone during the “Stranded” mission. This section transforms the linear shooter into an open-world experience similar to Far Cry. Players clear outposts, collect supplies, steal vehicles, and avoid patrols. A base allows for crafting additional weapons and equipment. This trend began with Modern Warfare 3 and improved in Black Ops 6, but the open-world segment in Modern Warfare 4 feels like a break from the otherwise fast-paced campaign.
While the open-world section offers secrets and multiple ways to approach objectives, its slower pace contrasts sharply with the rest of the game. Players can skip this section and fast-travel to the three main objectives. However, skipping it limits loadout options, as players miss out on collecting supplies. This makes mandatory tasks harder, such as navigating an underground bunker without night vision goggles. Skipping the exploration also significantly shortens the already brief runtime.
The game is not without technical issues. Some bugs are humorous, such as squadmates chasing a recon drone instead of staying in cover. Other glitches include grenades failing to affect enemies mid-animation, deployable drones spinning uncontrollably, and falling through solid rooftops. One player reported being unable to interact with the game world after reloading a save, requiring a full mission restart.
Despite these flaws and a runtime of only eight hours, the campaign remains excellent. The credits arrive quickly, leaving some players wanting more. The Sierra-1 storyline concludes, but Price’s narrative suggests more conflicts in future titles. While the two storylines do not fully intersect, the campaign offers a memorable experience that ranks among the best in the series.
Source: Polygon
