If your like me you’ve been waiting for this game since it showed up at e3 this year and won most of the big awards. This game didn’t disappoint. I’ve had a hard time just starting this review because I didn’t know where to start.

COD2 was a great release title for the 360 from the guys at Infinity Ward. It of course was another in the long line of WW2 shooters and quite possibly the best. Unfortunately Activision went elsewhere for COD3 and it suffered. The reason Infinity Ward didn’t do COD3 you may ask? Because they were working on COD4.

With COD4 they moved out of the WW2 genre and into modern warfare, hence the name Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare. It is a welcome change. The game doesnt suffer at all with the change. The action is mostly fast paced. It has been mentioned by others that this might be the closest most of us get to the feeling of real combat, and I have to agree. There are moments in the game that are so intense you will jump out of your seat. I know its not real combat but it sure is intense.

As with other COD games there are places in each level where you are confronted with a multitude of baddies and must fight off their attack. While this are the most intense moments, RPGs going off all around you and grenades constantly being tossed in your direction, the game also has intensely quiet moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

As with most games about war there is a problem in the middle east. It seems the acting president has been killed and a new war lord is stirring things up. He of course has ties to the Russians and a group of ultra-nationalists fighting there.

The game centers around a new British S.A.S recruit named ‘Soap’ Mctavish and a 1st recon Marine named Paul Jackson. All of Soap’s time is spent in the mountains of Russia while Sgt. Jackson spends his time somewhere in the middle-east (never actually caught where in the middle east). Jackson’s time in the middle east is definitely the more intense time with hordes of bad guys raining bullets on you from everywhere. But Soap’s time is also pretty intense but with a bit more sneaking around.

For me the highlight of the game was a 15 year flashback sniping mission. It was intense in that “Oh god i hope that guy doesn’t see me” kind of way. The level is set in Chernobyl after the nuclear accident. The city is an awesomely rendered ghost town. It looks so good and really makes you feel like you’re there. Not to mention your goals in the level are great also.

You honestly will have a hard time finding a game that looks better then this one. At times while sneaking through the Russian mountainside, you’ll be distracted by the beauty of the surroundings. While the middle east setting is done well the S.A.S parts in the mountains will blow you away.

Where the Marine parts of the game might not be as visually stunning they make up for it in the intensity of the enemies. Of course this does not mean that those levels don’t also look great.

The controls are rock solid as usual. Some have complained that the controls are confusing I found them to be simple and easy to use. They are pretty straight forward and responsive. I have always found the close combat in COD games to be difficult and COD4 is also a bit hard.

The multi-player makes this game a must have, but the single player stands up as well making it a multiple play through title. The multi- player is great its biggest feature is the perk system and level up system. Perks like Bullet penetration, Last Stand, and Juggernaut give you so many options in customization of your player. The online play runs very well and keeps up with the action.

To sum up, it’s simple, BUY THIS GAME!! It is my pick for game of the year, hands down. It has pretty much something for everyone. The single player sucks you in and makes you feel like your really in the game. For those of you who love online multi-player you will not be disappointed. It is a super fun, fast paced, great looking experience.