We had the chance to play the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Multiplayer beta build. My first reaction was, "Wow! Okay, this is what the second generation Xbox 360 titles will look like." After BioShock pretty much set the bar for all First Person Shooters (in terms of graphics), I wasn't expecting anything less for Call of Duty 4. And Call of Duty 4 delivers the next generation graphics with no problem.
In this beta, there are 4 modes of play: Team Deathmatch, Free-for-all, Team Tactical, and Team Objective (unlockable). You basically unlock modes and weapons by killing people. You usually get 10 points for each kill, depending on the mode of play. This beta contains many unlockable features and keeps the game interesting. You start off as a Private,and move up to Lance Corporal, Corporal I, etc. There are 3 main classes to choose from: Assault, Spec Ops, and Heavy Weapons. There are also 2 additional classes that can be unlocked: Demolitions and Sniper. You are able to create your own class, which allows you to select your primary weapons and other accessories, including perks. The gameplay in this beta is outstanding. During a Team Deathmatch, if you obtain 3 kills in a row without dying, you are able to use the UAV for radar (allowing your entire team to see all the enemies). In addition, 5 kills in a row will allow you to call in an air strike and 7 kills allows for a chopper. All of these added elements account for the great gameplay found in this beta.
As previously mentioned, one of the first things you will take notice of is the graphics. Online, this game is running at a blazing 60 fps. Infinity Ward raises the bar once again. Everything you shoot at leaves a mark of damage, not to mention all the realistic explosions, debris and bullets going through walls. It's all here in Call of Duty 4.
The kill-cam is one of the features that makes this game (and the previous Call of Duty games) less frustrating when you die, because at least you can see how you were killed. I am happy to see they kept this feature in. I'm also glad to see Infinity Ward and Activision making some modern day combat war games. I'm pretty sure that everyone is sick of WWII shooters. In terms of graphical wow-ness, this game is right up there with BioShock. With the gameplay better than Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 2, and the 3 maps included in the beta, I can honestly say this is going to be one hell of an addictive game when it's released.
