Call of Duty 4

Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat has been the number 1 game that I have been waiting for on a very good list of games. Yes Assassin's Creed is right there next to it, but I would have to give COD 4 the edge due to its re playability. The online game play is awesome!!! I of course went out and bought the game yesterday when it was released. I was also pleasantly surprised when I walked into Best Buy and saw that they were doing a movie combo with the game for the same price of $59.99. The included movie is Behind Enemy Lines which I do not own and have wanted to see.

I don't like to play shooting games in front of the kids, but this one I had to put in right away and see what the final game was like. I was fortunate enough to get in on the online beta and let me tell you the final game is awesome and the beta didn't do this game justice. I have played through the first 3 Levels (the first is more of a training mission) in single story mode and the first level is mind blowing. The graphics are insane and the feeling of being right in the midst of war (at least what I imagine it being like) is well implemented.

I love the game for multiple reasons. I love games like Rainbow Six for the tactical aspects of the game, but every once in a while I like running through and shooting them up. This game delivers on both tactical and running and gunning. The sounds of the game are right up there with the graphics, just simply amazing. I can't wait to continue the single player story mode.

Last night I was up till 2 a.m. playing online. This game just delivers in online play. It is the ranking feature of Rainbow Six and Halo 3, but adds a few elements that make it better in my opinion. As I can't verify, but I do believe that you get experience points based on your skill where as RB6 was based on your team. (Can't comment on Halo 3 as I haven't played a whole lot online.) The kill system is very rewarding in the sense that you get points which I displayed above their heads. 10 for a kill and 2 for an assist, it is just nice to know when you get a kill. The maps are incredible some are huge open areas and some are small inside building type maps. Having both types is just awesome. Personally I think this game blows Halo 3 out of the water, but then again I am a big realistic fan. In my opinion this has got to be the best shooter of the year.

Another aspect to the online play that I love is that with the ranking up you unlock all kinds of guns, gadgets, different ways you can enhance your guns. You can enhance your stamina, health and ability with the weapons. There are just so many ways that you can customize your weapons it is awesome and you do this by creating classes. As you use a particular weapon a lot you unlock new items that can be used with that weapon. There are just a lot of things that you can strive for with the ranking system that will make you want to keep playing.

One thing about the online play is Air strikes, and I got to call in some of my first air strikes last night. With 3 straight kills you can active the UAV which shows the location of the enemies, then with 5 straight kills you can call in an air strike which has jets fly over and drop bombs on a specific location that you choose. If you get to 7 straight kills then a helicopter is called in to a location and starts lighting up your opponents. Yes if the enemy has called an air strike you better start sprinting to a building and get inside. And on that topic a lot of the buildings you can go into and up to the multiple level buildings and also get on the roof. Back to the air strike I got to call in an air strike, both jet and heli, several times and it was awesome. With each of those kills it is added to your kill score and you see the points pop up on screen. But also players have the option to carry and RPG and take out the helicopter which is again awesome.

I didn't cover all aspects of the game, but there are just too many. It is a game that you need to play to truly appreciate it. Without a doubt this is a must buy for anyone who owns a 360. Infinity Ward just delivered with this game and I am excited to own it and get to play through more of it, I can only imagine what is in store.