Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage. With a total package of three distinct and fleshed-out modes, Modern Warfare 4 is Call of Duty's strongest argument for a full-length development cycle. When given time and resources, Infinity Ward has shown it can still be at the top of the craft, and that CoD is still a game worth playing each year.

Could Modern Warfare 4 have been a bit more bold and daring? Perhaps, but the end result is one of the most rock solid Call of Duty games ever made, one that anyone even slightly interested in this franchise should really consider playing. Infinity Ward knocked it out of the park with this one, and I can see myself losing countless hours to this game throughout its life cycle.

Modern Warfare 4 delivers on all fronts, pairing an exhilarating story campaign with tightly balanced, innovative multiplayer and an expansive DMZ extraction shooter mode. Wonderfully presented, it masterfully blends realism with artistic flair and brings meaty and satisfying weapon simulation that elevates every firefight. This is quite simply Call of Duty at its very best.

Modern Warfare 4 is the quintessential Call of Duty experience — both beautiful and violent, endearing and heartbreaking. From a gut-wrenching campaign that is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece to a thrilling DMZ mode that challenges players' fortitude and a well-rounded multiplayer with new features that keep things fresh, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 might just be the best CoD ever.

The Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer feels fair from the first match, and DMZ gives players a way to feel the thrills of an extraction shooter with the gunplay and map creativity that make Call of Duty stand out.

Modern Warfare 4 made me feel something for the series again. A consistently strong set of missions manages to juggle a bloated cast successfully, saying goodbye to familiar faces while building impressive bonds with new ones. Its expansive behind-enemy-lines mission that borrows most of its ideas from the DMZ mode is a real highlight, as is whenever its blockbuster ambitions are fulfilled and full-throttle battles break out. It may not have quite enough to be considered amongst the very best Call of Duty campaigns, but if it’s to be the end of this particular saga, then at least Modern Warfare is going out on a high note.

Modern Warfare 4 wraps up the series with several shocking moments and ends on a high note. The pacing never falters despite the two interwoven storylines and alternating POVs, and the wide variety of missions and locations ensure that the story remains engaging. Modern Warfare 4 is another edge-of-the-seat thrill ride.