TL;DR
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is a first-person shooter that excels with a cinematic, fast-paced campaign, well-crafted multiplayer maps, and stable technical performance. It falls short with a brief five to six hour story, occasional clunky movement, cheating issues, and balance-breaking self-revives in DMZ. It delivers for fans seeking classic action and varied multiplayer, while players wanting long solo campaigns or cheat-free lobbies may want to pass.
MW4 – Is this finally the game that saves the series?
It’s that time again! A brand new Call of Duty is on the market, and Senses is naturally on board to test the new Modern Warfare 4. At the helm this time, we find Isabelle, Sandra, and Cenny, who have taken on the challenge of tackling this task. After some very questionable years for Call of Duty, it actually feels like the series is finally heading in the right direction again. I won’t hide the fact that my expectations for this release were very low after what we received with the last three games, which in my opinion were pure disasters. But after playing the campaign and spending a good few hours with multiplayer and DMZ, I must say I am pleasantly surprised. This actually feels like the beginning of an incredibly long-awaited redemption story!
Campaign – Classic COD feel!
After playing through the campaign, I have to say it is actually one of the better ones so far. The pace is high, the action sequences are intense, and the whole experience feels like a classic Call of Duty campaign. It’s cinematic, beautiful, and exactly the kind of entertainment one associates with the series at its best. The voice acting is also very good. We see the return of Barry Sloane as Captain John Price and Elliot Knight as Kyle ”Gaz” Garrick, whose voices have become iconic in this game series. We also have an appearance by our Nordic star Mads Mikkelsen as The Archer (the main villain). It is believable, aggressive, and honest without being overacted.
The only thing I consider a small minus is that the campaign is once again quite short. There are 16 missions in total, and you get through it at a normal pace in about five to six hours. This is a recurring theme we’ve become accustomed to with COD—that you finish playing and feel a bit like: ”Was that it?” Don’t get me wrong here; this is just a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. It is still a very captivating story and a well-executed campaign that is also graphically very impressive.
Multiplayer – Fast, stylish, and varied
Multiplayer is also a truly positive surprise. The maps feel well-crafted, exciting, and varied. It’s extra fun to see how old classics like Hijacked seem to have been given new life through updated design. This provides a heavy dose of nostalgia while the experience feels very fresh. Another interesting new feature is Kill Block, where there are apparently over 500 different map combinations. It’s a really fun idea that will hopefully make life significantly harder for all the campers who otherwise find their favorite positions and refuse to move. Furthermore, the movement is significantly better than before. Running, jumping, and sliding feels both fast and smooth. At the same time, I personally can’t quite let go of the feeling that the character is sometimes slightly too heavy and clunky. It actually reminds me a bit more of Battlefield 6 than I would have liked. It certainly doesn’t ruin the experience, but I would have liked to see a bit more agility. And who knows, this might just be one of those ”teething problems” that will be patched out in the future.
DMZ – Exciting changes and questionable decisions
DMZ is perhaps the game mode where I feel most conflicted, despite it being the one I was most hyped to see return since I really liked it in Modern Warfare 2. It is entertaining and heart-pounding, but leaves a bit more to be desired. That said, it still looks very promising. I really like the setup where you first land on a test map to explore the mechanics and complete missions. It becomes almost like a small mini-campaign before you are released into a completely new section. A smart and welcome way to introduce the game mode, which can both attract and assist completely new players. The new inventory system is also a major improvement! It looks completely different compared to before and means you actually have to consider what is worth taking with you and saving. It gives equipment greater significance and adds another strategic layer.
On the other hand, I really don’t understand the decision that you can now apparently revive yourself after being downed. Sure, as far as I understand, a medical kit is required, but I still think it’s a really bad idea. In DMZ, there should be consequences. If you get shot down, you should need help from a teammate, period. Being able to get back up yourself risks ruining the balance. The third-person view in the pre-game lobby is a fun little detail, but to me, it is completely unnecessary. Sure, you can run around in your ”camp” and adjust your inventory, go through your armory, test your weapon builds in the firing range, etc. But if you can access all these functions regardless of where you are standing, then the whole purpose of this disappears.
Tech & Ricochet
Technically, the experience has been impressively stable. We haven’t encountered a single bug, slow lobby, or any problems with matchmaking, even though we turned off crossplay and only allowed console players. This was a breath of fresh air as we have become used to lagging servers and frozen frames in recent games.
However, my biggest concern involves Ricochet and the anti-cheat system. I haven’t seen any official figures yet, but in some lobbies, cheating is still obvious. Some don’t even try to hide it anymore. It seems to be less widespread than before, but I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before the problems grow again. This is something Activision must take serious action against, as cheaters who see and shoot through walls, use aimbots, or similar tools are the type of players who ruin it for the rest of us.
Conclusion – A much-needed comeback!
Despite some questionable design decisions, the overall impression is very positive. Call of Duty finally feels fun again! There are still things to improve, especially the self-revive in DMZ and the work against cheaters, but the foundation is strong. After three games that deeply disappointed me, this actually feels like a true redemption story for Call of Duty. And it was certainly about time!
Activision sent a review code for this test. The sender of the material has no editorial influence on our tests.
Review Highlights: Q&A
How long is the campaign and how many missions does it have?
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 4 features 16 missions in its campaign, which takes about five to six hours to complete at a normal pace.
Who are the main voice actors in the story?
Barry Sloane returns as Captain John Price, Elliot Knight voices Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, and Mads Mikkelsen stars as the villain The Archer.
What is new in the multiplayer mode?
Multiplayer introduces the Kill Block feature with over 500 map combinations, redesigned classic maps like Hijacked, and smoother running, jumping, and sliding.
What changes have been made to DMZ mode?
DMZ includes a test map introduction, a redesigned strategic inventory system, third-person lobby camps, and the ability to self-revive using a medical kit.
How well does the game perform technically?
The game provides stable matchmaking, smooth lobbies, and zero bugs during console-only play, though cheating via aimbots and wallhacks remains present.
