World at War barely squeaked into number two, but the numbers don't lie. Regardless, there’s no denying the monumental impact that this game had on the industry.#2 Call of Duty: World at War (2008) Score: 7.13 The remaster, which launched for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2016 has its fair share of issues on consoles, but it's certainly better than trying to play the original 2007 release, which is practically unplayable these days due to hacking. Unfortunately, there isn’t a great way to play Call of Duty 4 these days. Surely, they’d look and play a lot differently today, so we owe a lot to the innovations introduced in 2007’s Call of Duty 4. Without Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, it’s unclear just how competitive shooters would have turned out. It’s clear that, even though many developers wanted to capitalize on the multiplayer shooter space, very few companies could pull this off - proving just how skilled the teams at Activision and Infinity Ward were, even in 2007. ![]() (This is why all these years later, Microsoft’s Activision acquisition seems so controversial.) Halo 3 and Gears of War also played a substantial role in 20, but Call of Duty 4 was a multiplatform game able to reach a much wider audience as a result. Of course, Call of Duty 4 wasn’t the only game that popularized multiplayer shooter modes. They were all pretty lackluster by comparison, chasing a trend after it peaked. After the success of Call of Duty 4, many games began implementing multiplayer modes, attempting to replicate the same explosive success.Įven games that had no business featuring online multiplayer made the attempt, particularly in some of the biggest franchises of the era: BioShock 2, Dead Space 2, and even Resident Evil 5 had an online multiplayer component. It’s clear that, even in 2007 and the years shortly thereafter, this game had a major impact on the industry. ActivisionĬall of Duty 4 went on to sell nearly 20 million copies. The popularization of multiplayer modesĬall of Duty 4 popularized having an additional multiplayer mode, causing other games to attempt to replicate the success. Having it set to only three killstreaks total - three eliminations for UAV, five for an airstrike, and seven for a helicopter - kept things simple, yet rewarding.īetween perks, weapons, loadouts, and killstreaks, no two matches ever played the same, which was refreshing. Killstreaks were also a major component, rewarding players for their performance during a match. But this same perk was not as useful in Team Deathmatch, so players were always encouraged to switch things up. Similarly, when playing the elimination game mode Search and Destroy, using the Dead Silence perk to silence your footsteps offers a huge advantage. So, the Bomb Squad perk - which reveals enemy equipment - is often a must-use. I’ve always been an aggressive player constantly on the move, so I’ve run right into far too many enemy claymores. Perks allowed players to experiment with special abilities like extra health, claymores, or a UAV jammer to stay off the minimap, potentially overcoming a player’s innate shortcomings - or emphasizing their greatest strengths as a combatant. ActivisionĬall of Duty 4 always felt distinct thanks in no small part to the introduction of perks and killstreaks, key features that have become franchise mainstays emulated by other games as well. Perks and killstreaks gave Call of Duty 4 an edge, adding more variation to matches. I have memories of watching one of the long hallways of Vacant while using the M40A3 sniper - picking enemies off back-to-back. ![]() This, when combined with the excellent map design, made for so many memorable moments. Having only two to four attachment options across each weapon still encouraged experimentation, but it was simple enough to be approachable, therefore striking a nearly perfect balance. This meant that regardless of the map or mode, players would always be prepared for the battle ahead.Īttachments also put a strong emphasis on customization without being overwhelming (like in current CoD titles). The popularization of custom loadouts was another major factor, allowing players to come to each match with a particular build. Those looking to dominate up close could stick to the beloved MP5 SMG, while players wanting to pick off foes from afar might be better off with the M16, a burst-fire assault rifle. This meant that players had plenty of options, allowing them to contribute to their team in a variety of ways. The multiplayer mode for Call of Duty 4 had a fantastic lineup of weapons, with plenty of options for close-, mid-, and long-range play styles. With so many weapons available, players had plenty of ways to customize their loadouts.
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