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As the smoke clears: Call of Duty 4 (Xbox 360) open beta first impressions

Posted Sep 26, 2007 at 6:50AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: DirectX, Infinity Ward, WWII

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When I first found out that I was getting assigned to work on Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) Open Beta, I honestly had doubts. The CoD series (I've played all three previous games, FYI) was traditionally a WWII FPS, and it felt very strange to have this latest of the game franchise into a contemporary setting. I'd imagine there were only so many sides you can portray back in WWII...and the devs probably weren't prepared to set the Nazis as a protagonist.

So with a tinge of hesitation, I powered up our Xbox 360, logged on and entered my very-first multiplayer frag-fest. That was a little less than three weeks ago. These days, I'm still heavy hearted, but not for the game - it rocked - but for the fact that Open Beta's soon coming to and end. There's still so much to do, people to kill, and prizes to win. And I'd imagine it's about to get double-ugly come this 28, when Infinity Ward unlocks the level caps to 25. I want that M60, damn it!

I'll be providing the readers with a basic lowdown of COD4's Open Beta mechanics, and of the various features that made it such a success. Given that this is strictly a multi-player affair, you don't have to worry about plot spoilers, unless you count the three stages that were used for the matches. So, what exactly did we and the rest of the other shooter encounter for Open Beta? Read on to find out....

Gameplay:

Before you get started on your shoot-fest, you get to choose one of several pre-made character classes (ie. Assault, Spec-Ops, Sniper). Each class will be carrying very different weapons loadouts. For example, the Assault dude gets a standard M16A4 assault rifle, while the much-sneakier Spec-Ops shooter gets an MP5 sub-machine gun.

You'll eventually get some new toys for your customizable character slots, including icons like the M4 carbine, the AK-47, and the Colt M1911. You'll also be picking up new weapons accessories; my personal favorite's either an M4 loaded with a silencer (more properly called a suppressor), or an RPD LMG loaded with a red-dot sight.

Hardware aside, you'll also be introduced to a new feature: perks. CoD4's perks give you special abilities/buffs that makes it easier for you to kill your opponents. For example, Stopping Power increases your bullet damage, while Sonic Boom increases your grenade's blast radius. There's also Last Stand, which allows you to pull out your pistol even after you've been "killed," so that you can exact revenge on whoever fragged you.

As to the actual gameplay, honestly, it's a hit-or-miss affair. I'm not blasting (no pun intended) CoD4 itself - the maps provided for plenty of variety and by-the-seat-of-your-pants unpredictability. My beef - and fellow beta players have experienced this too - is the sporadic server lag. On some games, it's hardly noticeable. On a game with crappy connections, be prepared for CoD4's unofficial bullet time... except it's your enemy that's moving faster, not you.

Visuals:

Expect plenty of dust, dirt, and grit to greet your screen - and it is all good. CoD4's stages are chock-full of realistic textures and lighting effects which make the bouts all that more immersive. The explosions also have a realistic touch - grenades and air-dropped bombs give off a convincing cloud of dust and debris when they go off. Bullet impacts were also well-rendered, with overpenetrating rounds leaving a puff of dust as they exit brick/concrete walls, or sparks as they hit metal.

Remember that silencer I mentioned earlier? Lighting plays a major factor in your ability to survive, as does watching your gun's muzzle blast. And while going full auto is pretty to watch, it's not only distracting, it also stands out like a signal flare when you're firing from the shadows. The silencer eliminates the flash, although it won't completely remove the gas cloud from you firing.

And then there's concealment. While running around and shooting the first thing that you spot works, I found that a more cost-effective method involved plenty of stalking. Move as carefully as possible, preferably crouching, so you don't give yourself away. Remember - our peripheral vision tracks movement first.

Sounds:

As the saying goes, loose lips sink ships. The same seems to ring true for CoD4, given how well its audio quality allows players to tell each gun apart by just the sound of their report. Much like a muzzle flash, rifle fire is a dead-giveaway in a match dominated by players with good ears; the built-in radar also marks your position every time you fire an unsilenced weapon. The gunfire can be remedied by a silencer, although it won't do anything to mask your weapon's metallic clicks as its bolt slams back with each shot.

Another sound that'll betray your position is your footsteps. While sprinting is definitely the fastest way from point A to B, everybody within earshot can tell almost exactly where your heavy boots are trodding. Once again, a testament to the dev's meticulous work on CoD4's physics.

Conclusion:

I'd have to say I thoroughly enjoyed playing CoD4's public beta (as most of the players probably did). The gameplay was fast-paced enough that it kept my adrenaline stoked, while the pre-made character builds ensured that even newcomers were given a fighting chance.

On the other hand, the DirectX 9.0 engine makes for some very convincing weapons physics and lighting effects. The accurate sounds top off this immersive experience - it's not just a point-and-shoot affair at this point, but a tactical match that challenges you to maximize your use of sight and sound. The customizable character slots added another degree of pre-planning, provided that you've earned all the good stuff for your virtual trooper.

Though as said earlier, I still have my issues with the server lag. Not only does this murder your killscore, but at times, it gives certain players a very distinct advantage. This will hopefully be addressed after Infinity Ward wraps up Open Beta. This is where I wrap up this debriefing, and hand over the floor to the readers. How'd you guys fare in the multiplayer matches?

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got preyed upon and slaughtered but it was very fun and beautiful while dieing over and over. I have to say that I actually had more fun with CoD4 beta than H3's beta. As beta's go anyway. Proly the rpg element that was soooo intriguing. Once I got that laser sight my game improved immensely. There was soooo much to unlock for a beta it makes me wonder how much more is gonna be in the full game.

GO CHARLIEOSCARDEL TA !!!

# For starters... — Guest 2007-09-26 08:53

I imagine they'll be unlocking all those "classified" weapons and perks.

That red dot sight's mighty fierce loaded on the LMG's...if you can put up with that awful muzzle flash.

What was your favorite long arm, by the way?

# kewl — Kingofdaberbz 2007-09-27 03:04

this beta is fun do bad ps3 owners gotta wait till nov. 2 play this

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