Activision and Infinity Ward have released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, a bold re-imagining of one of the most iconic first-person shooter franchises in gaming history. Rather than continuing the original timeline, this entry resets the narrative while preserving the grounded, modern military tone that made the original Modern Warfare trilogy so memorable. The result is a game that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, offering longtime fans nostalgia while welcoming new players into the fight.
One of the most exciting features of Modern Warfare is full cross play, allowing players across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC to join forces or compete against one another. This not only expands the player base but also keeps matchmaking active and engaging regardless of platform. It’s a feature that feels long overdue and significantly improves the overall multiplayer experience.
At its core, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter that ties every mode together through a cohesive narrative. Whether you are playing the campaign, multiplayer, or Special Ops co-op missions, everything feels like part of the same world. This shared narrative thread adds weight to the experience and makes each mode feel meaningful rather than disconnected.
Visually, Modern Warfare is stunning thanks to Infinity Ward’s new engine. The environments are detailed, realistic, and immersive, from war-torn city streets to desert landscapes and tight interior spaces. Lighting, particle effects, and character animations all work together to create one of the most realistic visual presentations the series has ever seen.
The single-player campaign is easily one of the strongest in the franchise. Players partner with special forces operators and freedom fighters in a race to recover stolen chemical weapons. The story spans multiple locations across Europe and the Middle East, giving the campaign a global scope that feels authentic and intense.
One of the most compelling aspects of the campaign is its focus on moral ambiguity. Players are often forced to make split-second decisions about whether civilians pose a threat. These choices influence dialogue with NPCs and help shape how the story unfolds, adding a level of immersion that makes the experience feel personal and impactful.
The campaign doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable realities, highlighting the harsh consequences of modern warfare. Your actions can influence the global balance of power, reinforcing the idea that war is rarely black and white. This mature storytelling approach elevates Modern Warfare beyond a typical shooter narrative.
Multiplayer offers a wide range of modes designed to suit every playstyle. The Quick Play option lets players jump into a rotation of game modes and maps, keeping matches fast-paced and varied. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor the experience to your preferences without feeling overwhelmed.
The fan-favorite Ground War mode returns with massive 100-player battles that emphasize chaos and large-scale combat. Players can use vehicles, capture objectives, and engage in sprawling firefights that feel closer to a military sandbox than traditional Call of Duty multiplayer. It’s hectic, intense, and incredibly fun.
Other multiplayer modes include Gunfight, which features small-team, multi-round cage matches that test skill and teamwork, and Free-For-All, where it’s every player for themselves. Realism mode removes HUD elements for a more immersive experience, while Private Match allows players to customize rules and play with friends.
Customization is deeper than ever in Modern Warfare. Players can edit loadouts, kill streaks, field upgrades, and operators while also equipping watches and browsing weapon blueprints and mods. The Gunsmith system in particular allows for extensive weapon customization, encouraging experimentation and personalization.
Operators are divided into two factions: Coalition and Allegiance. Unlocking new operators requires completing specific challenges, which adds a sense of progression and accomplishment. For example, unlocking Domino from the Coalition requires winning five matches of Gunfight.
However, one early disappointment is the lack of a female operator available by default. Female players must unlock one through challenges, meaning they are initially forced to play as a default male character. This design choice feels outdated and could have been handled more inclusively.
As players progress, the Barracks becomes an important hub. Here, you can track daily challenges to earn XP, customize your identity with emblems, calling cards, clan tags, sprays, and gestures, and review your rank progression and combat records. It’s a clean and organized system that keeps everything easily accessible.
Gameplay mechanics will feel noticeably different to players coming from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Interactions such as opening supply drops and ammo chests require holding a button, adding realism. Health regeneration now relies on taking cover rather than using health packs, encouraging tactical movement and positioning.
These changes are part of a broader push toward realism. Combat feels heavier and more deliberate, rewarding players who take advantage of cover and map awareness. While there is no Blackout battle royale mode, Ground War fills that large-scale combat niche with even more chaos than before.
One of the standout features of Modern Warfare is the Special Ops Co-op Mode. This mode reimagines classic Special Ops with replayable missions that test your skills with different weapons, kill streaks, and objectives. It blends elements of campaign storytelling with multiplayer mechanics in a more relaxed environment.
Players can team up with up to three friends to complete objectives across locations inspired by Call of Duty history. The missions are scored and rated with stars, encouraging replayability and competition for high scores. Progression in Special Ops carries over into multiplayer and vice versa, making every mode feel interconnected.
Special Ops is perfect for players who want cooperative gameplay without the pressure of competitive multiplayer. It delivers narrative depth, teamwork, and nostalgia in equal measure, making it one of the most enjoyable parts of the game.
In the end, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare stands as one of the strongest entries in the series. While the absence of a Zombies mode may disappoint some fans, the game more than makes up for it with its gripping campaign, robust multiplayer, and excellent Special Ops co-op missions.
With its powerful narrative, realistic gameplay, and impressive visuals, Modern Warfare delivers a modern combat experience that feels both intense and meaningful. It’s a confident re-introduction of the franchise and a must-play for fans of first-person shooters.
Game Information
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Original Release Date: October 25, 2019
Reviewed For: Xbox One
Score: 8 out of 10
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare delivers one of the most realistic and immersive combat experiences the series has ever seen.”