Gameplay

Single-Player Campaign

The single-player campaign features linear missions across global locations, including the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Players control multiple characters, such as John "Soap" MacTavish, U.S. Marine Paul Jackson, and Captain John Price, as they undertake operations to stop a global threat led by Imran Zakhaev.

Missions range from stealth operations like "All Ghillied Up" to large-scale assaults like "Shock and Awe," with objectives that include rescuing hostages, securing locations, and eliminating high-value targets.

Campaign Missions

The campaign is divided into a prologue, three acts, and an epilogue, featuring the following missions:

• Prologue:
  • F.N.G. - Training mission introducing Soap MacTavish to SAS protocols.
  • Crew Expendable - Infiltration of a ship to secure a nuclear device.
  • The Coup - Cinematic showing a Middle Eastern coup (non-playable).
• Act I:
  • Blackout - Rescue of a Russian informant in the Caucasus Mountains.
  • Charlie Don't Surf - U.S. Marines search for Al-Asad in the Middle East.
  • The Bog - Defense of a stranded tank in a war-torn city.
  • Hunted - Escape from enemy forces after a helicopter crash.
  • Death From Above - AC-130 gunship support for ground troops.
  • War Pig - Escort a tank through enemy territory.
  • Shock and Awe - Large-scale assault ending in a nuclear explosion.
  • Aftermath - Cinematic aftermath of the nuclear blast (non-playable).
• Act II:
  • Safehouse - Search for Al-Asad in a Russian village.
  • All Ghillied Up - Flashback stealth mission to assassinate Zakhaev in 1996.
  • One Shot, One Kill - Escape after the assassination attempt.
  • Heat - Defend a village from enemy forces.
  • The Sins of the Father - Pursue Victor Zakhaev to gain leverage.
• Act III:
  • Ultimatum - Confront Zakhaev’s forces to prevent a missile launch.
  • All In - Infiltrate a missile facility.
  • No Fighting In The War Room - Stop the missile launch from a control room.
  • Game Over - Final confrontation with Zakhaev.
• Epilogue:
  • Mile High Club - Bonus mission involving a hostage rescue on a plane.

Multiplayer Mode

The multiplayer mode introduces killstreaks, customizable loadouts, and diverse maps. Players can engage in modes such as Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, Domination, Headquarters, Free-for-All, and Sabotage, each requiring unique strategies.

Popular multiplayer maps include:

• Crash - Urban environment with tight streets.
• Crossfire - Long sightlines for sniping.
• Overgrown - Rural area with open fields.
• Shipment - Small, chaotic map for close-quarters combat.
• Vacant - Abandoned office building.
• Bog - Nighttime map with a central tank for intense combat.
• Pipeline - Industrial setting with underground tunnels.
• Strike - Middle Eastern town with varied terrain.

The multiplayer experience is enhanced by features like voice chat and a ranking system that allows players to progress from Level 1 to 55, unlocking new weapons, perks, and equipment as they level up.

Weapons

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare features a diverse arsenal of modern weaponry, categorized into assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, light machine guns, pistols, and explosives. These weapons are used by both players and NPCs across the campaign and multiplayer modes.

Weapon Categories and Examples

• Assault Rifles:
  • M16A4 - Burst-fire, effective at medium to long range.
  • AK-47 - Fully automatic, high power for medium range.
  • M4 Carbine - Low recoil, versatile for medium range.
  • G3 - Single-fire, high capacity for medium to long range.
  • G36C - High rate of fire, effective at medium range.
  • M14 - Single-fire, high power for medium range.
  • MP44 - Fully automatic, good accuracy for medium range.
• Submachine Guns:
  • MP5 - High accuracy, effective at close to medium range.
  • Mini-Uzi - High fire rate, ideal for close quarters.
  • P90 - Large magazine, effective at close range.
  • Skorpion - Fast fire rate, suitable for close combat.
  • AK-74u - Compact, balances power and mobility.
• Shotguns:
  • W1200 - Pump-action, deadly at close range.
  • M1014 - Semi-automatic, effective in close quarters.
• Sniper Rifles:
  • M40A3 - Bolt-action, high accuracy for long range.
  • Barrett .50cal - Semi-automatic, powerful for long range.
  • R700 - Bolt-action, balanced for long-range sniping.
  • Dragunov - Semi-automatic, effective at long range.
  • M21 - Semi-automatic, versatile for long range.
• Light Machine Guns:
  • M249 SAW - High capacity, effective at medium range.
  • RPD - High fire rate, suitable for sustained fire.
  • M60E4 - Powerful, effective at medium to long range.
• Pistols:
  • M9 - Semi-automatic, reliable sidearm.
  • USP .45 - Balanced power and accuracy.
  • M1911 .45 - High damage, classic pistol.
  • Desert Eagle - Powerful semi-automatic pistol.
• Explosives:
  • Frag Grenade - Standard explosive grenade.
  • Flashbang - Temporarily blinds enemies.
  • Smoke Grenade - Creates a smoke screen for cover.
  • C4 - Remote-detonated explosive.

Weapons can be customized with attachments like red dot sights, silencers, and grenade launchers in multiplayer, enhancing tactical options.

Factions

The game features distinct factions that shape the campaign and multiplayer dynamics:

• British SAS (Special Air Service) - Elite special forces unit of the British Army, led by Captain John Price. They specialize in covert operations and counter-terrorism, often working alongside U.S. forces to thwart global threats.
• U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance (USMC) - Special operations unit of the U.S. Marine Corps, involved in large-scale assaults and reconnaissance missions. They are primarily deployed in the Middle East to combat OpFor forces.
• Russian Ultranationalists - A radical group led by Imran Zakhaev, aiming to restore Russia’s Soviet-era power through extreme measures. They are the primary antagonists in the campaign and often clash with SAS and USMC forces.
• OpFor (Opposing Force) - A Middle Eastern insurgent group allied with the Ultranationalists, led by Khaled Al-Asad. They control a fictional Middle Eastern country and are responsible for escalating the conflict with a coup and nuclear detonation.
• Russian Loyalists - Forces loyal to the Russian government, fighting against the Ultranationalists. They ally with the SAS in missions like "Blackout" to rescue informants and combat Zakhaev’s forces.

In multiplayer, players are assigned to either the coalition (SAS and USMC) or the opposing forces (Ultranationalists and OpFor), depending on the map and game mode.

Killstreaks and Perks

The multiplayer mode introduces killstreaks and perks, which add depth to gameplay by rewarding skill and allowing customization of playstyles.

Killstreaks

• 3 Kills - Radar (UAV) - Reveals enemy positions on the minimap for 30 seconds.
• 5 Kills - Airstrike - Calls in a precision airstrike on a designated area.
• 7 Kills - Helicopter - Summons a helicopter to provide air support for a limited time.

Perks

Perks are divided into three tiers, allowing players to customize their loadouts:

• Tier 1 (Perk 1):
  • C4 x2 - Additional C4 for explosive traps.
  • Special Grenades x3 - Extra flashbangs or smoke grenades.
  • Bomb Squad - Detect enemy explosives.
  • Claymore x2 - Additional claymore mines.
  • RPG-7 x2 - Additional RPG rockets.
• Tier 2 (Perk 2):
  • Stopping Power - Increases bullet damage.
  • Juggernaut - Increases health.
  • Sleight of Hand - Faster reload speed.
  • Double Tap - Increases fire rate.
  • Overkill - Carry two primary weapons.
• Tier 3 (Perk 3):
  • Extreme Conditioning - Sprint for longer distances.
  • Steady Aim - Increases hip-fire accuracy.
  • Last Stand - Survive lethal damage with a pistol.
  • Martyrdom - Drop a live grenade upon death.
  • Dead Silence - Reduces footstep noise.

Game Mechanics

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare introduces several game mechanics that enhance immersion and tactical gameplay:

Controls

• Move - WASD (PC) or left analog stick (console).
• Aim/Look - Mouse (PC) or right analog stick (console).
• Fire - Left mouse button (PC) or R2/RT (console).
• ADS (Aim Down Sights) - Right mouse button (PC) or L2/LT (console).
• Sprint - Shift (PC) or hold left analog stick (console).
• Melee - V (PC) or R3 (console).
• Throw Grenade - G (PC) or R1/RB (console).

Difficulty Levels

• Recruit - Easiest difficulty, ideal for beginners with minimal enemy resistance.
• Regular - Balanced difficulty with moderate enemy aggression.
• Hardened - Increased enemy accuracy and damage, requiring tactical play.
• Veteran - Hardest difficulty with aggressive enemies and limited checkpoints.

Additional Mechanics

• Health Regeneration - Health regenerates over time if the player avoids damage for a few seconds.
• Weapon Switching - Players can carry two weapons and switch between them using the number keys (1, 2) on PC or Y/Triangle on console.
• Objective Markers - On-screen indicators guide players to mission objectives.
• Breaching - Certain missions allow players to breach doors with explosives, creating dynamic entry points.