Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on 23 October, but digital pre-order customers gained campaign access a day earlier. Early impressions suggest a confident return to the series’ familiar strengths: polished gunplay, cinematic set pieces and varied military action.
Final verdicts have not arrived because reviewers are still waiting to spend substantial time with multiplayer, including DMZ. Even so, the campaign’s early reception is notably warmer than last year’s Black Ops 7, whose always-online cooperative structure confused and disappointed many critics.
The approximately six-hour story contains 16 missions. It follows two interwoven storylines and several viewpoints, with more than half the campaign focused on a young group of South Korean marines, joined by a few Americans, as a North Korean invasion interrupts their compulsory service.
For players comparing options before setting up a dedicated arcade machine, this is still very much a modern console and PC shooter rather than a traditional arcade experience. Its appeal lies in tightly directed set pieces, rapid-fire combat and a campaign designed to deliver a complete spectacle in a single sitting.
A strong campaign, with some unfinished edges
PC Gamer lauded the single-player offering as one that should not be skipped. It highlighted several excellent missions and said the less familiar young protagonists brought a welcome energy. However, it found the conclusion rushed and the storyline involving actor Mads Mikkelsen underdeveloped.
IGN had similar critiques, while praising the campaign’s overall consistency. Its standout moments included a large-scale operation described as a Korean counterpart to D-Day, along with an expansive behind-enemy-lines mission that borrows heavily from DMZ’s design.
Reaction outside formal reviews has also been enthusiastic. Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope, who previously predicted Phil Spencer’s eventual departure from Microsoft, described the campaign in emphatically positive terms.
What the early reviews are saying
GameSpot
GameSpot considered the campaign a thrilling conclusion, pointing to its shocking turns, varied locations and steady pacing. It praised the way the two storylines and alternating viewpoints remain easy to follow, calling it the strongest campaign in the series since 2019’s Modern Warfare.
IGN
IGN said the game restored some of its emotional investment in the franchise. It found that the large cast is handled effectively, with familiar characters receiving send-offs while new relationships develop. The publication stopped short of placing the campaign among the very best in the series, but felt it would be a strong ending for this version of the saga.
PC Gamer
PC Gamer described this as its most enjoyable Call of Duty campaign in years. It particularly responded to the South Korean marine unit, whose character types are familiar but engaging enough to make their names and relationships matter across the story.
GamesRadar
GamesRadar argued that the strongest missions demonstrate why blockbuster single-player shooters still have value in a market increasingly judged by online performance and streaming hours. It still viewed the game as disposable entertainment, but considered it a clear improvement over Black Ops 7 and Modern Warfare 3, while wishing the campaign offered more freedom.
PlayDayOne
PlayDayOne found several emotional and rewarding story beats, although it also felt Mads Mikkelsen’s role was not fully developed. Its overall view was that Infinity Ward has delivered a fitting close to the rebooted Modern Warfare storyline, at least for now.
Destructoid
Destructoid said fans of the series’ single-player mode should be satisfied. It suggested the campaign could become one of the better entries after several uncertain years, and praised the PC version’s visuals as the best the franchise has produced.
GameTrend
GameTrend focused on the shooting, which it considered mechanically outstanding, but was even more impressed by the campaign’s rhythm. Stealth sections, high-speed chases and a playful level built around a “Frogger” concept helped prevent the mission design from becoming repetitive.
Early verdict
The common thread is cautious approval rather than unconditional praise. Modern Warfare 4 may not join the franchise’s all-time greats, and its rushed story and uneven character work remain recurring criticisms. Nevertheless, its six-hour campaign appears to deliver the focused, varied and cinematic action many players expect from this subseries.
That makes it a potentially welcome reset after the reception to Black Ops 7 and Modern Warfare 3. A final judgement will depend on multiplayer and DMZ, but the early campaign evidence suggests Infinity Ward has sent this chapter out on a considerably higher note than expected. For more gaming and arcade coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog or browse our arcade videos.
Leave a Reply