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preview :: call of duty 4: multiplayer beta
Call of Duty 4: Multiplayer Beta
Reviewed on: Xbox 360Available on: PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
So, how is this FREE BETA FOR CALL OF DUTY 4 generous? It allows people like me to enjoy the core gameplay of a tentative AAA title without having to fork over one lazily-earned dollar.
Players: 1-16 Players online
Genre:
Release: 2007-11-05
Genre:
Release: 2007-11-05
Developer: Infinity Ward
Distributor: Activision
Distributor: Activision
This whole "Free Beta" thing is pretty generous. Well, it's generous to "RPG in a dark room" gamers such as myself, who wouldn’t associate themselves with one particular multiplayer game for any meaningful length of time. Excluding four-player Perfect Dark back on the 64, the longest time I've spent pimping multiplayer madness of late is with the GRAW series, and even then I routinely get my ass kicked every which way but winning.
So, how is this FREE BETA FOR CALL OF DUTY 4 generous? It allows people like me to enjoy the core gameplay of a tentative AAA title without having to fork over one lazily-earned dollar. Given that I lose interest in multiplayer gaming extremely quickly (I played Gears online for five minutes and said “This sucks”), I would have assumed I would be leaving the COD4 Beta feeling refreshed and cashed up, subsequently spending my burning chi-ching on lollipops and moon pies.
Just in case you weren't sure what game we're previewing.
Here’s why this familiar scenario isn’t relevant this time around. Call of Duty 4 is good. Really, really good. I don’t dig World War II shooters, and upon hearing the next installment to the series was to be a modern narrative featuring dastardly figures and political intrigue, I was, well, intrigued. I love downloading stuff I don’t need from Xbox Live, especially when it’s free. So, when the offers came around to sign up for the Beta, and figuring I could do with even the tiniest amount of social interaction, I knowingly offered myself up as a potential sale. Potentially.
Forget potential. I’m sold, simple as that. Not only for the multiplayer, but for the single-player campaign which, undoubtedly, will use a flawless version of the multiplayer engine which, most assuredly, is silky smooth and a dream to control. However, I’ll leave that incredibly confident speculation for the review, and talk a little bit about what Infinity Ward has served up for a delicious gaming dinner in the multiplayer Beta.
I do enjoy a rich, creamy bowl of killing every so often, and killing is what you can do all over the joint. How do I kill thee? Let me count the ways.
It’s a gameplay mode extravaganza, and the clean interface makes it all the more sweet. The menus are polished and, very importantly, legible on an SD television set. Hit Xbox Live, pick your mode of play and the matches will come to you. I usually prefer the standard Team Deathmatch, but for players with a greater skill level than I (read: everyone), a number of objective and tactical modes are readily available. This is the bomb defusal, capture/defend kind of play which requires you to consider more tactile elements beyond simply spilling blood. You can invite friends to your party, or randomly join one of the many games in full swing. Before that, however, you have the option of customising your soldier in pretty much every way.
Man vs machine
A number of pre-set classes are available, falling into the standard everyman/explosive/sniper kind of categories, but it’s possible to customise multiple classes yourself for easy selection later on. All weapons can be individually chosen and tweaked with various attachments and upgrades, and up to three Perks can be assigned. Perks are combat abilities ranging from simple damage and health bonuses to insanely badass combat moves like Last Stand, which lets a defeated player pull out their pistol, and with their final dying breath attempt to rack up another kill or two before they head for the giant server in the sky. Players will unlock different upgrades and abilities as they gain experience and increase rank. Naturally, killing more opponents nets you more experience points, and a surprisingly hefty set of Challenges await the players who really want to attain oodles of points and impress their little girlfriends. If they had any. I was going to insert a joke here at Yug’s expense, but he certainly showed me.
Battles are won on a points-based system, and this allows more dynamic events to occur during play. A standard kill will net you ten points, a Last Stand kill twenty, and if a high kill combo is attained, the player can summon an air strike on a pinpoint location, further distancing the gap of victory. On top of that, a helicopter can be called in to cruise around popping heads of your opponents with deadly accuracy – but these helicopters are far from invincible. Every action against the opposing team will score you points, and this leads to a game where strategy and timing are just as important as skill with a firearm.
At first glance, the graphics weren’t particularly impressive. I found grainy textures, plastic-y objects and some dodgy animations, but the latter is more than likely as a result of online play. However, there are notices all over the place reminding us that this is not the final version, and I’m inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sound was pretty decent, with cool voice clips and excellent explosions when one of those air strikes comes raining down on your unsuspecting ass. All-in-all, a great visual experience that makes me pine for a High-Definition television more than ever.
Couldn't have been THAT awesome to have gotten shot in the back.
Three maps are available on the Beta, and I’ve played them all extensively. At this point it’s time to bring some new locations in, but the disclaimers posted everywhere make mention of new maps, modes and a far higher level cap (players can only reach level 16 in the Beta). Playing for hours in the Beta only allows you to scratch the surface of the multiplayer depth, and on top of the upcoming single-player campaign, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare looks set to provide an insanely cool shooting package. Keep a sharp eye on this one.
So, how is this FREE BETA FOR CALL OF DUTY 4 generous? It allows people like me to enjoy the core gameplay of a tentative AAA title without having to fork over one lazily-earned dollar. Given that I lose interest in multiplayer gaming extremely quickly (I played Gears online for five minutes and said “This sucks”), I would have assumed I would be leaving the COD4 Beta feeling refreshed and cashed up, subsequently spending my burning chi-ching on lollipops and moon pies.
Just in case you weren't sure what game we're previewing.
Here’s why this familiar scenario isn’t relevant this time around. Call of Duty 4 is good. Really, really good. I don’t dig World War II shooters, and upon hearing the next installment to the series was to be a modern narrative featuring dastardly figures and political intrigue, I was, well, intrigued. I love downloading stuff I don’t need from Xbox Live, especially when it’s free. So, when the offers came around to sign up for the Beta, and figuring I could do with even the tiniest amount of social interaction, I knowingly offered myself up as a potential sale. Potentially.
Forget potential. I’m sold, simple as that. Not only for the multiplayer, but for the single-player campaign which, undoubtedly, will use a flawless version of the multiplayer engine which, most assuredly, is silky smooth and a dream to control. However, I’ll leave that incredibly confident speculation for the review, and talk a little bit about what Infinity Ward has served up for a delicious gaming dinner in the multiplayer Beta.
I do enjoy a rich, creamy bowl of killing every so often, and killing is what you can do all over the joint. How do I kill thee? Let me count the ways.
It’s a gameplay mode extravaganza, and the clean interface makes it all the more sweet. The menus are polished and, very importantly, legible on an SD television set. Hit Xbox Live, pick your mode of play and the matches will come to you. I usually prefer the standard Team Deathmatch, but for players with a greater skill level than I (read: everyone), a number of objective and tactical modes are readily available. This is the bomb defusal, capture/defend kind of play which requires you to consider more tactile elements beyond simply spilling blood. You can invite friends to your party, or randomly join one of the many games in full swing. Before that, however, you have the option of customising your soldier in pretty much every way.
Man vs machine
A number of pre-set classes are available, falling into the standard everyman/explosive/sniper kind of categories, but it’s possible to customise multiple classes yourself for easy selection later on. All weapons can be individually chosen and tweaked with various attachments and upgrades, and up to three Perks can be assigned. Perks are combat abilities ranging from simple damage and health bonuses to insanely badass combat moves like Last Stand, which lets a defeated player pull out their pistol, and with their final dying breath attempt to rack up another kill or two before they head for the giant server in the sky. Players will unlock different upgrades and abilities as they gain experience and increase rank. Naturally, killing more opponents nets you more experience points, and a surprisingly hefty set of Challenges await the players who really want to attain oodles of points and impress their little girlfriends. If they had any. I was going to insert a joke here at Yug’s expense, but he certainly showed me.
Battles are won on a points-based system, and this allows more dynamic events to occur during play. A standard kill will net you ten points, a Last Stand kill twenty, and if a high kill combo is attained, the player can summon an air strike on a pinpoint location, further distancing the gap of victory. On top of that, a helicopter can be called in to cruise around popping heads of your opponents with deadly accuracy – but these helicopters are far from invincible. Every action against the opposing team will score you points, and this leads to a game where strategy and timing are just as important as skill with a firearm.
At first glance, the graphics weren’t particularly impressive. I found grainy textures, plastic-y objects and some dodgy animations, but the latter is more than likely as a result of online play. However, there are notices all over the place reminding us that this is not the final version, and I’m inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sound was pretty decent, with cool voice clips and excellent explosions when one of those air strikes comes raining down on your unsuspecting ass. All-in-all, a great visual experience that makes me pine for a High-Definition television more than ever.
Couldn't have been THAT awesome to have gotten shot in the back.
Three maps are available on the Beta, and I’ve played them all extensively. At this point it’s time to bring some new locations in, but the disclaimers posted everywhere make mention of new maps, modes and a far higher level cap (players can only reach level 16 in the Beta). Playing for hours in the Beta only allows you to scratch the surface of the multiplayer depth, and on top of the upcoming single-player campaign, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare looks set to provide an insanely cool shooting package. Keep a sharp eye on this one.