Players will get what they expect from the new CoD title: boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. But what\u2019s with all the distractions?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot riding on this year\u2019s Call of Duty, the inescapable first-person shootfest that\u2019s been lobbing a grenade into the autumn release schedule since 2003. Previous instalment, Black Ops 7, performed poorly compared to previous titles, forcing Activision to post a semi-apology to fans. And that\u2019s not the only challenge Modern Warfare 4 is facing: there\u2019s a new indie shooter, Wardogs, promising a feel somewhere between classic CoD and Classic Battlefield. Then, lurking on the horizon, in mirror shades and an exotic sports car, is Grand Theft Auto 6, which is surely going to smash and grab all the attention (and money) from the market in mid-November.<\/p>\n
The good news is that, judging by the early access beta test that ran over the penultimate August weekend, we\u2019re definitely getting what we expect from a Modern Warfare title: quasi-authentic boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. The weapons and general gunplay are highly effective, from default assault rifle, the Han 86 \u2013 a classic CoD beginner\u2019s gun with decent fire rate and handling \u2013 to the bullet-spraying Nightshade SMG and the absolutely lethal KG-7 Vulcan sniper rifle. They all feel good to hold and fire, and there\u2019s enough balance to let you experiment with slightly more offbeat numbers like the burst-fire Hyeon AR and the possibly overpowered Mar-9 marksman rifle.<\/p>\n
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