An honest review coming from a non FPS fan.

User Rating: 9 | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare PS3
I must start straight off by simply saying I don't like FPS games all that much. Just not my taste, I'm an RPG guy who likes taking things nice and easy. I have played several FPS' in the past, but the last one I actually OWNED was Goldeneye way back on the N64.

To those familiar with the Call of Duty franchise, this definitely isn't like any one you have played before. In fact, with those who do play FPS' in all kinds, this is a surprisingly rare shooter. But lets take it all in segments here.

Story, being an RPG guy, I had to just set myself up knowing it'd be close to none. And truth be told, it is. Despite being able to finish the single player in three or four hours, maybe less; this isn't where the game is at. The story is somewhat confusing at first, switching between two characters. However, what this game does right, and remarkably different from all other war shooters is finally not having it set in WWII. No Nazi killing today, terrorist killing instead, for the patriot in us all. Finally an FPS set in modern times, it surprised even me, making me think that those we have sent to Afghanistan or Iraq, this may be what they have experienced, and probably worse. Surprisingly, for a game, it made the war more real for me than it had before. There's something vicious and biting about it that makes it different than the 'vicious' war nature you see even in WWII games. So, despite being short, it hits you in a way you don't really expect, especially the very end which gets your pulse racing to the end, the single player finishing in a way I didn't expect.

The graphics are phenomenal, though probably not too surprising from a mainstay title on the (depending who you ask) graphically superior system. The environment is often interactive, as FPS fans should expect, there will be gunfire and explosions going on all around you, enemies and friends showing up out of nowhere. Often times the environment is destructible where hiding behind a wall you'll see it crumble as you take gunfire. Also from a strategic point of view, you can blow up cars as a make-due incendiary to blast a few terrorists without wasting any of your own grenades. But from viewing scenes from far away or right in front of you, the graphics are very impressive. Character animation looks very real, even if there's an enemy right in your face, you can see them in a very crisp way. To those possibly switching from the PS2 or other earlier systems, that sort of thing is really very impressive. That's how I felt when I first bought it.

Gameplay: I'll admit, I may not be so well versed. The controls took some getting used to, but I haven't played too many FPS' so I could have just been out of practice. This goes for me rating the difficulty hard. I had it on the easiest setting and I died many, many times. Though most of it was just in one area (the television station is awful), despite dying a lot and being frustrated I still had a lot of fun. To me, the aiming could be a little difficult just because on the PS3 at least, it seemed extremely sensitive, even slightly clunky. Even slightly moving the analog stick seemed to make the cross-hair's zoom across the screen. This was the most difficult part for me since I couldn't aim very well without practice. And naturally in a game like this, you have to aim well and shoot fast. Also, despite being a short single player, the levels were each quite different, although I was expecting/hoping for more daytime levels. Most of the gameplay really opens up in multiplayer though, where your offered all of the weapons at your disposal with primary and secondary skills, co-op with friends and other people online, along with different levels. Not to mention, it turned into a bit of an RPG online where you can level up and increase certain parameters. Far too much to cover here, you'd be better off finding out on your own. The game clearly shines through the multiplayer though.

The sound is spectacular, granted most people tend to not notice game sound or music when they get into the thick of things. Still, everything sounded crisp, real, and effective to get your attention. Especially when your traveling in silence for awhile. I can't speak on music since frankly, there wasn't much of any, besides the credits, if memory serves.

Call of Duty 4 is a landmark FPS which is capable of appealing to even an FPS newbie like myself, though online vets can be a bit harsh as usual. But people verbally speaking in leet-talk makes me laugh at them, which evens things out. Needless to say, its wholly different, taking place in a modern setting, adding realism in a video game that I had not experienced before. While the gameplay took some getting used to, its challenging without being too cheap, until you try playing on the highest difficulty of course, where one or two hits WILL kill you. The multiplayer offers enormous bonuses and is the real shining point of the game where you can have some real fun. This is slightly more rewarding for PS3 owners since there are no fees like Xbox Live. But its certainly an excellent game, regardless of which system you own. To anybody looking for a high octane action game, Call of Duty 4 is an absolute must, whether your an FPS buff, or a newcomer. It's more than enough to please and entertain both types.