Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Review: A Return to Call of Duty's Roots

Remember when Call of Duty campaigns were the main event? Modern Warfare 4 might just bring that feeling back. After over 20 years of playing Call of Duty, our reviewer found himself pleasantly surprised by a campaign that puts regular soldiers front and center—and it's the most fun he's had with a CoD story in years.

The spotlight is on a squad of young South Korean marines (plus a few Americans) who are just running out the clock on their compulsory service when North Korea suddenly invades. They're familiar archetypes—the serious leader, the quiet audience insert, the jokey American—but they're charming enough that you'll actually remember their names. It's a refreshing shift from the superhuman operatives we've been stuck with since the original Modern Warfare.

Where the campaign really shines is in missions like "Mayhem" and "Losing Ground," where you're desperately trying to hold the fictional Hajin City against overwhelming odds. Your characters are visibly terrified, and that vulnerability makes the chaos hit harder. Later, "Counter Attack" delivers a massive beachfront assault that's as bombastic as you'd hope. These are the kinds of setpieces that remind you why Call of Duty campaigns used to matter.

But the real standout is "Stranded," a multi-hour mission where your squad crash-lands behind enemy lines in North Korea. It's a semi-open sandbox with three non-linear objectives, side quests, and a hideout where you can craft armor, guns, and camouflage. It feels like a micro Far Cry tucked inside a CoD campaign—jarring at first, but ultimately a major highlight. And don't worry: the map was built specifically for the campaign, not ripped from Warzone.

Then there's Captain Price. Now a wanted fugitive (thanks to some Modern Warfare 3 business most people missed), his sections feel disconnected from the real heroes. You'll get the usual car chases, foot chases, and cinematic knife fights, but they're forgettable—and Price basically exits the story for the back half. It's like Infinity Ward is checking boxes for fans who expect Price stuff while wanting to do something else entirely. Even Mads Mikkelsen feels wasted in a role that could've been menacing with more screen time.

Despite that, this is still a win. For the first time in too long, Call of Duty's campaign doesn't feel like an afterthought. It's un compromised by Warzone or Zombies, and it delivers a regular, well-crafted story with great gunplay and lavish cinematics. So, will you be jumping into Modern Warfare 4's campaign first, or are you heading straight to multiplayer? Let us know!