Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered preview

Back in the day, when Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare first arrived, it almost changed the definition of what it was to be a Call of Duty game.

Suddenly you had this immense, cinematic storyline with some of the best plot twists in gaming history and best missions - All Ghillied Up being one of the most celebrated - which you could play co-operatively with a friend. Plus, you had a multiplayer that established many of the attributes that would become mainstays of the Call of Duty franchise, such as Perks, Killstreaks, Prestige and class customisation.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered

So it's no surprise that developer Infinity Ward is remastering the game for Xbox One, PS4 and PC this year. But also a shame that it's only available to those who purchase the more expensive Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition for around £70.

It cannot be purchased separately whatsoever, so if you want to get nostalgic about Call of Duty, you've got to embrace the space-focused modern Infinite Warfare too, which may be a problem for some.

Regardless of how you get it, the thought of playing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered filled us with glee. At Call of Duty XP, we had a chance to play two of the classic maps in Team Deathmatch multiplayer - Crash and Overgrown.

There's no denying that both maps are looking extremely good and could sit toe to toe with any of the most recent FPS titles.

However, the nearly nine years since the game's release back in 2007 have seen the series evolve so much that experiencing the classic multiplayer seems extremely retro.

While the multiplayer is still fast-paced and exciting, the action itself is really missing some of the flow that's found in the more recent games. Even aiming your rifle takes a little too long compared to the slick movement in Infinite Warfare, making everything feel a bit of a drag.

And although the maps at the time were revolutionary, they're missing the honed designs of late where action is constant and confrontations are aplenty. The maps can almost feel too large, leaving you out of the action at times even in a 6v6 Team Deathmatch.

It's almost like Modern Warfare Remastered is a victim of its own historical success, as although it's made Call of Duty multiplayer what it is today, it's now showing its age.

That's not to say it's not totally unenjoyable though. The nostalgia is strong with this one, and it felt incredibly easy to slip back into our well-worn Modern Warfare combat boots, the weapons and loadouts feeling familiar and almost comforting.

First impressions

However, we're holding out on judgment until we've trialled the single-player campaign of Modern Warfare Remastered - after all it was this cinematic adventure and its co-op functionality that really drew most people into the game when it was released in 2007.

And before you go, we've also gone hands-on with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - you can find out all about it here.