Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Top-notch war sim, but T-rated series is now "M."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 76 parent reviews
Based on 232 kid reviews
Kids say the game has been perceived quite differently among players with regard to its violence and language; many view it as suitable for teens due to relatively mild gore after the ability to turn off blood and a limited use of profanity. While some reviewers insist on it being rated for older audiences, others argue it can be appropriate for younger players, highlighting its engaging gameplay and narrative despite its war themes.
- suitable for teens
- mild profanity
- engaging gameplay
- adjustable violence
- diverse opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
The bulk of the action in CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE takes place in the Middle East. However, developer Infinity Ward has cleverly managed to avoid stirring the political pot by never naming the countries in which the action takes place and delivering a fictional and unquestionably evil enemy in the form of radical terrorists set on global nuclear holocaust. Players step into the combat boots of two soldiers, a British S.A.S. operative and an American Marine, as they battle the terrorists. You always work with a squad of at least a few other soldiers, who, unlike artificially intelligent companions in most games, are essential allies that can be counted on when things get rough, which is most of the time.
Is It Any Good?
This highly polished and intelligently designed interactive entertainment is dramatic and thrilling stuff. The only downside is the campaign's brevity; at just seven hours on medium difficulty, you'll likely find yourself wanting more when the credits start to roll.
But that's why multiplayer exists. With hundreds of items, game types, ranks, and customization options slyly designed to unlock one by one the more you play, the online component has a decidedly addictive, just-need-a-few-more-points-to-level-up quality to it. Expect your sessions to be frequent and long.
Online interaction: Online play over a headset can yield very colorful conversations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about war. What leads to war? Is war ever justified? Why or why not? How does the media typically portray war? How realistic is this game's presentation of war? Is the nuclear threat imagined by the game's designers something you think could happen in the real world?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 , Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Activision
- Release date : November 7, 2007
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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