The Download Munkey : Tracking the Treasure Down …

Watched this 1:30 min trailer for the latest installment of Call of Duty 4 set in post-WWII times several times yesterday. After the flood of WW2 FPSs, it seems that most publishers and developers are turning to modern and near-future warfare for upcoming games like Battlefield : Bad Company, Army of Two, Metal Gear Solid 4, World in Conflict and now Call of Duty 4.

The trailer is a mix of both CG cutscenes and gameplay footage. Seems that players will engage in warfare in the Middle East (again!). IGN’s trailer analysis speculates that players will be playing as US/European/Russian soldiers against both Eastern European and Middle Eastern terrorist factions.

The ingame graphics portray the depressingly chaotic and destructive nature of modern war very convincingly. One thing I notice in the trailer – troops from both sides die pretty badly – it’s not something nice but it truly reflects the harsh and brutal reality of war. I have seen a lot of game trailers with a high bodycount but this is the first time where I really feel disturbed when watching the troops being shot and killed, perhaps due to the realistic graphics and the fact that the game seems to mirror current events.

All screen captures taken from the HD trailer at the official site. Registration is required. If you don’t wish to register, download a lower resolution trailer from www.gametrailers.com.

Gas masks are the in thing for games this season – think Stalker

Graphic effects are pretty realistic – note the heat wave from the tank’s exhaust.

Death is the only victor of the battlefield (above and below)

A melee takedown followed by this chilling point-blank shot.

One of the figures that keep appearing in the video.

Images of the battlefield (above and below)

Sometimes I wonder about the consequences of the increasingly photo-realistic graphics in games like Call of Duty 4 – hopefully players will understand the horrors of war as a result of the graphic violence and destruction.