Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has introduced a parry mechanic into its campaign, a feature that feels incongruous with the series' typical gameplay loop.
The campaign begins with players engaging in traditional Call of Duty action, including shooting enemies and using cover. However, the second mission, "Out in the Cold," shifts dramatically. Tasking players as Captain John Price, the mission requires infiltrating a nightclub unarmed. Combat quickly evolves into a sequence where players must time presses of the 'L' button to parry incoming melee attacks from bouncers, followed by a button press 'R' to counter. This melee-focused section, interspersed with pistol combat and a parkour chase, sets the stage for a boss fight against the antagonist Makarov.
This boss encounter is particularly criticized for its reliance on parrying. The fight demands precise timing for each parry, and a single missed parry results in an instant failure, halting the game's momentum. The game later features another parry sequence during the "Following Orders" mission, where an unnamed North Korean soldier must parry an attacker.
The author argues that while parries can be a valuable mechanic in other genres, their implementation in Modern Warfare 4 feels out of place. The article suggests that first-person parries can feel less natural than in third-person games and that this addition seems like an attempt to chase trends rather than enhance the core Call of Duty experience. The piece contrasts this with games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where parries contribute to an innovative genre blend, and Valor Mortis, a first-person action game that incorporates parries. Ultimately, the article contends that Call of Duty campaigns thrive on solid shooting, well-designed levels, and intense set pieces, elements that the parry mechanic detracts from rather than enhances.