Call of Duty 4 is a pleasant surprise on gaming consoles

Yeah, I know that the game is fantastic. If you look at every game Website or blog out there, you’ll see that majority of the ratings garnered by Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is at the 90% neighborhood—and for good reason.

Despite the game’s excellence, I remain reluctant to play its console versions. Why? Because I’m a keyboard and mouse jockey, that’s why. I abhor aiming with an analog stick. I can almost feel the bullets hitting my virtual self and I’m helpless to retaliate because I can hardly direct the end of my state-of-the-art rifle in the right direction.

Let’s just say my experience with console shooters isn’t very memorable.

Imagine my surprise when I finally did play CoD4—I was finishing missions left and right. Sure, I may be starting off with the Recruit difficulty, but I was expecting more trouble.

I’m ashamed to admit however that I’m using a rudimentary form of auto-aim. Yes, it’s a sellout, but not completely (not that it makes me feel any better). Pressing L1 for the iron sights would aim the weapon directly at an enemy, but the cursor wouldn’t follow targets around. Somehow, this system makes survival a bit easier than struggling with the right stick at all times.