20 Incredibly Important Video Games That Shaped The Industry

14. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Why It Is Important: Modern Warfare set the template for modern shooters with its cinematic campaign and multiplayer. It's a shame that Call Of Duty games have been basically the same since COD4. This landmark title changed the face of the FPS and set the template for modern shooters with its intense campaign and addictive multiplayer that had RPG elements. COD4 took the FPS out of the stale Second World War setting and dragged it kicking and screaming into the modern era. The new setting meant that Infinity Ward could now use high-tech guns and gadgets to add variety to the campaign and mix things up. You could be escaping a sinking ship by the skin of your teeth one minute and shooting terrorist dudes in an urban environment the next. Despite its enjoyable single-player, it was COD 4's multiplayer that had the most impact. It was the first to introduce a create-a-class system that added a layer of strategy to shooting people in the face. Additionally, it added Killstreaks that rewarded players for killing multiple enemies without dying. While Halo had previously used a similar mechanic, it was strictly for bragging rights and served no real purpose beyond that. It also introduced a levelling system. Much like in an RPG, players would gain access to better weapons, perks and equipment as they gained experience. It was highly influential to the point where it's hard to find a multiplayer shooter that doesn't use a similar system today. COD4 showed the world how a modern FPS should play and feel. Though it marked the beginning of the end as far as innovation in the franchise is concerned, it remains to be one of the most important games of its generation.