Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a pure adrenaline rush. Think of any shooter you've ever played, then think what it would be like to play it at warp speed. That's CoD 4.

The developers of the game succeed in giving you the feel of what you're in for right away, and that's just in the opening scenes when you're learning what buttons do what. Then you're whisked away for your first mission. Of course, it's just your first mission, so it's easy, right?

Right. You just have to stop some terrorists from transporting a nuclear device aboard a freighter. You know ... that ship that's already at sea. Heavy seas. And you and your more veteran teammates are tasked with taking out the terrorists. Luckily, the crew is expendable. So you basically shoot at anyone that's not on your team. Then you have to jump onto your rescue helicopter before the ship blows up.

No problem.

Whoever said sequels can't be as good as the original were wrong. In fact, CoD4 proves that sequels can be better than the original — especially when that sequel is rendered in gorgeous HD graphics on the PlayStation 3.

The game's story starts with a disturbing scene in which you are the kidnapped deposed leader of a Mid-East country being driven to your execution through the sad and violent streets of the land you once ruled. It's a beautifully rendered scene that foreshadows the great look of later cut scenes and mission locators sandwiched between the action.

Then you are sent on some missions as a member of the elite British SAS; on others, you play as a U.S. Marine. The units you fight with and their need to complete missions in a timely manner add to the sense of urgency typically inherent in special operations missions in what always has been a grunt-loving gaming experience.

As with previous titles in the series, CoD 4 allows for plenty of options when it comes to deciding how to kill the enemy. You start missions with a standard loadout but can pick up weapons discarded on the battlefield. From pistols to submachines to sniper rifles, you operate with the standard infantry loadout. But what would a game sporting the words "modern warfare" in its title be if you didn't get your hands on some awesome modern weapons. For things that that really go boom, items available include rocket-propelled grenades and Javelin missiles. With two types of grenades — one to stun and one to blow the enemy out of an entrenched fighting position — there are just so many ways to cause destruction.

Technology on the battlefield extends beyond weapons. For instance, if it's dark, click on the night-vision goggles. Another button offers state-of-the-art optics to better blast those guys hiding behind the car. The environment in CoD 4 is interactive, and bullets even penetrate flimsy cover. It's also best not to seek cover behind burning vehicles. They blow up, and so do you.

Moving around in that environment is one of the joys of playing CoD 4. There's nothing clunky about this game engine, and there are plenty of options to get you to the fight and to help you succeed when you get there. There's the option of switching between first- and third-person view. If you need to move a little faster, press the L3 button and keep up with your hard-charging squadmates. Taking fire? Crouch or go prone. Need to target multiple enemies? Hit that left trigger, and your rifle will jump from one to the other, helping you target faster.

But outside of the craziest firefights in which bullets are coming from all angles and enemy grenades are clattering on the ground around you, situations that aren't infrequent, the key is always speed. There's no time to really think; you just move fast and blast. I found that the frenetic energy of this shooter takes hold and doesn't let go. I would move through three missions in the blink of an eye and wonder where the time went. And I didn't care.

Unfortunately, like its predecessor, Call of Duty 3, the single-player campaign is not exceptionally long. There are four difficulty settings, so that adds up to a lot of replayability for hardcore gamers. The real strength of the game is that up to four players can take on the enemy in multiplayer mode while up to 18 can blast away at the enemy online.

The game carries a "Mature" rating for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language. For fans of shooters, I would recommend CoD 4 as a great game to add to any PS3 collection.