How to follow the MW4 campaign playthrough and decide whether the new Call of Duty campaign is worth your money

Video: TIMTHETATMAN MW4 CAMPAIGN PLAYTHROUGH
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MW4 is Infinity Ward's return to the mainline Call of Duty series, and the campaign is short enough to finish in one long sitting โ roughly three and a half hours, with the actual gameplay starting about half an hour into the broadcast. If you want to see the whole story before buying, TimTheTatman's full campaign playthrough is the most complete look at it, and you can pick up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at a discount on Loaded if the campaign convinces you.
What the MW4 campaign playthrough covers
The stream runs the campaign from the opening mission to the credits without skipping story content, which makes it a practical preview for anyone on the fence. Expect the usual Call of Duty structure: a linear opening act that doubles as a tutorial, a mid-game open mission in North Korea, and a finale built around a one-on-one fight. Infinity Ward did not develop Modern Warfare 3, so this is the studio's first mainline entry since Modern Warfare 2, and the longer production window shows in the mission variety and the cutscene work.
The early missions lean heavily on scripted set pieces and glowing objective markers, which is why the opening hour plays like a guided tour. The middle of the campaign opens up: the North Korea section drops you into a wider space with multiple approaches, and that is exactly where a lot of viewers get frustrated watching someone ignore the objectives and wander. If you plan to play it yourself, treat that mission as a sandbox with a checklist rather than a corridor, and clear the marked targets before exploring.
Difficulty spikes worth knowing before you start
The Ghost fight is the campaign's hardest single encounter, and it is a knife fight rather than a shooting gallery. Players who breezed through gunfights on Veteran report dying dozens of times in that sequence, because the fight rewards timing and positioning instead of aim. If you are chasing the Veteran trophy, save yourself the frustration and learn the attack patterns before trying to trade hits.
A few practical notes for the harder difficulties:
- Use cover aggressively in the open North Korea mission; the space is wide and enemies flank constantly.
- Do not treat the Ghost duel like a shooter โ wait for the opening, then commit.
- Checkpoint placement is generous in linear missions and much sparser in the open section, so clear side objectives early.
- Friendly fire is real; several viewers noted that careless grenades and stray shots cost as many allies as enemies.
Story callbacks and details fans spotted
The campaign leans on nostalgia in ways that reward longtime players. Dunn is a callback to the Modern Warfare 2 campaign, and one of the quieter moments โ a computer wiping profiles and shutting down โ reuses an animation style lifted from Ghosts. The ending landed hard for a lot of viewers, with several saying it moved them to tears, and the general consensus is that this is one of the stronger Call of Duty stories in years.
The structure also explains some of the pacing complaints. The campaign front-loads tutorials and big markers, then trusts you with a wide mission, then closes on a cinematic finale. That rhythm is deliberate, but it means the first hour can feel like hand-holding if you already know how Call of Duty works.
Common viewer questions about the MW4 campaign
Most of the pushback around this playthrough is not about the game โ it is about how it is being played. Viewers repeatedly ask why the North Korea mission looks confusing, why the opening drags, and whether the campaign is actually good or just nostalgic. The honest answer is that the campaign is designed for a first-time player who follows markers, and it punishes anyone who treats the open section like a free-roam sandbox.
The other recurring theme is value. A single-sitting campaign of three to four hours is short for a full-price purchase, which is why discount storefronts get mentioned so often in chat. If you mainly play multiplayer and Warzone, the campaign is a bonus; if you buy Call of Duty for the story, this one is worth the time but not necessarily full price.
Where to watch and where to buy MW4
TimTheTatman's channel hosts the full campaign run, plus the usual stream extras. The main links from the broadcast:
- Call of Duty franchise deals on Loaded
- Tips and support: https://streamelements.com/timthetatman/tip
- Community Discord: https://discord.gg/timthetatman
- Official website: https://timthetatman.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/timthetatman
Final thoughts on the MW4 campaign
MW4 is a polished, cinematic campaign that runs a few hours and leans hard on set pieces, callbacks and one brutally difficult knife fight. The open North Korea mission is the divisive part โ great if you engage with the objectives, miserable if you wander โ and the Ghost duel will decide whether you finish on Veteran. For a first playthrough, follow the markers, use cover, and do not expect the early tutorials to last. TimTheTatman's full playthrough on his channel is the fastest way to see the whole story before deciding, and if you are sold, grab Modern Warfare 4 cheaper through Loaded rather than paying full price.
Key takeaways
- MW4 is Infinity Ward's first mainline Call of Duty since Modern Warfare 2, and the campaign is the focus of TimTheTatman's full playthrough stream.
- The campaign runs roughly three and a half hours in a single sitting, with gameplay starting about half an hour into the broadcast.
- The Ghost knife fight is the hardest single encounter on Veteran, with players reporting dozens of deaths.
- The North Korea mission is an open-world style section that punishes players who ignore the objective markers.
- Dunn returns as a callback to the Modern Warfare 2 campaign, and one shutdown animation is lifted from Ghosts.
Questions & answers
How long is the MW4 campaign?
A full run takes roughly three and a half hours, which is why it fits into a single stream. The gameplay itself starts about half an hour in, after the intro and setup. Players who explore the open North Korea mission will take noticeably longer.
Is the Ghost fight really that hard on Veteran?
Yes โ it is a knife duel rather than a gunfight, and players report dying dozens of times on Veteran. The fight rewards reading attack patterns and timing rather than aim, so learn the openings before committing to trades.
Why does the North Korea mission feel confusing?
It is an open, sandbox-style section with multiple approaches, unlike the linear missions before it. If you ignore the objective markers and wander, it feels aimless; clear the marked targets first and the layout makes sense.
Is MW4 worth buying at full price for the campaign alone?
The campaign is short โ a few hours โ so it is thin value if you only want the story. Most players pair it with multiplayer and Warzone, and buying through a discount storefront is the common recommendation if the campaign is your main draw.
Source: TIMTHETATMAN MW4 CAMPAIGN PLAYTHROUGH ยท Markdown version