Fans of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series are thrilled that Captain John Price, the British Special Air Services serviceman who surmounted constant danger, betrayal and loss while relentlessly pursuing his international adversaries, will return for the fourth installment of the game. This time portrayed by actor Barry Sloane, the game’s campaign is poised to be violent, realistic and undoubtedly controversial with the reveal that it will contain material depicting child soldiers.
More so than even the Black Ops series’ Alex Mason or Zombies’ Edward Richtofen, Price’s narrative arc leaves a lasting impression on players and embodies the essence of the Call of Duty experience. A relentless leader known for his facial hair and penchant for cigars, Price’s presence propelled the trilogy’s narrative in a way that remains unmatched throughout video game history.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare — Captain Price, the Would-be Assassin
Players first met Price in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the first game in the trilogy. At the outset, fifteen years have passed since Price, the would-be assassin to the powerful Russian leader Imran Zakhaev, blew off Zakhaev’s arm but failed to confirm the kill. In the game’s present, Zakhaev has acquired enough nuclear materials to kill 40 million Americans. As Price and his regiment, which includes John “Soap” MacTavish, pursue Zakhaev, Zakhaev’s son blows his own head off to avoid capture by the unit — a move that only serves to deepen the senior Zakhaev’s hatred for Price.
The game culminates in an epic showdown between Price’s unit and Zakhaev’s men. When it seems like all is lost and Zakhaev will surely take down Price and his team, Price coolly and stealthily passes a loose gun to Soap, who manages to kill Zakhaev.
Price stands out here as a strong, fully-formed character with clear motivations and just the right amount of snarky dialogue. Since then, big moments like the last-minute gun pass have become staples of the Call of Duty franchise, elevating the possibilities in video game storytelling.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 — Price and Soap Take on Zakarov’s Protégé
While Price and his team may have won that battle, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 shows this story is far from over. Taking place several years after the events of the previous game, this game for the most part follows the actions of Soap and General Shepherd, a manipulative U.S.M.C. leader, though Price eventually assumes a pivotal role. Soap is part of Shepherd’s elite unit, Task Force 141. At the outset of this game, Price’s whereabouts are unknown.
A Russian protégé of Zakhaev’s named Vladimir Makarov frames an American for a terrorist attack in Moscow, an event that is playable in the controversial game mission “No Russian.” This leads to a Russo-American War on American soil. Aware that the now-deceased American was framed, Soap’s team interrogates one of Makarov’s associates, Alejandro Rojas. Rojas directs them to get more information from Prisoner 627, currently being held in a gulag.
Soap’s unit rescues Prisoner 627 and, in a surprise plot twist, it’s Price. Shepherd soon speculates that Price has gone mad during his time in prison. In a subsequent mission, Price deliberately disobeys Shepherd and sends missiles toward the United States. While at the outset these appear to be the actions of a madman, his efforts actually save countless lives as they explode in the air and creates an electromagnetic pulse that halts the war raging in Washington, D.C.
Still pursuing Makarov, together Price and Soap face backstabbing and betrayal by Shepherd as he seeks to rewrite his legacy as that of a hero. In a dramatic final scene, Shepherd is moments away from killing Price when a nearly-dead Soap pulls a knife from his own body and uses it to kill Shepherd.
Price didn’t trust Shepherd from the outset, and his noble actions and willingness to go against the grain continue to define his unique role in the franchise. Constructed in a way where it’s hard to tell which side of the line Price is riding, his choices make allow players to follow an engaging story.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Price's Bittersweet Victory
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 picks up where the previous title left off. As Soap hangs on for his life, a team of Russian Ultranationalists loyal to Makarov capture the Russian President and his daughter, threatening to kill her if the President refuses to provide access to nuclear codes. Price jumps right back into action, working with a man named Yuri. In a tragic moment, an explosion leaves Soap critically wounded. On his deathbed, Soap, who was immediately suspicious of Yuri, tells Price that he’s learned that Yuri and Makarov know one another.
Price is put in a position to decide whether to trust Yuri. After making the decision to trust Yuri, the two square off against Makarov. Makarov manages to kill Yuri, but Price has just enough time to strangle Makarov. In the end, Price lights up a cigar, honoring a small win amidst much destruction and tragedy.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and Beyond
There’s real magic in this series of events as all the plot twists and rising action set a high bar for storytelling within the FPS genre. While Call of Duty games are widely known for their realism regarding things such as gun mechanics and visual imagery, a character like Price elevates the series as a whole. Contrast that with other games throughout the FPS genre, which often require fantastical elements and dystopian sci-fi futures for world-building, yet often still manage to fall flat due to lackluster character development.
It’ll be interesting to see how, exactly, Price fits in to the forthcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and whether any dramatic plot twists will affect fans' relationships with the character. However, if preview materials have given players an accurate indication of what’s to come, players can expect complex, believable storylines that continue to put Price at the helm.