It was becaused CoD was something entirely fresh and new at that point. The only thing thats really changed is that we're on the 4th installment now.
If CoD1-3 had never came out and had its impact on gaming, and CoD4 dropped as CoD1, we'd all have the same warm fuzzy feelings about it.
Personally, I think health packs are stupid, and I'm glad to get rid of them. Yeah, the halo shield is a bit contrived, but being able to pick up a box of bandages and magically healing bullet wounds is no less ridiculous. Without halo shield, it didnt become a tense run for the health pack, it just became a save fest, because I had enough health for one more shot, and the only way I could survive to the next health pack was to quicksave around every corner, and thus ruining the flow, challenge and tension. Without having to worry about health, I didnt have to worry about saving so damn much, and its just a lot more fun to play that way.
Yeah, regenning teammates is a bit of a downer, but I HATE HATE HATE escort missions in the first place.
