Game REVIEWS
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review
System: Xbox 360/Playstation 3/ DS / PC
Publisher: Activison
Category: FPS
Available Now
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a shot of adrenaline straight to the brain. From the Spec Ops to the Campaign to Multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2 brings the pulse pounding action by the truckload. Epic firefights, huge explosions, and a slew of upgrades make this highly anticipated game worth the wait.
Modern Warfare 2 has three pillars of gameplay to hold it high: Spec Ops, Campaign, and Multiplayer. Spec Ops are short burst of intensity designed for two. Since Campaign doesn’t allow co-op, Spec Ops steps in to satisfy this need for two player action. And satisfy it does. The missions are varied and quick, and have an air of arcade action to them. Some can have you fighting for survival, or taking on waves of enemies, and others will have you using snipers and stealth to win. Vehicles are game as well, and one of the best moments I’ve had came from protecting a buddy on the ground while in a helicopter firing a Vulcan minigun. Even if you beat a mission, you can always go back and try to get a quicker time, or beat it on a higher level. This gives them an enormous amount of replayability. It’s a wonderful addition to Call of Duty’s stellar offering.
Multiplayer has added a ton of new content. New guns, new perks, deathstreaks, selectable killsteaks, the list goes on and on. The addictive multiplayer just got even more so. If it gets any more addictive, Dr. Drew will need to open a clinic for it. First off is the new deathstreaks. When things just aren’t going your way and you can’t seem to catch a break, deathstreaks give you that little nudge to put you back in the game. They aren’t game changing, but they are a nice addition. Biggest of all the new additions (besides reducing that aggravating martyrdom perk’s role) is the selectable killstreaks. No longer are you tied to 3, 5, and 7. You can choose what you get. 4 gets you a care package, which is a random killstreak or ammo, 11 can get you into the gunner’s seat of helicopter, and 25, the mother of killstreaks, gets you a nuke. The multiplayer is a major factor in buying this game. If you can’t utilize the online, then it won’t be as great of a buy.
Campaign continues where Modern Warfare left off. I’m pretty sure there is a plot, however it was a little hard to discern over the explosions. Modern Warfare 2 is great at many things, but its storytelling needs a little polish. Some developments came amidst hectic gun battles, and sometimes I felt a little lost. Other than that, the Campaign’s roughly five hour go through, while short, is fantastic. Settings change and move around to new landscapes frequently, allowing players to fight in a multitude of environments. It’s certainly fun to play, but again, if you can’t utilize online, you’re missing out. Now, a lot of controversy has surrounded the airport mission “No Russian” and its depiction of killing innocent Russian citizens. The game allows you to skip this with no penalizations, but if you do play it, the game’s story impacts you and draws you in a little more. Some complain that it wasn’t necessary, but with the option to skip it, and the density it adds to the story, it isn’t something that should hinder this excellent game.
In closing, Modern Warfare 2 looks good, plays good, and dare I say, feels good. Spec Ops is a fantastic new addition to the Modern Warfare formula, the amazing Multiplayer outdoes itself, and the Campaign is a huge rush of awesome. If you can’t go online, then you miss out on some crucial features, and the Campaign itself doesn’t quite hold up to the $60 fee. If this is your case, then you may want to consider renting. Other than that, Modern Warfare 2 proves itself to be a fantastic FPS and should definitely be considered to be among your gaming library.
**Written by Mark Marquez
