Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

With its predecessor being arguably one of the best shooters in recent times, it was always safe to assume that : Modern Warfare 2 would generate a huge amount of pre-release hype. As well as the anticipation spilling over on internet forums there were petitions from PC users unhappy with the lack of server support, news coverage around the world when gameplay footage of the infamous airport level was leaked, Hollywood blockbuster-style premieres for the launch of the title and lines of fans snaking around stores at the midnight release. It was clear that Infinity Ward had better have come up with a game that matched or surpassed the quality set by the first modern outing in the formerly exclusively World War 2-based franchise.

One of the many features that made the original Modern Warfare stand out was its excellent single player campaign. Tight, focused and gripping, the storyline moved between Russia and the Middle East with the player switching from the perspectives of a young SAS soldier and a United States Marine Corps Sergeant as they searched for a dangerous Russian Ultranationalist, Imran Zakhaev. Modern Warfare 2 picks up the story five years later and sees the player aiming down the sights of their weapon as a member of the SAS and a U.S. Army Ranger as they hunt for Vladimir Makarov, a former lieutenant with the Russian Ultranationalist party that has now gained control of Russia. For those who enjoyed the realistic plot of the original game, beware – Modern Warfare 2’s storyline, and the events that take place within it, have more in common with a Hollywood action flick than they do with the portrayal of a realistic war. While the campaign is a little silly and over-the-top almost all the time, it does open up the doors to thrashing a snowmobile down a mountain to escape the enemy, breaking into a high-security prison in a scenario reminiscent of The Rock and looking through the eyes of an astronaut as the International Space Station is obliterated by a nuclear missile. Following the ‘bigger and better’ strategy set in place by most creating a sequel to a popular game or movie, Infinity Ward has taken each element of the first game and supersized it. It doesn’t always work in Modern Warfare 2, however. The original game did a fantastic job of portraying the characters you fought alongside in the hunt for Zakhaev, and while that’s present in MW2 to a certain extent, the way the characters are handled almost makes them look like a parodies of their former digital selves. This is counterbalanced by the first class voice acting though, which is more than good enough to immerse the player in the fictional warzone. Another minor detraction returning to the sequel is the shortness of the campaign. If you’re half-decent at first person shooters you’ll be finishing it in around five hours. Thankfully the action is delivered at a breakneck pace and the campaign is of such a high quality that it shouldn’t leave many feeling cheated by it’s length.   The huge twists and turns and outlandish scenarios are great to play through and while there are a couple of minor detractions, including a conclusion that is a little damp, the campaign is still a satisfying experience.

Not that you’ll be playing through it straight away if you have , when the first thing you’ll likely want to look at after popping the disc in is the multiplayer. There are two multiplayer options on the main menu: Spec Ops and the traditional Multiplayer. Spec Ops is based on the bonus level after the end credits of the original game in which the player had to run and gun through a hijacked airliner in a certain amount of time. Spec Ops allows you to go it alone or team up with a friend online or on the same console with splitscreen to complete mini-missions fighting against computer controlled enemies. Each mission can be played on three different difficulty levels, giving the players a certain amount of stars based on the difficulty at which they completed that mission. Some missions stand out more than others, such as the ones that require one player to control a gunship while another makes their way on foot, but all of them are enjoyable. For something that was initially considered by some as an easily disposable afterthought, Spec Ops represents a real challenge that will be revisited by the average gamer far more than the single player campaign.

 Still the strongest part of MW2 though, the traditional multiplayer is where you’ll find the real draw to the game. Using a similar scheme to the first game involving weapons upgrades, experience points and those all-important perks, the multiplayer segment of MW2 is easily the best thing the game has going for it. The first new feature to take notice of is the ability to now customise your killstreaks. For each class you create you can choose the rewards you’ll receive for a certain killstreak which means, for example, you might choose to receive a UAV after three kills, a precision airstrike after six and a tactical nuke that wipes out the whole map and ends the game after 25 kills. Perks add further variety to your loadout and if you complete the challenge each perk carries you’ll unlock a pro version of that perk, giving you an extra enhancement on the online battlefield. Add 42 types of shotguns, snipers, assault rifles, launchers, sub machine guns and pistols to the mix, 17 types of matches, a large selection of emblems and callsigns to unlock and you get an idea of the variety and longevity the multiplayer aspect of MW2 offers. The new maps are mostly a joy to play as well, from the dusty Middle Eastern setting of Afghan and the frantic free-for-all of Rust through to the skyscraper-adorned Highrise. There are only a couple of weak maps (dependant on whether you love or hate sniping) but even these are not bad enough to warrant you skipping them every time.  All in all it’s an extremely strong multiplayer experience that will keep you coming back for a very long time.

So, has Infinity Ward crafted a sequel worthy of your cash? Undoubtedly. The single player campaign isn’t quite as good as that of the first game but it’s still as immersive and maybe even a little more fun than its predecessor if you’re willing to embrace the over-the-top action. Spec Ops and the multiplayer remain the meatiest modes though and will have you high-fiving the air or pulling your teeth out for months and months to come. This isn’t the best game ever made, contrary to what many might have hoped for, but Infinity Ward have added enough to the already-strong foundations of to make the long awaited sequel a first class experience for anyone who enjoys shooters.