It’s difficult to not get caught up in the hype that some games bring: and it’s virtually impossible to not be caught up in the hype that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has brought. Not only is Modern Warfare 2 the sequel to the award-winning best selling FPS of all time, but it promises to be bigger badder and more impressive than anything the Call of Duty franchise has previously produced. But can this highly-anticipated title live up to the expectations and dethrone its predecessor to become the FPS king? We’re about to find out.
The story takes place 5 years after the events of Call of Duty 4, whereby players take control of a number of different characters in order to stop Makarov, a former associate of Zakhaev who players will remember from the first Modern Warfare. Makarov is bent on setting the world in flames and is prepared to use every trick up his sleeve. In true Call of Duty fashion, players will jump from a number of different teams and divisions within the military and a number of familiar faces will make their appearance. The story is very well written and unpredictable. There are scenes and sequences which are incredibly engaging and will keep the intensity up right until the end. There is also some great voice acting, which conveys some comradery amongst the soldiers, and an impressive score sets the tone for some epic and emotional moments the Call of Duty franchise is known for.
The gameplay within Modern Warfare 2 is as fast and furious as ever. Nothing monumental has been done to it, but it still delivers the high-paced shooting that has made the series a fan favourite. The combat and shooting retains the arcade feel to it, although enough precision and depth is incorporated to push MW2 far beyond any average FPS.
MW2 has taken on a more Hollywood action-movie approach, which works incredibly well within the context and setting of the game. The set-pieces synonymous with the Call of Duty series, are the most exciting and immersive, delivering some of the most action-packed and heart pumping scenarios in a video game to date.
Technically, MW2 is flawless, however, there are some random spawning enemies which result in some cheap deaths, but on the whole the AI is very good and enemy soldiers will flank, assault and lay suppressive fire on your position.
There are also vehicle based missions and segments which provide an increase in pace, to an already incredibly fast game; we can’t emphasize enough, Modern Warfare 2 is all about urgency and action.
As everyone wants to know, there are some brand new weapons which will please all gun fanatics, as well as the ability to duel wield certain automatic and single-firing weapons. This benefits the close-quarters combat, while new attachments and features, such as the riot shield and thermal-vision scope, which throws in some new variety to the gameplay.
In terms of multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2 is the same phenomenally solid and brutal experience that COD4’s online achieved. With the addition of new maps, weapons and perks, MW2’s multiplayer is the natural successor and, besides the recent controversy, will undoubtedly be the game of choice in the online arena.
A new multiplayer mode makes its debut as Special Ops allows players, either online or split-screen, to co-operatively take on a number of missions, which range from assault, stealth and extraction objectives. These are separate from the main campaign, but derive from missions within the main story, along with some exclusive scenarios thrown into the mix. Overall, the co-op is awesome and may even top the fun had with Nazi Zombies in COD5. Spec Ops is a great addition to the series.
Visually, MW2 doesn’t look very different to its award-winning predecessor, but small details, such as facial and character animations, lighting and some incredible environmental effects, highlight the jaw-dropping visual experience MW2 has to offer.
Modern Warfare 2 is finally here and it’s delivering exactly more than what fans can come to expect from the series. The visuals are sharp, the gameplay solid as ever, the set-pieces are awe-inspiring and the multiplayer speaks for itself. Whether you’re curious about the single-player campaign or an online veteran, don’t be a fool, get your hands on Modern Warfare 2.
[starreviewmulti id=1 tpl=20]
