Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Part 1)

Game: Modern Warfare 2

Format: 360

Developer: Infinity Ward

Publisher: Activision

So it’s sold a staggering 1.23 million copies in the UK alone and caused a mass of controversy in it’s wake, I think it’s safe to say the world has gone absolutely berserk for the latest instalment in the “Call of Duty” franchise, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”. Now I unfortunately have drawn the short straw and have the huge task of having to review this gaming mammoth so here’s what I shall do. Since there’s so much to talk about I shall split my review into two parts. Part one (the one you’re reading right now) shall be solely about singleplayer campaign with part two focusing on the multiplayer, giving you my final rating as well as looking at the addition of the brand new “Special Ops” mode.

So right…where do I start? At the beginning I suppose. You could not even begin to believe the excitement I had when I first put the disc in the disc tray of my 360. I have been a huge fan of the “Call of Duty” series from the start, I’ve had and played them all bar “World at War” which I thought was absolutely pony after a small stint round a mates house. Am I glad it didn’t put me off buying future instalments? HELL BLOODY YES! On loading campaign mode you are greeted at an awe inspired, intense intro before being thrown straight into…..a tutorial? God I was gutted, after such an intro I wanted to be thrown straight into battle, bullets flying over my sweat covered forehead, digging in and helping the cause like a true soldier! To be far to the game though not only is the tutorial very short but it’s also integrated very well into the game as you are demoing to new recruits some of the basics on the battlefield.

It is also important to note that at this point in the game you realise just how great the game looks. “Modern Warfare 2” is easily the best looking game of the “Call of Duty” franchise so far. Everything is crisp and full of detail. This early on you also notice the incredible voice acting that has gone into the game. Each line is delivered with the utmost vigour without sounding absolutely pap, in fact they do quite the opposite and help to immense yourself within the tension filled world in the game.

Anyway that’s the boring bits out of the way so what’s the actual game like you ask? Well after playing the first mission you would be forgiven for thinking “not much”. It’s the same great game play the “Call of Duty” games have always had as you’re finally thrown straight into battle. However there are a few little changes, the tension and adrenaline-O-meters have been cranked up to full, you will have never felt so scared for your life in any game before and it is absolutely brilliant. Like “Saving Private Ryan” with the bollocks of the bull (now there is something I’d love to see written on the front of the box) the game is such a fun, frenzied mess. Also the transition between stages has been pulled off seamlessly, you go from on foot, to in a tank, to on foot again perfectly, the controls are perfect and so easy to pick up that the whole motion seems utterly fluid which is an achievement in itself because its shocking how many games don’t pull this off well enough.

And on to my next point which funnily I came to when playing the next mission (my favourite of them all in fact) which is the mission I’m sure you’ve all seen (it’s the one they showed at E3 ya’ know? The snow one?). God this mission is awesome, in fact probably the best mission in a shooter I’ve ever played. It’s so much fun, again the transitions are seamless from climbing up a breath taking cliff, to sneaking around stealthily, to motoring down hills whilst being chased on a snow mobile, it’s just perfect. However that’s not the point I came to, you see half way through playing the mission it hit me that the level design in “Modern Warfare 2” is just incredible (and thankfully the trend continues throughout). Everything is mapped out perfectly, it’s just…”right” anyway to spare this article from turning into a giant “jizzfest” I’ll just sum it up and say play the mission for yourself…it’s simply awesome.

Snowmobile chases FTW!

And now for the reason your probably all here. I really thought about leaving this bit out of the article but since every man and his bloody dog as an opinion on the controversial, “nasty” mission in the game that it would be impossible not to mention it so if you don’t want to hear a bit of a rant about it then just skip a paragraph or two.

Anyway lets get serious for a minute, we know what I’m talking about, it’s the mission where you play undercover as a terrorist and shoot up an airport, killing innocent civilians. Yes it’s bad, in fact very bad but I’m someone who has a very indifferent opinion on it. You see my issue isn’t with the actual mission itself, although I can see why some people are offended it’s ugly, it’s provocative and it’s not very nice at all. However it’s an 18 rated game about modern warfare and unfortunately in the world things like this happen (which is partly why it is so controversial). That is no way of me saying it’s good or nice but I do believe it is justified. With games becoming more and more complex and advanced, we are becoming more and more immersed and emotionally attached to games and one would argue that bad emotions must also be explored as well as the good ones and that’s exactly what this mission does. Yes it’s slightly distasteful but anyone who truly believes this part of the game glorifies and inspires people to go and shoot up an airport are absolute idiots, yes I sound harsh but it’s true. In fact it does the exact opposite, it’s simply sickening to watch and shows the complete horror of events like this that DO take place and I would argue that anyone who uses this part of the game as an excuse to go and commit something so horrific was already mentally gone in the first place.

The issue I do have however is the very option to simply not play this mission which in my opinion ruins the credibility of actually having the mission in the game. If the mission can be completely cut out of the game without effecting the story then why actually put it in? I think if the mission was built up to and far better integrated into the story there would be a much stronger case for keeping the mission in the game. Anyway on with the review I suppose but if you’d like to argue or debate with me on this very subject feel free to comment on this article (yes I do read them) or drop me an email at crofterz@newbreview.com and I will definitely reply.

The next mission is where I’ll actually end this review as it pretty much sums up the rest of the game for me. It takes a massive difficulty boost as you are hopelessly dodging bullets from everywhere in a Brazilian Favela, which again is an attest to the great level design throughout but does get annoying as you die over and over again, even on the easier difficulties. However it’s at this point that I seemingly wake up and realise that the game just isn’t as good as I thought it was. Yes it’s the same great gameplay from the previous Call of Duty with better graphics, brilliant voice acting and incredible level design but the campaign mode still doesn’t hold a candle to the one in “Modern Warfare 1” (I guess we’re calling it that now right?). The whole point of the “Call of Duty” games for me was all about the army orientation, you were a soldier, helping out on the front lines of battle. Whereas “Modern Warfare 2” plays out far more like a “James Bond” film. It’s very cinematic and has you going around as this one man army, single handedly stopping the world breaking out into a world war and for me it’s just not right. There’s less people and things to become emotional attached to (bar the airport mission which I shall not dwindle on any longer) and the story also adds to this. The story is barely there, well…it is but it’s so uninteresting that you really just don’t follow it. Our very own Alan Parish said it best or words to this effect “it’s just gun porn”. “Modern Warfare 1” had a brilliant story which you became emotional involved with and that is why the ending was as powerful and as moving as it was. “Modern Warfare 2”on the other hand has a story you couldn’t give a toss about and you find yourself only playing through to see that achievement unlocked sign come up at the end.

And don’t even try it on Veteran difficulty, I have and it’s totally for sadists and perverts! Anyone who finds pleasure in playing a game on a difficulty is virtually unplayable in my opinion is a moron, it wouldn’t be so bad if they introduced online co op (doesn’t have to be 4 player, 2 would suffice) when playing through the campaign on Veteran which it has been crying out for since the first “Call of Duty” game, I mean if the “Halo” games can have it why can’t the “Call of Duty” games?

Anyway I told you there was a lot to talk about and there still is (be sure to read part 2, coming very soon to find my opinions on the multiplayer aspect of the game and what rating I’d give the game overall). But summarise, campaign is intense, frenzied and beautiful looking. A lot more fluid than previous instalments and has some of the best level design you’ll ever see in a game but for a campaign mode it just doesn’t have the story to warrant it being anything other than….well…good.

Tags: Activision, Call of Duty, crofterz, First Person Shooter, Modern Warfare 2, Review, XBox 360

Leave a Reply