Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Part 2)
Game: Modern Warfare 2
Format: 360
Developer: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Well hello there readers! And welcome to the second and final part of my “Modern Warfare 2” 
LOL ROFL LMAO etc. etc. In this part I shall tackle the multiplayer side of the game, both the new “Spec Ops” mode and the traditional online multiplayer modes. BUT! Before we take that deep plunge let me first recap on the first part (which if you haven’t read you, should do so here: http://tiny.cc/eN9Zs) for those of you naughty naughties that haven’t read it.
To summarise, part one was all about the campaign mode, which is solid and for the first few missions, simply awesome. Full of tension and adrenaline, the first hour or two is just incredible however after that you wake up and realise it isn’t anything other than good. Story isn’t as good as the first “Modern Warfare” and you can’t just get emotionally attached to any of the characters. However level design is possibly the best I’ve ever seen, it looks and sounds better than any “Call of Duty” game and like I said, it’s solid and good just nothing mind blowing which is what I had hoped for. Oh and I also mentioned the controversial airport mission but let’s not get into that.
No in fact let’s dive right into a brand new addition to the “Call of Duty” game modes called “Spec Ops”. “Spec Ops” is brand new to “Modern Warfare 2” and to be honest, couldn’t really work in any of the previous instalments because the level design on those games are nowhere near as good or diverse enough. “Spec Ops” for those of you that don’t know (and I’m going to assume a lot of you although everyone in the world and “the dead” seem to have gone and picked up a copy) is……hard to describe? No, essentially it’s a challenge mode which is comprised of levels that appear in the campaign. Sounds boring? Well it isn’t actually, to my surprise is rather bloody good. I mean don’t get me wrong, this mode is made for online co op. Playing on your own is nowhere near as fun or rewarding but wow, what a good addition to the game. And funnily enough is a great way of helping to build good communication and team work with another player which you can then carry over onto the other side of the multiplayer in team deathmatch etc.
OK let me explain further so for example you start off with quite easy challenges such as running “The Pit” tutorial in a certain amount of time but the challenges then build up in difficulty slowly. With each challenge you can gain a series of stars, one, two or the maximum of three which are also tied to the “Spec Op” achievements giving you great incentive to go back and replay challenges to get more stars. How does the star rating work? Well usually its dependant on the difficulty which you play (although not totally true, “The Pit” and the annoyingly frustrating snow mobile race use a time based system), for doing a challenge in “veteran” you get three 3 stars and so on.
You have no idea the pain I suffered trying to get 3 stars on the snowmobile race challenge...thanks a lot Infinity Ward
And now comes the point where I will eat my hat because in part one (which you can view here: http://tiny.cc/eN9Zs) I had said that whoever plays the game on “veteran” is nothing but a idiot and a pervert, well I’m afraid to say I’ve joined you 
You see “Spec Ops” is a brilliant way of getting to grips with the “veteran” difficulty. Not only are the challenges simple and short but you also have help in the form of a co op friend meaning that getting three stars on each challenge is actually achievable which then gives you the confidence to go back and play through the campaign again on “veteran”.
And the level of diversity and depth in the different challenges is just brilliant. From fighting through the Brazilian Favales in an attempt to disarm three bombs that have been scattered throughout the small map in a certain amount of time to sneaking past guards in a snowy wood to get from one area to another, the level design from the campaign as carried through into “Spec Ops” in spectacular fashion and disproves any cynics that think that the mode has just been tagged on because the campaign is very short. No, you can tell that this mode has been cleverly thought out and polished and I’ve got to say kudos to developers Infinity Ward because “Spec Ops” is just brilliant.
And now onto the real reason we all bought “Modern Warfare 2”, I mean I wouldn’t be stupid in saying the online multiplayer is the reason a lot of people have bought it right? I mean lets face it when it comes to “Call of Duty” games the campaign always comes second to the online multiplayer, well for me anyway and boy oh boy! have they nailed it this time.
Don’t get me wrong, the multiplayer in “Modern Warfare 1” was brilliant but my god have Infinity Ward delivered this time. They have created a multiplayer which is so good it actually knocks my beloved “Gears of War 2” multiplayer off my top spot which for me is an incredibly hard thing to say, but it really has. To sum it would be, it’s like the multiplayer in “Modern Warfare 1” with tons and tons of stuff that work and a few things that don’t.
So just to break it up a bit since this review so far as been stuck so deep up Infinity Ward’s ass I can almost taste what they’ve had for lunch, lets focus on the things that don’t work. First of all for f*cksake they need to bring back “Xbox Live” party chat to all multiplayer modes. That’s not me asking for it, it’s a damn order. You see “Modern Warfare 2” boasts a huge list of multiplayer matches ranging from your typical team deathmatch and capture the flag to new third person view stuff (which I’ll get onto in a second), however in a lot these multiplayer matches you are now no longer allowed to communicate to your friends via “Xbox Live” party chat which means unfortunately you’re confined to in game chat, which in turns leads you to communicate with some of the most moronic lifeforms known to man. I can understand why such thing has been implemented, with the addition of titles and emblems (again more on this in a few minutes) it’s clear that they’ve wanted to create more of a community vibe within the multiplayer experience and by making you talk in in game chat it has worked somewhat well. But why not the option? Sometimes I feel like talking to complete d*ckheads and sometimes I just want to play whilst having a bit of banter with my friends, I shouldn’t have to be forced into conversing with people who either a) are far too young to own a copy of the game and thus are extremely immature, b) racist, homophobic or stupid, c) American or d) all of thee above. It’s my game, I paid for it and I’ll talk to whoever I like thank you very much! At least they could’ve made in game chat only and “Xbox Live” party enabled versions of stuff like team death match so we at least had a choice, Infinity Ward…SORT IT OUT!
Another thing and funnily enough the only other thing that I can see that doesn’t work is third person multiplayer modes. When I first read about the inclusion of such modes I immediately thought “WTF?” and still now after experiencing the modes myself I’m still left thinking “WTF?”. It makes all attachments to guns redundant, it’s harder to see enemies and actually aim! A shooting gun where it’s hard to aim?! I don’t think so, no reason why it’s been included, doesn’t work, give it a miss.
Right now for what it’s done right, I’ll briefly go over this because you could be here days reading what I have to say, just go out there and play it. It’s the same frantic multiplayer as “Modern Warfare 1” except honed and perfected. The addition of extra experience for things like avenging a team mates death, getting revenge on a person who killed you or even breaking your death streak (getting killed over 3 times in a row then killing someone else), the addition of these quirky little extra experience bonus’s plus more challenges for all guns, perks and well, everything means experience is easily earned and now the idea of prestige has now become appealing because experience is so easily gained. The death streak idea is a great one, now you have a perk that is activated when you die enough times which helps encourage people to play even if they are total void of skill. The addition of titles and emblems (nicked straight from “Street Fighter 4”) is totally unoriginal yet still doesn’t feel out of place and is another great way of rewarding people for the hard work and hours they put in. I could go on and on, seriously…if for some reason you haven’t already got a copy, get one just to play the multiplayer because it’s probably the best multiplayer experience you’ll have and I’ll see you on the battlefield 
The same great "Modern Warfare" multiplayer, now with 50% MORE AWESOMENESS
Review Round Up
Graphics: 5/5 – Can’t fault the graphics, really does look superb. Best looking COD game yet.
Sound: 5/5 – Music is brilliantly used, really helps create the adrenaline rushes as well as some brilliant voice acting.
Gameplay: 5/5 – Same great COD mechanics, 3rd person multiplayer modes seem like they don’t belong but other than that it’s great.
Longevity: 5/5 – Campaign is very short, however it’ll keep you going back over at least once to do it on “veteran”. The brilliant addition of “Spec Ops” and the online multiplayer add extra hours and hours to the game. Plus you’re guaranteed to see a few map packs get released as DLC too.
Overall: 5/5 – Overall I give “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”, 5 n00btubes (if you don’t know what they are, google them) out of 5. Finally a game that lives up to the hype that’s been created for it.
[starreview tpl=16]
My only goal in life now, is to get the tactical nuke.