Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) - Review

Developer Infinity Ward created a runaway smash hit in 2007 with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and now they're back to recapture that spark. Modern Warfare 2 picks up the plot from the first game and presents another action packed FPS, again with an extensive online multiplayer mode and introducing a new co-op mode, Spec-Ops. While MW2 feels a little too much like the previous game, this is still a quality first person shooter with a lot to offer.

The game has three main modes of gameplay: campaign, spec-ops, and multiplayer. Campaign is, naturally, the single player mode that pushes the game's story. Like its predecessor, MW2 places a huge emphasis upon creating realistic and intense story elements that capture a dark and chaotic battlefield, and to that extent it succeeds. However, a large part of the campaign feels a little too similar to the original Modern Warfare; many levels are structured similarly, and several cutscenes are highly reminiscent of the first game. That doesn't stop MW2 from being an extremely intense and dark experience, though. There are some disturbing scenes that truly emphasize the destruction that warfare breeds, it just feels a little derivative after CoD4. The story itself is also significantly more scattered and awkward than the first game--several plot points don't make a lot of sense when you watch them the first time--especially because the game has a ton of plot twists, giving character motivations less force. The plot comes across as a bit of a mess, jumping erratically between scenes and ideas. Finally, the game ends on a cliffhanger--not a substantial one, but it shamelessly leaves open the possibility of a sequel. At only five hours long, the campaign is fun, but not the best feature that MW2 has to offer.



Spec-ops is a new feature with a great concept: it focuses upon two player co-operative gameplay, turning you and a partner into an army of two as you tackle a variety of missions, ranging from taking down a set number of enemies to reaching a checkpoint on the map. For either local or online co-op, the missions are a lot of fun and require a lot of co-ordination and support from both players. While you can play some of the missions solo, most are very challenging with only one player, and are best played with a friend. The artificial intelligence knows enough to flank you or toss grenades when you're hiding behind a corner, so you'll encounter some impressive challenges in open environments. If you don't want to blow each other apart or are looking for quick rounds of playing, spec-ops gives you bite-sized pieces of MW2's campaign.

Like many FPS games, the big draw of MW2 is the multiplayer. Connecting online is a breeze, and it's no trouble jumping right into any game with a variety of rules. Unfortunately, it is extremely tedious when you begin, because stronger guns, perks, and abilities are unlocked as you play. When you start, you have few options, and will have to build yourself up and earn a higher rank to gain access to better equipment. Because there's no beginner's room, it can be quite frustrating when you begin and do not know the game as well as people who are sporting high ranks with the best weapons. The game keeps track of how much progress you've made as far as your rank is concerned, so it's easy to see just how extensive the multiplayer is. When you do reach higher ranks, though, you'll be able to customize your own perfect set of guns, perks, and kill streaks. Since you can change your class mid-game, this opens you up to a lot of different strategies as you play, depending on your opponents, the map, etc. It's highly satisfying to form your own class then level up with those guns and perks, and the higher rank you achieve, the more options are available, which allows you to constantly alter and perfect your combat set. Of course, since you are playing online, there are inevitably going to be annoying players who use cheap tactics. Thankfully, the online community is large enough that you can easily leave a game and reenter a new one quickly, so there isn't too much time wasted in the lobby.



Unfortunately, you cannot carry over your rank from online multiplayer to local multiplayer, so playing split-screen tends to level the field as far as fancy guns and perks are concerned. Gradually you can unlock the same perks and weapons as the online mulitplayer, though, so split-screen games have the same variety and options as the online action. If you can wrangle three friends together for local multiplayer, it's a blast, and contributes even further to the extensive replay value of the game. The controls are fairly complicated, but they're easy to master after a little practice. While you are able to customize some aspects such as inverted look or switching some buttons, these changes are pre-programed, so you cannot completely create your own set of controls.

MW2 features a number of other upgrades from the first game, such as dual-wielding weapons, new weapon attachments, and customizing your kill streak rewards in multiplayer, such as earning radar or an attack helicopter. While these additions contribute to both the complexity and longevity of the game, few of these new items significantly alter the way the game is played. While you are given a different strategic approach with some of these features, most of them are small, optional adjustments.



Like its predecessor, MW2 boasts some impressive visuals, with environments packed with debris and rubble. Some of the destruction scenes are especially shocking to see, and the whole presentation reinforces the chaotic battlefield that you're in. MW2 seems to pride itself on the little details, whether it's a reflection in your gun's scope or wisps of cinders floating through the air of a burning building. The voice work is great as well; the voice actors do a good job of creating distinctive personalities, even though their actual character development is wanting. Since many sections of the game are filled with battlefield screaming or stealth silence, the rest of the game's soundtrack is fairly sparse and unmemorable.

Once again Infinity Ward has created a frantic and intense first person shooter with a decent single player and robust online multiplayer options. In many ways this feels like more of the same from the first Modern Warfare--though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Modern Warfare 2 continues a lot of the great elements from its predecessor, and while it fails to significantly innovate or change the formula, FPS fans have another entertaining and addicting game.

9/10