Published: Tuesday, 8th December, 2009 9:19am
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
by Steff Parry
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PC, XBox 360 and PS3
I'll save you some time: Yes, it is as good as the first one, you can relax. Although, is it better than 2007's Modern Warfare? That question takes a little longer to answer. Read on, my friend.
Certainly the single player campaign is everything you'd hoped for, a visceral explosion for the senses. Again you will take control of different characters as you battle enemies across the globe. The game imbues a real sense of the dramatic, particularly with the American levels. In this respect, Modern Warfare 2 harnesses the most potent sensations of epic combat- last felt when storming the Reichstag in Call of Duty 5: World at War. Then there is 'that' controversial mission. It is every bit as disturbing as you've heard. Yes, it's just pixels at the end of the day but it is rare that a video game requires you to commit such atrocities. You are given the option to skip this level but let's face it, who will? Debate will no doubt continue as to the validity of this mission.
Next, there is a lot to keep you playing, long after the campaign credits roll. Multiplayer is practically identical (thankfully) to the first outing, save with the addition of new Killstreak rewards and now 'Deathstreaks'. Die a certain number of times without scoring a kill and you'll be given a lifeline to jump start you, plus there are also plenty of new toys to play with. The big new inclusion though is 'Special Ops' mode, a series of challenges to be completed, like micro levels in themselves, for solo/splitscreen and online play. It's not the multiplayer campaign that we were hoping for but it's the next best thing and a welcome addition.
The graphics have improved slightly and, whilst the series was never best in class for this department, the game looks fantastic. Explosions rock the landscape, grenades blind and disorient you, whilst characters are convincing and well animated. Of course, some textures look pretty rough up close but these are small sacrifices to pay for a rock solid frame rate and extra visual candy.
However, the actual game mechanics remain largely unchanged in Modern Warfare 2 and whilst this is mainly a very good thing, it does also mean that the title lacks much in the way of innovation and even seems dated at times. The absence of a cover system feels quite anachronistic at this point and the lack of a blind firing ability limits your engagement tactics at times, especially annoying as your comrades and enemies can do both these things. Furthermore, like Modern Warfare, the blistering campaign here is over all too quickly, with only six hours play for most gamers. You'll want to complete this on at least 'Hardened' difficulty to be worthwhile. Finally, the ending itself, whilst enigmatic, is underwhelming and won't take your breath away like previous efforts have.
But that's really all the criticism I can levy at this excellent title. Infinity Ward has once again pushed the boat out. Not so much in terms of advancing the game mechanics but certainly with regards to player emotion and the overall experience. The title makes a lot of effort to impart a sense of history, of context in time and place. Politics and world affairs are swept over in the story but the real power comes from more subtle moments: the beauty found in fiery embers lighting a woodland scene before the realisation that an exploded tank is producing the flames, or the poignant tableau during the end credits.
Modern Warfare 2 is primarily an adrenaline fuelled, twitch trigger based, first person action shooter but the developers should be applauded for once again providing a deeper experience than that. The lack of genuine innovation is easily overshadowed by the strong sensations of enjoyment and catharsis that the title elicits. It's not better than Modern Warfare but it's every bit as good. Excellent, essential playing.
4.5 stars
Have your say. .
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******
Unregistered User
Dec 11 09 12:35
Comment: 3888
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gwynn
Unregistered User
Dec 13 09 01:17
Comment: 3891
Such attention to detail in your reviews, even though I dont understand some of the wording! YTou really are becoming THE place to get an in-depth understanding of each new release. Keep it coming Steff!
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peter
Unregistered User
Dec 23 09 18:23
Comment: 3893
that game should be banned there is to many nutters running around with guns so get it banned
i wo'nt let my son have the game
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shaun
Unregistered User
Dec 26 09 13:43
Comment: 3894
the game is clearly marked 18 or over, its responsible parenting ot to give it to a child under that age Peter. Having a computer game isn't going to get you a gun license either so your argument to have it banned doesn't hold much water? As for the review its the first of many I hope to read, very informative thank you and keep up the good work!
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digitrunner
Unregistered User
Dec 31 09 16:08
Comment: 3896
Games arent a kid's domain anymore, many adults enjoy video games as well. I personally want to see more adult***les to go with my 400$ canadian ps3 console.
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digitrunner
Unregistered User
Dec 31 09 16:14
Comment: 3897
I cant believe the ****ers that coded this page censored the word **** l e s
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bryson
Unregistered User
Jan 4 10 22:37
Comment: 3898
this game was the best game 3v3r 1 love this game but you guys need to make mw2 for psp please
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narin
Unregistered User
Jan 5 10 09:53
Comment: 3899
I got this for Christmas and don't see myself taking it out of the 360 for some time yet. The single player campaign is good (and *that* level is easily skipped over, so let's not get too het up about it) but for me the game really comes into its own on Live. I haven't had so much fun for ages and even the early grind doesn't feel as depressing as usual.
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Decklin Watson
Unregistered User
Jan 7 10 13:21
Comment: 3901
With regards to the under-18's comment above, it has actually been legal for kids to purchase these games for quite some time, due to a loophole in the Video Classifications Act. Whether the game should be banned or not, or whether it really is irresponsible parenting, doesn't matter; at the moment, your child can acquire games rated for above their age group and the law can't do a thing.
And even without the legal loophole, the majority of parents I know couldn't give a flying f*ck about age ratings for their kids. Balanced with a responsible lifestyle, parents can give their kids pretty much whatever they want, but it's the long-term effects of videogame exposure, which creates an imbalance with other usual childhood activities, routines, and schoolwork, which concerns me more.
And as entirely subjective as this may be, I first watched Total Recall when I was 6 years old, and I've been playing violent, action-based games since the same time. Die Hard Trilogy on the PS1, the God of War series, the list goes on and on. Exposure to mature content at a formative age, as I hope my case proves, does not turn kids into mentally atrophied, basement-dwelling adults, or fuel acts of insane violence against friends and family.
We need only look at the deeper circumstances behind the tragic murder of Stefan Pakeerah to realise how misunderstood adult games are in today's world, and how misinterpreted they become by the news media.
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******
Unregistered User
Jan 11 10 15:38
Comment: 3902
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Gareth W
Unregistered User
Jan 19 10 01:42
Comment: 3906
Above comment: What is this video classifications loophole? I've seen under 18s getting asked for ID for this game at Tesco, Asda and Game and I know no store that will just willingly let under agers buy it... that's why they get their parents or older friends to buy it. Sure they aren't as strict as with alcohol but they still clamp down pretty well.
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M
Unregistered User
Jan 28 10 14:49
Comment: 3909
I have to say I agree with the comment on this game being a step too far. I love gaming an I've played games since the spectrum years. Back then it was obvious it just original fun 'games', not virtual simulations focusing on realism. Playing through Moderm Warfare 2 at times almost felt like it was glorifying the army, the american military recruiters (The Killbot Factory) must love it.
Irresponsible parenting is only one part of kids playing stuff like this, theres much deeper social issues as to why it happens, "just get him it to stop him whining", parents being far too busy with stressful lives to even think about it, using consoles as babysitters, and then those idiotic teenage 'parents' who are too thick themselves to care.
An lets not forget the primary reason why these games get made - MONEY. At the end of the day, in reality companies behind controversial games don't give a damn who gets their games as long as profits are maximised. Rockstar is a primary example, when their controversy hit the newspapers, what was their reaction? Don't make any public statements, wait for it to blow over and keep pumping out the adult sandbox simulations with no rules played predominantly by kids.
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Steff Parry
Unregistered User
Feb 1 10 14:33
Comment: 3911
(writer of the review)
Lots of very valid points here. The 'loophole' referred to is described here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8219438.stm
I quote: "Retailers who sell violent video games and 18-rated DVDs to children cannot be prosecuted because of a legal blunder 25 years ago.
Dozens of prosecutions under a 1984 Act have been dropped because the government of the day failed to notify the European Commission about the law."
Personally I think shops should be challenging on this point but the responsibility ultimately comes down to the parents.
We have to give children some credit though, on the whole they are aware of the mechanics of a video game and more savvy about its artificiality than previous generations, in a way that they still are not about film production.
Whilst video games are interactive and often feature photo realistic graphics, I believe that true 'live action' film footage would potentially have a more vivid effect on a minor.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the BBFC place a heavy emphasis on the psychological effect of the material they classify and research their decisions carefully. We should respect their professional opinion that if a game should not be played by minors, then that should be enforced by society (if not by law).
Of course kneejerk, ill researched reactions help nobody (except for the companies that receive free publicity for the product in question).
The debate goes on...
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hari
Unregistered User
Feb 8 10 07:14
Comment: 3914
hk
hk
hk
hk
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******
Unregistered User
Feb 9 10 06:03
Comment: 3915
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Terror sqaud
Unregistered User
Feb 13 10 13:39
Comment: 3916
This is the best game ever and that level u guys are bching about is by far the best mission in the game.It is only a game isn't it
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bob
Unregistered User
Mar 31 10 08:09
Comment: 3921
peter its only a game ur kid will love it , he wont be a mad killer cause of the game haa !!!
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blair
Unregistered User
Jun 25 10 15:36
Comment: 3924
The game is broken infinity ward were to cocky to release a beta verison for the multiplayer and it is full of glitches. The killstreaks are far to powerful along with the fact u can carry a shotgun as a secondary wepon and rocket launchers as secondary wepons which should be a perk. They also made a mistake of developing the comando perk wich increases melee distance and causes players to teleport 10 feet towards you for an instant kill while your bullets do nothing to harm them, realistic i think not.
Basically in an attempt to make the game as fun as possiable infinity ward have gave players the tools to take the fun out the game. Getting kills is much les satisying than in perviouse game and every player is driven to get a game ending nuke which is very annoying of obective game types such as domination.
On the game banning issue on one can say anything until they back it up with evidence and valid research. The game could be an outlet for angry children who if they didnt play it might actually do somthing stupid so there is no point arguing. However peter please dont uy it for your child there is enough children running around screaming down the mics as it is.
Oh and Black Ops in November !
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