Modern Warfare 2 Review

The hype surrounding Modern Warfare 2 was beyond ludicrous. Infinity Ward has a track record of improving on their previous efforts, but it would seem as if they let the success of the original Modern Warfare get to their heads. While the game is by no means terrible, some very poor design decisions really fracture what could have been an otherwise amazing sequel.

The Game is broken down into three parts: Campaign, Co-op, and Multiplayer. A nifty percentage is given for each, which will surely satisfy completionists. Along with trophies, Modern Warfare 2 gives the impression it has a lot of content. Well, to a point it does, but the appeal doesn’t last as long as you would think.

Call of Duty 4 really traversed into new territory with its online experience. Multiplayer became the focal point of the series, and the campaigns started to suffer. The campaign in MW2 followed suit with a mere five hour story. Luckily, it’s worth multiple playthroughs.

You take control of Sergeant Gary “Roach” Sanderson with one primary mission: eliminate Vladimir Makarov and his men. From the onset, it’s clear that the story was left on the back burner, and a preposterous twist midway proves that the plot mechanics weren’t thoroughly thought out.

After a brief tutorial mission, you set out across a variety of levels that put the game’s gorgeous graphic engine to good use. Whether you are hanging off the edge of a cliff during a blizzard, high tailing baddies in a riveting boat chase, or charging the White House, the set pieces never cease to impress.

The controls are just as fluid as any other Call of Duty title, although the lack of a cover system is a bit of a letdown after playing Killzone 2, and a number of the weapons are too much alike.

When you get down to it, the campaign is short and sweet. The level design is great for what it’s worth, the voice-overs are well done, and the score by Hans Zimmer is exceptional. It’s just a shame it all ends so fast.

Sadly, that isn’t the end of the disappointment. Multiplayer this time around is a flat out mess. The developers decided to go for a more blockbuster approach and used killstreaks that looked cool, over what actually makes sense. On top of that, the weapons and perks are extremely unbalanced, and until you reach some of the higher ranks, dying will feel cheap. Some feel that this is what makes MW2 stand apart from other first person shooters, but there is no denying that it’s up for debate. When you get down to it, the multiplayer will make or break the game for you.

Just when things are looking down, the newly implemented co-op mode literally saves the game from falling off its hinges. There are 23 levels to master, and each one has a different goal. One moment you’ll have to survive waves of enemies while fortifying a burger joint; next, you may be racing downhill on a snowmobile against a friend - all the while dodging trees and gunfire. Obviously these moments are borrowed heavily from the campaign, but with a buddy, everything feels fresh and exciting again.

Unfortunately, this leads to another small, but noticeable problem. There are no leaderboards, and more importantly, no way to pair up with anybody outside of your friends list. Yet again, another flawed design decision.

Modern Warfare 2 is probably not going to sit well with most fans. There is fun to be had, but you’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t feel guilty about buying it. Multiplayer is a risky endeavor, as it could very well ruin the entire experience, and the campaign could easily be finished in one sitting. A rent from your local video store would probably be the safe bet.

B-