The most anticipated game of the year is finally here, and holy crap does it not disappoint. If you are a fan of FPSs, this is a game that you will not want to put down for weeks.
WHAT YOU’LL LIKE:
Outstanding Campaign
From minute one, the campaign of this game plays like an action movie. There are several points during the gameplay when it was so frenetic and intense that I thought it was probably pretty similar to what being in the military is actually like. There is hardly ever a dull moment to be found. The story, while maybe a little far-fetched, is captivating, and, like a good book, you may have to go through it again to get all of the little nuances. The ending absolutely blew me away, and the minute I finished it, I went back and started again from the beginning.
Amazing Audio/Visual Effects
The graphics in this game are absolutely amazing. The environments are meticulously constructed, and so is the character design. Every single one of the characters, especially Ghost and McTavish, are just so awesome-looking. I would imagine that every single one of the firearm sound effects is an actual recording of every single one of the guns in the game, not standard firing sounds, which just adds to its authenticity. The musical score is composed by the great Hans Zimmer, composer of movies including Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean and Batman Begins, so basically it’s really good. Every single one of the voice actors does an outstanding job and really gives personality to the characters.
The favela is just one of the amazingly designed levels to work through.
Unmatched Multiplayer
I am of the opinion that Modern Warfare 2 has set the bar for online FPS multiplayers. Everything that made the first game’s multiplayer so great is still present, and several new features have been added that improve it even further. Rather than the standard streak rewards of three kills to UAV, five to airstrike, seven to chopper, there are now a whole variety of streak rewards that can be unlocked and selected by the player. Some of the new ones include seven kills to Harrier strike, ten kills to AC-130 gunship strike and ten kills to chopper gunner. Chopper gunner is possibly the most advantageous reward, since it puts you at the controls of a Pave Low heavy armor helicopter and actually puts you in control of the targeting. There are a ton of new guns and attachments to choose from, which really allows you to customize your weapons. There is also a new Spec Ops mode that allows you to host co-op campaigns as well. Overall, the multiplayer is really what gives this game it’s value, and I don’t foresee getting bored with it any time in the near future.
WHAT YOU WON’T LIKE:
Intense Violence
There are several points during this game where the faint of heart may want to put it down. This game is very in-your-face and presents some situations that may make some people uncomfortable. I’m not just talking blood and gore, I mean walking into a crowded airport with a machine gun and killing every innocent person you see. I wasn’t bothered by any of it, but this is definitely not something to get for your kids. This game has definitely earned its Mature rating, and it should be respected. There is an option at the beginning of the campaign that asks you whether or not you want to include things that you may find offensive, which is a nice alternative if your squeamish.
Game Length
The only complaint that I have about the campaign is that there is not enough of it. The experienced FPS player will get through this game in about six to seven hours, which definitely left me wanting more. I’d like to see Infinity Ward put a little more effort into campaign length for the next installment, which there most certainly will be.
The online multiplayer only has minor downfalls.
Minor Multiplayer Problems
There are a couple of minor glitches or annoyances that have come up during the multiplayer, the first of which is spawn location. On more than one occasion, I have been respawned directly next to where I just died, and then get immediately killed again by the same person. It’s really annoying, and I am certainly tired of hearing my clanmates gripe about it. On top of that, occasionally the game will spawn enemies directly behind you and you get knifed by someone that wasn’t there a second ago. Fortunately, these are issues that can probably be easily fixed with a patch and do not ruin the experience.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you have ever enjoyed a first person shooter, go buy this game right now. The great multiplayer gives this game fantastic bang for its buck and makes it worth every penny. The campaign feels more like a big budget movie than a video game and it remains interesting through more than one play-through. I absolutely love this game and will be playing it for weeks to come.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I’ve got 26 hours into it and zero Achievement points. I keep seeing this “campaign” thing on the way to multiplayer, but I can’t be bothered with it…
November 19th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Thanks! I can’t wait to play it!
November 19th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Hell ya! The whole spawn and re-kill thing sort of feels like karmic video game AI vengeance.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:15 am
For some reason,read: lack of money ATM, I haven’t gotten this game, unlike EVERYONE on my friends list.
I hate hate hate it!
Also, as far as the violence goes, I honestly don’t see why it’s such a big deal. In the Grand Theft Auto series you can do far worse throughout the entire game, not just small scenes. Running over old people, sniping people, burning people alive.
I guess because it says Call of Duty it’s supposed to be a ‘wholesome’ story about war, if there is such a thing.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:44 am
I’m not sure what the big deal was either, I just remember reading about five articles about the controversy before the game came out. It’s not like you’re killing children or anything.