User Review : Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Ups

• Better story with better characters{Great locations and even more exhilerating moments than the original{New killstreaks are great and can be designed to suit most play styles

Downs

• Multiplayer is a mess, exploit after expoit is discovered and then fixed{Co-op is poorly implemented and is very limiting{Has gone from an strategic game to an arcade shooter

Don't trade in Call of Duty 4 just yet

It would be an understatement to say that Modern Warfare 2 (MW2) was one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. With Call of Duty 4 (COD4) being one of the most critically acclaimed games of this console generation and with COD4 being a permanent fixture as one of the top Xbox Live games since it came out, the hype train was in high gear leading up to MW2’s release. Unfortunately this sequel could not live up to the expectations that its predecessor left us with.

Modern Warfare 2’s story is in a similar format to COD4’s. You play as a couple of different soldiers with the focus of the story being on the S.A.S. Similar to COD4, you are hunting a terrorist which will lead you to multiple locations including some very eye opening engagements in the United States. I don’t want to spoil any moments but let me suffice it to say that MW2’s story is more engaging than COD4’s was and has some great twists along the way.

Probably my favorite thing about MW2 is the way in which I wasn’t let down during the entire experience. With expectations so high it is often challenging to impress the audience with those “holy sh!t” moments. Infinity Ward through out all the stops and there were plenty of great moments throughout MW2’s campaign. When you get into the online elements of MW2 all you really need to know is that it is basically COD4 on steroids. What I mean by this is more guns, more kill streaks, more customization and Infinity Ward through in some co-op to top it all off. The new kill streaks are cool and they definitely add some more customization to the gameplay.

While playing MW2 online I felt that everything added, although intended to enhance the experience severely unbalanced the game. New weapons and perks are great but not when they so obviously hinder the overall experience. Unless you live under a rock you are well aware of the issues that MW2 has been plagued with. It seems that every time Infinity Ward fixes something a new exploit is discovered. From akimbo shotguns, to Javelin glitches to care package exploits, etc. etc. Modern Warfare 2 feels as though it would have benefited from an extensive open beta. Even the co-op wasn’t fully thought out. If you don’t have any friends online willing to play co-op well then you’re just out of luck.

In general I feel that MW2 was a step back for the series. What should have been a great sequel has turned into a huge mess. I wouldn’t say this game feels rushed but I definitely believe that it would have benefited from some more testing. If you are a big COD4 fan then you may just want to stick with that, but if you are feeling adventurous then MW2 does have some things to offer. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t end up putting in the amount of hours you did with COD4.

Score

9.7

Graphics

If you liked COD4 you will feel right at home.

9.8

Sound

Frame rates are always solid and the visuals will at times blow your mind.

9.4

Gameplay

Voice overs are done very well and the sound effects are great but the score is forgettable.

8.6

Fun Factor

As long as you remain in single player or co-op the game is a lot of fun. Venturing online is a crap shoot.

7.8

Online

This is a hard score to give but there are just too many annoying glitches, too many cheaters and too much explotation.

Overall

8.2