Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Infinity Ward
As one of the most anticipated games of 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 needs little introduction, and suffice to say, it lives up to every bit of the hype it generated.
MW2’s developer Infinity Ward has done a spectacular job in sticking to the formula that has made the Call of Duty franchise successful, while at the same time innovating the game to offer something entirely new to veteran players.
The single player offers more of the same white-knuckle, awe-inspiring action that we’ve come to expect. The playing environments are gorgeously detailed, and take players from Arctic military bases to the slums of Brazil.
Clearly drawing on a gamut of successful action films, this is as close as you can come to playing a Michael Bay film — the plot may be a little dumb, but hot damn do those explosions ever look good.
Although the single player campaign may be a little short (many players report beating it in around six hours), supplementing this fact is the addition of Special Ops missions.
Playing either by yourself or a friend, these mini missions offer specific objectives to accomplish, ranging from holding off waves of enemy troops with sniper rifles to rushing through city streets blasting holes in enemies. This is an area where Infinity Ward stated they would offer downloadable content in the future.
So yeah, the single player is cool and stuff but at the end of the day, the most important aspect of the game to many people is the multiplayer, and it too sticks to what made the first game awesome, while offering a completely new, and cripplingly addictive experience.
The depth of strategy in this incarnation is absurd, and enough to keep players coming back to try new combinations and styles of play.
Words cannot describe the feeling one has while sprinting across a rooftop with a bulletproof riot shield, only to leap and bash an enemy to death with it.
The multiplayer levels are intricately designed, and force players to move strategically if they hope to be successful. More enterable buildings and ladders means enemies can lurk in many more places, and that death can (and in all likelihood, will) come from every direction.
New weapons, equipment and perks – strategic advantages that players can outfit their character with – will make players happy as will the new ability to modify kill streak rewards.
When a player goes on a killing rampage, they are rewarded for the number of kills they get before dying. These rewards range from radar scanning to a stealth bomber flying in to carpet bomb the enemy.
The balance in this game is close to perfect, but if you aren’t committed to learning the subtle nuances of play, be prepared to die a lot. This game is way too fun and addictive to not take seriously.
So, if you’re only looking for a wickedly entertaining single-player experience, rent this game. But for everyone else, buy this game. Shun work, school and sex to play it. You’ll have no regrets.