Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Review
A Masterpiece
by Chris Davis
reviewed on X360
Fighting the Good Fight
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare redefined how a shooter can stand the test of time back when it was released in 2007. While the last entry in the series concluded the Second World War, it obviously did not continue in the footsteps of its predecessor except for in the multiplayer department. Fans would have to wait another two years before a proper sequel to Infinity Ward’s money-printing title would be released and, when it was formally shown for the first time at E3 2009, people flipped out. There is no doubt in the minds of every video game analyst that Modern Warfare 2 will be the biggest selling game of the year if not of the past ten years, but sales numbers do not automatically reflect quality. That, dear readers, is for you and I to decide.
Roger Vulture 14, solid copy all
Modern Warfare 2 begins five years after the events of the original. Things haven’t gone well for the world since the death of Imran Zakhaev. In the months following his death, his former associate Vladamir Makarov seized control of the Russian Ultranationalist Party and has labeled Zakhaev a martyr of the “New Russia.” The Ultranationalists now have a controlling interest of the country while the United States and Great Britain can only watch and (covertly) attempt to change the course of precipitating events.
In the wake of the Ultranationalist surge a new generation of terrorism has arisen throughout the world. To combat this threat the United States and Great Britain form Task Force 141, an elite contingent of hand-picked troops from over a dozen countries. The remaining members of the joint operations group that headed up the attack on Zakhaev’s missile base in the first game take up positions as leaders in TF141 with none other than Captain “Soap” MacTavish, the player’s controlled character from Call of Duty 4, leading your squad into battle. The player controls several different soldiers throughout the course of the game, though for the majority of the combat you play as Sgt. Gary “Roach” Sanderson assigned to MacTavish’s squad.
The story itself clocks in at roughly seven hours or so for an experienced player which is comparable to the length of the first game. The levels in the game are significantly shorter than before but the number of missions has been increased to 18. The story does include a significant cliffhanger which guarantees a Modern Warfare 3 (duh) but it doesn’t pull a Halo 2 at the end and leaves you (almost) satisfied.
Remember, no Russian
The story of the game takes a significant turn early on when Makarov leads a strike against a Russian airport filled with thousands of civilians. This is the controversial level that has plagued the internet for months now depicting mass murder on a scale that hasn’t really been seen in a shooter before. Though the level of violence is incredibly realistic in its brutality, the end result is one that can change the perspective of the player and deliver an emotional experience that is second to none when it comes to video games. The level can be skipped through at no penalty to the player but for those who wish to see the story all the way through it is a vital event to witness. It should be noted that, if you choose to play through the level, you will be forced to fight as there is almost no way to get through the entire level without killing anyone. Should you get too far from Makarov you will be labeled a coward and are shot on site by him and his men. Damned if you play it but damned if you don’t.
10
fun score
Pros
Best shooter on the market; hands down
Cons
Almost TOO good...
