Reviews

I love it when you Call...

Two years ago, one of gaming's most successful franchises took an unexpected turn. Call of Duty was always set against World War II, so when Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (AKA CoD4), was announced, many had doubts. But that was two years ago, and since then CoD4 has become one of the most played titles of this generation; has won countless awards; and it's about to be succeeded by Modern Warfare 2.

Infinity Ward have had a massive challenge to ensure that Modern Warfare 2 goes above and beyond what fans are expecting. With each teaser trailer and small nugget of information released the hype behind Modern Warfare 2 has increased. This is definitely the most anticipated game of 2009. But is the wait worth it? Has Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 really gone above and beyond the successful CoD4?

Two Sides To Every Story

Modern Warfare 2 picks up 5 years after the events of the original, as explained in the opening credits. Zakhaev, the dead villain of the first game is being praised as the hero of New Russia. His right hand man Marakov has taken his place and is just as if not more dangerous than his predecessor. Like CoD4, you will play as multiple characters through Modern Warfare 2's campaign, so you'll see the same story from different viewpoints.

Modern Warfare 2 opens with the traditional training level. Veterans to the CoD franchise will know it well. The controls haven't changed since CoD4, so you'll feel right at home when you get started. The training course is on an Army base, were you'll get to see how much detail Infinity Ward has put into in MW2. Off-duty soldiers shooting hoops, some mending a Humvee with rap music in the background and some just milling about talking. The atmosphere is pretty laid back, until you step out of the training facility.

When you do, you'll discover that the combat in Modern Warfare 2 is outstanding. Clever level design means that running and gunning will not ensure victory in all cases; you will need to determine the best cause of action to complete your mission. Throughout Modern Warfare 2 you'll face the enemy in close quarters and long range combat; sometimes the two styles will even cross over in one level meaning a change in tactics will be needed.

Most of the combat is explosive and action-packed, but occasionally this will slow down slightly. The slower missions tend to be about stealth, be it infiltrating a mountain top base or getting access to a submarine pen. One thing to bear in mind is that these missions, although slow to start, usually end in a big bang. So be prepared for hell to break loose at any time!

There is one level in particular that may cause some distress to some gamers out there. Thankfully Infinity Ward do make you aware of this level at the beginning of the game, and (should you choose to keep the warning active) just before the level starts. If you do choose to skip this level it won't have any effect on your completion percentage or trophies and achievements.

Visually, Modern Warfare 2 does look good. The detail is amazing. In a slum district the streets are littered with papers and other assorted rubbish that blow about in the wind. Soldiers are highly detailed right down to the patches on their clothes. The guns in MW2 have also been given refresh too. Some old favourites return along with all-new weapons for all looking as good as the next. There are a few weapons that you can dual wield, but you will need to pick up the pair of weapons to do this.

Life Eating!

In addition to the single player there is Spec Ops and, of course, Multiplayer. Spec Ops is new for CoD: MW2. In this mode you and a friend (split screen or online) can tackle a variety of different mission types such as Elimination, Wave Defence, Assault and Stealth. These modes can be challenging on your own or a brilliant laugh with a friend. Multiplayer meanwhile will be familiar to CoD fans, and will almost literally eat your life with even more modes than before.

Have Infinity Ward done the impossible and gone above the bar that CoD 4 raised so high? In short, yes. The story, although short, packs more drama and will keep you glued to the pad till you reach the stunning conclusion. The multiplayer will keep us gamers running and gunning for a long time as CoD4 did. And to top it all off, it looks stunning, with genuinely amazing levels of detail.

So what are you waiting for, soldier? Get out there now!

GAME's Verdict

The Good:

• Multiplayer has been improved
• Campaign is gripping
• New Special Ops mode

The Bad:

• The campaign mode is too short.
• Some of the Spec Ops levels are brutally tough
• When will DLC be available?