Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person tactical shooter and the sixth entry in the popular Call of Duty series. True to its name and following the lead of its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it places players in modern combat settings, as opposed to the WWII environments of the earlier Call of Duty games. This modern approach brings with it new weapons, action and options. Coupled with a variety of gameplay modes including single player, multiplayer and the co-op Special Ops Mode, it is destined to be one of the most popular games of 2009 and a worthy addition to the Call of Duty series. 
Classic tactical FPS action.
View larger. | 
Customizable multiplayer perk system.
View larger. | 
Diverse in-game environments.
View larger. | 
New weapons and gadgets.
View larger. | Story
The storyline of Modern Warfare 2 picks up where the events of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare left off. The ultranationalist Russian leader Zakhaev has been eliminated, but it seems that his lieutenant, Vladimir Makarov, is an even bigger danger. Having made a successful play for power, Intel indicates that he is extending the reach of his influence well beyond the borders of Mother Russia, causing a stir in the international community and prompting the involvement of Task Force 141. Task Force 141 is an elite multinational unit made up of Navy Seals, Delta Force operatives, British SAS and CIA. In the single player campaign you are Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, with the hero of Call of Duty 4, "Soap" MacTavish, promoted to Captain, making an appearance as an NPC (non-player character) and your commanding officer. The elimination of Makarov and his underlings at any cost is your number one priority, regardless where the fight occurs. Gameplay
The latest release in arguably the most successful tactical first-person shooter franchise of all-time, gameplay in Modern Warfare 2 follows the same winning and time-tested structure of earlier games in the series. In the single player campaign players are aided by AI squad members as they take on a series of missions aimed at eliminating Ultranationalist forces. Each mission is built around a particular objective, with players utilizing some level of guidance from NPC characters, including "Soap" MacTavish, and aided in navigation by the game's heads up display (HUD). Along the way players will be able to utilize a wide variety of weaponry and and vehicles, as well as be able to customize weapons with gadgets attached to them. Also, just as in previous games in the series, Modern Warfare 2 is heavily focused on multiplayer gameplay. The different multiplayer modes, available both in local play and online, contain plenty of customization options and revolve around different strategies ranging from the every man for himself action of "Free-for All," the classic team-based fun of "Capture the Flag and the tactical, team-oriented action of "Search and Destroy," just to name a few. Multiplayer modes also feature the "Perk" System that players may be familiar with from earlier in the franchise. Through this system players gain additional abilities, weapons and benefits as they gain experience in combat. This can be done by leveling up, but another important way way is through "kill streaks," the number of enemies eliminated in succession. These are available beginning with three kills and include the ability to call for supply drops, predator missile strikes, helicopter gunships and many more. Players have the ability to customize in advance which perks will be available at each number and can even gauge their progress towards each at the touch of a button. With an eye towards not making the game too hard for new players the game also features help to players experiencing "death streaks," multiple consecutive deaths in multiplayer matches. Special Ops Co-op Mode
Along with a single player mode and multiple multiplayer modes, Modern Warfare 2 also features an unique third main play option, Special Ops Mode. Available both online and in local play, Special Ops Mode is designed to provide a distinct time-based play option, featuring special scenarios not found in other modes in the game and lots of enemies to take on. This mode can be played either alone or with a friend, again either locally or online, with local co-op play including split-screen functionality. Key Game Features - Challenging Multiplayer Modes – Modern Warfare 2 will contain a wealth of multiplayer modes including: the every man for himself action of "Free-for All," the classic team-based fun of "Capture the Flag and the tactical, team-oriented action of "Search and Destroy."
- Improved AI Enemies – Improved artificial intelligence now allows enemies to attack from virtually any direction as players respawn into the game adding additional challenges.
- An All-new Call of Duty Adventure - Modern Warfare 2 features an all new Call of Duty storyline revolving around the continuing struggles against the Russian rebel group the Ultranationalists, who have found a new and more dangerous leader.
- The 'Special Ops' Optional Co-op Mode – "Special Ops" Mode allows two players, either alone or with a friend, to engage in unique mission play and features split-screen functionality.
- Diverse In-game Environments - Battlegrounds traversed in the game range from the lonely, snow-clad mountains of Kazakhstan, to dark tunnels in the Afghanistan and the crowded slums of Rio.
- Nonstop Action - Modern Warfare 2 contains no cutscenes, so players are always engaged in the action, no matter where they are in the game.
- New Breach Gameplay Mechanic - Players can now blaze their own paths through the game by "Breaching" formerly impregnable obstacles like walls and doors with explosives.
- New Gadgets, Weapons and Weapons System Modern Warfare 2 contains many new and updated weapons, new weapons attachments, as well as a variant of the multiplayer weapons customization system from Call of Duty 4, now available in the single player campaign.
- New Perks and Increased Customization - Multiplayer modes feature new perks for leveling up, and for killstreaks and deathstreaks. Those awarded for streaks can customized in advance according to when they become available.
| | |
 Short Story...An Eternity of Gaming! | | Review Date: November 16, 2009 | | Reviewer: Sky, New York | Just like its most recent predecessors, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: World at War, the campaign portion of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a really fun game with extremely intense battle sequences. The downfall is that it's very very short. So let me start by saying that if you're not set up to, or you just don't intend to, play the online co-op or multiplayer modes, you really want to think twice before paying full price for this game. Single players either need to rent this or wait for an inexpensive used copy to go on sale.
So you get three game options: Special Ops (online isn't necessary, but at least two players are required for some of the missions), Multiplayer (designed to be played online; this is no fun split-screen with a max of 4 players), and the single player Campaign that took me less than 6 hours to finish.
In single player Campaign mode, you're a first person shooter (soldier) on the frontlines, and this time the frontlines aren't limited to overseas territories. Primarily you're playing separate, interlacing missions all over the world as two different characters. The story takes place several years after CoD 4 ended. And just as in CoD 4 you're with a team of characters that are truly your band of Artificial Intelligence brothers. On easier settings the AI soldiers can do practically all of the work for you on some missions; the help you might get from your team is based on the difficulty setting you've chosen. So unless you want to just glide through the game, definitely don't pick the Recruit difficulty (the other difficulty options are Regular, Hardened and Vet).
I could take away a star from the overall score of this game for how short the single player mode is, but I won't....All of a sudden it's not so short when you go back and try to play on the Vet setting and spend the time looking for all of the Intel items.
You arrive in single player boot camp just like in all of the previous CoDs, and you get a brief tutorial on how to maneuver around, shoot your weapons & throw grenades. After boot camp you get to choose the difficulty setting, then you're immediately strewn into various battles. (Once you've completed the game on any setting you can go back to various chapters to clean up any items or trophies missed, and at the start of each chapter you can choose to attempt on the higher difficulties.)
You fight your way through some intense chapters....really intense. In fact, when you first start off, there's even a warning that you'll be in for some VERY disturbing sequences, and you have the option to tell the game to skip "offensive material". Ummm...no thanks. I think that this is the first game that I've played that offers the option to censor itself if you choose the option. The story is a bit choppy at times, but the battles are wild. The graphics are out of this world, and some of the "familiar territory" scenes will just blow you away with how much it really looks like your own back yard.
The weapons are plentiful and sophisticated. You're shooting whichever modern-day weapon you happen to have picked up along your objective route. Objectives that guide you along are updated regularly as you complete each task throughout each chapter. And some of those tasks are brutal. There are frequent checkpoints (I think I remember even reaching new checkpoints without firing a single shot) in the campaign, so no need to worry about respawning back before what seemed to take an eternity to complete. On the other hand....
....There is the Special Ops portion of the game. I think that there are 23 different missions for you here, and you can play each one by trying to earn 1, 2 or 3 stars in each mission. Some of these are darn hard, especially the final 3-star unlocks. You will be frustrated by playing some of these a few times before you beat the levels to earn your stars. And there are no checkpoints in these missions, so if you fail in the final moments of a mission, you start over from the beginning of that mission.
Special Ops is most fun with a partner. It's best online so that you get to play full screen, but if you have a guest over you can play split screen offline. For all you World at War players looking for Zombies, you're out of luck here. You get Special Ops instead. There was a silly rumor that MW2 would have an "Alien Invaders" mode that would rival the Zombie mode of WaW, but that indeed was just a silly rumor.
Online Multiplayer is where you'll get addicted. No AI brothers here...just your fellow gamers. You'd better have your FPS skills honed if you think that you'll score better than some of the MW2 online players. A very high percentage of the online players have been honing their skills online for years now with CoD4 and World at War.
The concept with Multiplayer is certainly not new. The more you play, the higher you rank allowing you to unlock more (fine tuned) weapons. The game sets you up in matches with people at your level and rank, but that ain't gonna help you if you're new (you will be fondly referred to as a noob by your swell fellow online players) and you're up against the CoD4 or WaW vets.
What makes MW2 Multiplayer more than just a new map pack for CoD4 is that the Multiplayer weapons and perk system are vastly improved. And so is connectivity (so it seems in the initial week of play after a few day one and two glitches). You get 10 times the amount of points for the kills and captures that you're used to getting only 5 or 10 points for in CoD4 and WaW. You also now get points for not just killing and capturing, but for taking out enemy air support, coming back from deathstreaks, killing your nemesis, breaking an enemy's streak and other stuff. Yeah, Multiplayer is good fun, habitual and bad for a marriage.
So all in all Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is major fun. The only drawbacks to this awesome game are that the campaign is really short and the multiplayer action is a bit familiar. But the MW2 Multiplayer improvements over its predecessors far out weigh the familiarity.
Modern Warfare 2 is a must for FPS fans. Add it to your cart, soldier!
| Just What I Was Looking For | | Review Date: November 16, 2009 | | Reviewer: J. Singer, | First, let me start by saying I do not have any of the other games in the line of CoD. I do, however, have Resistance 2 as well as the full line of Battlefield games for PC. In addition, I would consider myself a casual gamer. I do enjoy a good game, but I won't let it consume my life and I could really care less if I may happen to have the lowest level out of all members on my team. =)
Now, for my simple review.
I gave this 5 stars across the board.
Likes:
- Single player mission:
(NOTE: As I am one to take my time on single player stuff, I have only completed about 1/3 of this)
Pretty damn sweet. Awesome graphics, chilling sound and pretty good storyline.
- Special-Ops co-op:
One of the main things I look for in a game is the ability to play online with my friends in other parts of the country. Co-op is a muge plus for doing this. Thus far, co-op has been a lot of fun. Although MW2 appears to not have quite as much co-op missions stuff as Resistance 2, it is still a nice addition to the game.
- Multiplayer on-line:
Simply, amazing. Lot's of extravagant maps with a bunch of different options on how you can play them. This will be the lasting power to the game with the endless action and enjoyment it brings to gamers from all corners.
Dislikes:
Nada | Second MW2 review | | Review Date: November 15, 2009 | | Reviewer: 1Dub79, Fairburn, Ga. | My first review was for the Hardened Edition. Plus, I did not beat the game or played the other modes. Since beating the campaign mode and playing the other modes, this is the latest review of MW2.
Gameplay
It is virtually the same as the other COD games. The controls are the same. If a player has played the other version, there is no need learn new controls.
Campaign
The campaign is not that long, but who cares ?!The story of the game is like no other. I know this may sound cliché', but MW2 is a lot like playing in a movie. Players are able to do a few new things, such as be a gunner on a humvee, ride snow mobiles and boats.
Some missions offer something new. The experience on the level "No Russian" is like no other COD or gaming experience. Anyhow, I must warn buyers, the stage may not be suitable for all viewers. I am not going to spoil it, though.
Other missions allow the player to do new tactics, such as breaching and clearing rooms. In addition, once the breaching takes place, the game goes into slo-mo. While shooting, everything is slowing flying through the air. Sometimes, it is hard to pinpoint exactly where the enemy is. Still, this new option is cool because you have time to just shoot each enemy before they try to kill a hostage. Still, a player must hurry. The slo-mo doesn't last long. Just breach and clear as fast as you can!!!! That new installment is cool.
Some levels can be extremely hard, especially "Favela". No matter how skilled a player may think he is, he is going to get his share of deaths. I consider that good. I mean, who wants to play a game, which they can just play, without being killed? Some other surprises happen in the story, which I will not spoil.
I must mention, the story is a little confusing. Still, the experience is so good, it doesn't matter. In fact, for those who have beaten it, playing it again may put the puzzle pieces together.
Enemy AI
The enemies are a little more intelligent than the previous versions. They waste not time flanking and running for cover, so they can get a better shot. Not to mention, they have a ton of customizable weaponry. Once a weapon is picked up off an enemy, the player would swear he is playing online because of the customizable parts on the weapons.
Online
This version has more upgrades than COD4MW and CODWAW combined. Aside from weapon upgrades, the upgrades, which involve Kill Streaks is like no other. Players can do new things, such as jam UAVs, send stealth bombers, C-130s, harriers and fire guided missiles from above. If a player is skilled enough to get 25 straight kills, he can order a nuclear attack. The player now has the ability to even change Kill Streak attacks. A player is no longer stuck with just three kill streak attacks. Also, kills are worth more points, now. Players can upgrade a lot faster than the previous versions.
New attacks, such as the knife throw has been installed in this game. Once a player kills another with a knife, he has the option to pick it up. That is really cool. Don't forget not to confuse it with the grenade. I have made the mistake of thinking I had a grenade, when I had a knife.
The weapons are more powerful. Now, if player gets a couple of shots on another, he is dead. It does not take a lot of shots, unlike the other CODs. Then, it seemed like a player may have to empty a clip, sometimes.
Spec Ops
This new mode is made up of side missions, which take place in similar levels of the campaign mode. Some are new. The stages get additionally challenging; the further along a player goes. Many missions, such as races, breaching missions, sniping missions, and bombing missions are a part of Spec Ops.
Despite what some critics (not many) say, overall, this game is truly worth owning. Every experience of this game makes it a definite buy. Not to mention, the new mode (Spec Ops) and the extremely deep online play will make this game a constant play for at least a couple of years.
| GREAT | | Review Date: November 16, 2009 | | Reviewer: M. Suriel, | | Ok i thorougly enjoy this game .. i know people are sayign the campaign is too short but in all honesty ... ill take 5 or 6 hours of quality gameplay over 10-12 of repetitive mundane and buggy gameplay .....as for the MP its the same as the previous ones but the options for customization are sooooo much deeper its amazing ... also ive heard people complain that its a little easier to kill people (not necessarily on any reviews here just in general ) well that doesnt make it easier to die ? lol special ops is ok im not a huge fan but its a fun diversion from MP once in a while | Modern Warfare Review | | Review Date: January 10, 2010 | | Reviewer: Cassandra Hulbert, Seattle, WA United States | | This game is one of the best games ive ever played. it has a really good storyline. And also had one of the best online playing. If you played modern warfare 1 then this is basically a add on, except a way better storyline. If your looking to buy this, go ahead because its totally worth the money.. | |
No video reviews found for this product. 
<< Home