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 Modern
Warfare 2 (Playstation 3)
Infinity Ward's latest Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 2 picks up
where the last one left off and delivers a state-of-the-art combat
experience. It builds on many of the successful elements of the last game,
including an intense single player storyline, intense multiplayer and
numerous additions, such as the new Spec Ops mode that brings co-op play
to the series. It's polished gameplay and slick environments back up an
immersive storyline, filled with unexpected twists and mission types that
make this feel more like an adventure title and less like the usual
generic FPS. This definitely expands the definition of traditional
shooters, so look inside and discover how Modern Warfare 2 offers epic
combat missions without losing its essential appeal.
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By far, the biggest and boldest entry in the Call of Duty franchise,
Modern Warfare 2 has a lot to live up to. It's definitely been preceded by
plenty of advance notice, but the question on many gamers' minds is
whether it lives up to the hype. We're happy to report that it largely
delivers on its promise of putting players in the center of a massive
worldwide conflict. It begins almost immediately following the events of
the first game and takes players on a wild ride through almost eclectic
terrain. While MW 2's basic gameplay remains the same, there are a few
instances where the game offers some big surprises. As in previous CoD
titles, you play as a solo combatant and have complete control over your
actions. Your basic weapons include a rifle and pistol but you have access
to a variety of other ammo through the game including night vision sniper
rifles, the infamous CoD grenades plus more exotic weapons such as
predator drones, grenade launchers and even some missiles. During each
mission, you can follow your fellow soldiers around the various maps,
which are simple enough to follow when you use your onscreen HUD. As in
previous games, you can take out enemies using standard shots or grenades,
which can be flung using the shift button. Most of the time, you'll get
through the levels quite easily, since they're linear progression and
frequent save points allows you to shoot and take risks easily. The basic
parameters of each mission are set out before you and the main thing you
have to worry about is implementation. There's quite a variety of mission
tasks that the game offers which helps to keep monotony to a minimum.
You'll perform a variety of tasks - everything from blowing up
helicopters, calling in air strikes with predator drones, rescuing
hostages, and even some stealth missions. Infinity Ward has gone even a
step further than this with some really cool missions that involve driving
and racing while shooting, plus some other things you wouldn't ordinarily
expect from a FPS. This expansive scope spans continents and gives the
game an epic feel that sets Modern Warfare 2 far apart from other
shooters. You'll find yourself battling through an impressively diverse
array of environments from jungles, to urban sectors. This is a key reason
why this title is so highly rated amongst players, and the action is
unrelenting in almost every section of the game.
MW 2's enemy AI is surprisingly smart
and they will attack your position relentlessly once they're aware of your
location. This means you'll probably take your fair share of hits during
each mission. Fortunately, the regenerative health system has returned as
well. This means you can duck for cover and regain your health by getting
out of the line of fire, which helps to keep the game flowing without
losing momentum. Most of the solo game can be completed without much
problem, though the storyline keeps you thrilled throughout. It moves at a
great speed and switches from place to place frequently. This makes for a
somewhat confusing narrative at times, but if you keep things straight and
focus on the action, it's not really that much of a big deal. As you
probably know, the visuals in MW2 are quite impressive throughout. Each
level showcases an impressive amount of detail, from flying papers, flames
and other environmental effects, the game shows a level of polish and
sophistication that most games can't match. It's HD visuals are all the
more impressive when you consider the amount of action onscreen. Flying
helicopters, waves of enemy soldiers and intense firefights are all
rendered in impressive realism that keeps you immersed in the action. It's
all done in a technically accurate manner for the most part that makes the
game feel believable and intense throughout. It does an excellent job in
recreating the feel and danger of war, whether you find yourself crouching
behind flimsy cover while enemy forces fire at you, repel off tall
structures, infiltrate a snow-covered base or wage a street-to-street
battle through hostile territory in South America, the game never lets up
in its incredible detail. The action moves through at a consistent frame
rate throughout and its speed and smoothness is impressive in most areas.
This thoroughly stunning presentation gives Modern Warfare 2 an incredibly
polished look and feel that makes for an epic, cinematic FPS experience
that delivers some of the most viscerally exciting set-pieces seen in a
current-generation game to date.
MW2's solo campaign, despite some flaws,
is incredibly engaging and highly polished, it only comprises a portion of
the total game. As you might expect, Modern Warfare 2's online component
is surprisingly robust and supports up to 16 simultaneous players, which
can be divided into teams for group play. There's an abundance of maps to
choose from and each level is expertly designed. Multiple modes of play
are included for each mission, and for the PS3 edition at least, there's a
decent matching service to use. As usual, players can earn perks through
successful combat missions. These perks add abilities such as extra power,
faster reloading and increased carriage of items such as grenafes. The
multiplayer maps are nicely designed and take players through some of the
same environments as the main game, as well as other online specific
areas. As you'd expect, Modern Warfare 2's online maps showcase a great
deal of visual polish and detail, which matches the high-gloss feel in the
single-player and spec ops missions. Multiplayer veterans will feel right
at home in this mode, but it makes you work to progress. This can be a
frustrating task as you play through endless missions, losing every time
until you gradually make it a few notches higher. Of course, much of this
is dependent on the players you face online, so your experience will vary.
We encountered a lot of cheap kills and annoying frags that made the
online play feel cheaper than we expected, though a lot of this is to be
expected from a mainstream game with so many players. These problems are
problematic, but not epidemic so players with patience and perseverance
shouldn't be dissuaded from playing matches in this otherwise superb
online game.
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Infinity Ward deserves their accolades for the standard online game, which
is as smooth and polished as you'd expect, there's an entirely new mode
called Spec Ops included. This mode consists of a series of co-op or
single player missions that players can complete. These are taken from the
main game and are ranked in terms of difficulty. Generally speaking, they
play like a distilled version of the single player missions and focus on a
specific task or enemy that you have to defeat. Most of the missions
aren't timed, but there are several where you have to defeat waves of foes
or cross a certain point, which adds to the difficulty. Each mission has a
set parameter that you have to meet in order to earn stars. As you go up
the ranks, your player attributes increase at the same time, giving you
extras such as additional missions and weapons. It's quite an addictive
mode, since the smaller scale and scope means you can complete them faster
and earn even more extras. Trying to play these in single player mode is
somewhat difficult, since they're designed as co-ops, but the extra
challenge means you won't spend as much time trying to defeat the missions
and will instead try to make the best rankings. Spec Ops offers almost as
much content and gameplay as the single player game and as such, it's an
impressive addition to the game that makes for an even deeper and more
robust experience.
Between its intense solo-campaign, deep
multiplayer mode and innovative co-op Spec Ops levels, Modern Warfare 2
delivers a comprehensive, brilliantly executed game that brings an
incredible amount of polish and professionalism to the genre. Its smooth
gameplay is accessible and easy to use thanks to its intuitive controls
and play system, which should now be mostly familiar to Call of Duty
veterans. The solo campaign offers an engaging plot and varied locales
that keep you guessing as to what the next twist might be, while never
slowing down its pace or innovation. Its addictive multiplayer and co-op
modes add plenty of depth to the experience, with extensive online support
and maps that mean you'll still be playing online long after you've
finished the solo game. While there are a few sections where the storyline
gets a little convoluted, it's a fairly minor issue. Modern Warfare 2 is
an outstanding game that delivers an innovative, challenging and
entertaining experience that deserves its place at or near the top of best
FPS games lists this year.
- Michael Palisano
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