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Review: Modern Warfare 2
By Edge Staff
November 10, 2009
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ATROCITY?
Discussion focused on the game’s airport level, in which you gun down lines of civilians mercilessly, will run and run. Modern Warfare 2’s narrative justification for the scene – you’re participating in a terrorist atrocity, with the terrorists, because it’ll make them trust you – is an odd one, placing the game on dangerous ground. Whatever narrative weight may be shouldered by cutscenes and context in Modern Warfare 2 is counterbalanced by a central mechanic – shooting people – that can never change, and halfway through this level there’s a bog-standard firefight interjected into the ‘serious’ moment. With this element in place, we’re not convinced the scene quite stands up. MW2 is fundamentally a military fantasy, and it’s surprising that it slips back into this groove so easily during (never mind after) the moment. There is a point about motivation and player agency here, but it’s lost when the game decides that you’ve had enough ‘downtime’ and serves up a typical shootout within the same level.
Format: 360, PS3, PC
Release: Out now
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Screenshot gallery
Here’s an oxymoron: war game. It’s a phrase Infinity Ward has worked with since its founding, both perfecting mechanics and pushing narrative boundaries before making Modern Warfare, a remarkable shooter overlaid with the cold horror of today’s military ordnance. How do you follow such a commercial and critical home run? Modern Warfare 2’s answer is simple – more of the same, plenty of new stuff – but its execution is more complex.
This is a dazzling package. A singleplayer campaign crammed with set-pieces that pull the player through at breakneck speed sits alongside Spec Ops, 23 co-op missions and a MW greatest hits package, before that superlative multiplayer, which really needs no introduction. With such attractions on offer, this is a shooter that demands playing, and playing again. It is still Call Of Duty, but its execution is skilful, mostly thoughtful, and it boasts the highest of production values.
In order, then. The singleplayer campaign is right up there with MW’s, suffering only from the fact that, in the intervening years, FPS games have moved a little beyond Infinity Ward’s template. So you still get sections that feel like a shooting gallery rather than a shootout, making you wonder if it’s coincidence that the tutorial involves targeting cardboard cutouts. You’ll be wondering what happens next, then move an inch or two and trigger it. The stage curtains show at times, and because of this the harder difficulties can be unrewarding as well as punishing. How many times do you need to restart at a checkpoint before memorising the positions and initial movements of every enemy? Those who persevere will find out but, in the context of Halo’s ongoing masterclass in how difficulty levels can change games in ways other than just making you die more, we may pass.
The story rambles along with holes you could drive a truck through, suggesting with broad strokes that fear and ignorance in contemporary America could lead to a resurrection of the cold war as a hot one, but its daftness at least sets up the pyrotechnics. There’s little of that gruff camaraderie that made the first time around really special: now, despite the odd rogue accent, you’re part of Team America: World Police without the laughs. Tonally, stuff like “Let’s go, those hostages aren’t going to rescue themselves” makes it clear we’re in 24 territory, and as for more serious missteps, see the airport level, and also hope that Vladimir Putin never gets around to playing the game. At the end, it just gives up altogether and turns into a Bond movie.
Yet for all that the basic firefighting and narrative twistings have their problems, everything is redeemed by the spectacle on offer. Modern Warfare 2’s set-pieces are not only inventive, full of twists and shots in the back as much as the frequent shots in the arm for the firstperson perspective, but cleverly play with expectations. They create beauty from chaos, foreshadowing thrills and living up to them. Bombastic escapes that move up a gear halfway through, desperate pushes forward and everything hitting the fan at just the wrong moment: all the classics are here. And then there are sights that shine – bursting from a dark cave to a sunny sky and an azure river – alongside exquisite smaller touches, like the darting, dying eyes of a guard you kill at close quarters.
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On my first playthrough now and I have to say I've been enjoying this game however I do agree with Dan_Chippendales comment that it doesn't immediately strike me as worthy of a 9.
The single player campaign feels more evolutionary than revolutionary with a few nice touches here and there (tapping Lance Henrickson for voice talent was a very cool move) All the controversy sourounding "that level" seemed to me anyway over exagerated.
Ultimately I found it not to be a very exciting level either in terms of emotional impact or gameplay and it felt strangely reminscent of a level from the ps1 title Die Hard Trillogy. however the inclusion of spec ops mode and the online multiplayer do make it a well rounded package for your £40.
I thought this might be of some amusement
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/ultra_realistic_modern_warfare
To whoever cares ********SPOILERS********** in post below
Spoilers?The snow mobile sections were among the 1st batch shown to the press at the early preview stages., as was the underwater bit. The only thing spoilt is fact these are in places totally scripted.The ice climbing...Pretty much every review out mentions it...There`s oil rigs in it..Hardly spoiling the game.
Oh and in case you did`nt know, there`s guns in it as well.
omg there is an oil rig in this game & guns. You just ruined it for me. With your spoilers. Thx
Your welcome.May branch out into movies. There`s a ship and and Iceberg in Titanic...Hope i`ve not ruined it.
Easy! Im just trying to cover your back mate
Sorry Chap....
Just the old defense mechanism kicking in.My humble apologies.
Was half expecting to get slammed for mentioning Killzone 2 in same 'breath' as modern warfare 2.
The game has had more than enough blanket coverage for people to know what`s in it, don`t feel i gave away any plot twists as such. The only spoiler for me is the fact that what i saw in still, preview shots in many cases are in reality, scripted events where i have no control.Think a lot of people are going to find the same.
Going on the early previews, i thought the game would have had more risk taken with it, as far as the SP side goes.
"Was half expecting to get slammed for mentioning Killzone 2 in same 'breath' as modern warfare 2."
D'you want to mention it just one more time, I don't think people got it then either.
"Was half expecting to get slammed for mentioning Killzone 2 in same 'breath' as modern warfare 2."
D'you want to mention it just one more time, I don't think people got it then either.
I`ll pass.Would`nt want to double post.
LOL! Touche, my friend.
(Now, if only someone could tell me how to delete posts here, cos I haven't worked it out yet!)
I think you're supposed to say: "I've got your six!" : D
Been playing this Online And Offline last couple days.
O.K then, Offline:
Cannot help feel that I.W were too scared to take risks.Far too many things i loved the look of in the previews re scripted or far too short.The Ice climbing, Snow ski bits.Great, but too short.The Underwater approach to the oil rig-I`m just a spectator, Stealth kill on 1st guard? Just press Square...Ohh please, where`s the sense of involvement here?.
The Breach charge?Again, just a button press, much preferred Killzone 2`s Plant and arm method).Slow mo.? Shooting Transformers on Pylons? Right out of Fear 1, Fear 2.The Gulag Shower section, reminded me of Black....So yet again, it`s a case of great fun, but not moving things on much.
Condemned 2 gets well..condemned for it`s morals as far as needless killing in a game goes by Edge, yet here, Airport level, no issues then?
Also, on far too many levels, did exactly what i did with COD 2 and world at war-Just pegged it to next checkpoint, taking loads of damage, but resting when i got there.Great depth to tactics eh?
Online? Having downloaded Patch ver.1.02 and 1.03 within hours of each other, thought, Great, least it`s all sorted now.NO.1st attempt saw me waiting 10 mins to get a game, before servers went tits up and froze my PS3!.
Reset and restart was better-Emailed Activision Customer support to say just how shoddy it was, they suggested i check my net.I emailed back ALL the various news articles relating to the patches and reasons they were needed and suggested they stopped treating me like a baboon and admit the game and PSN servers were at fault.
Reply i got? They were sorry i felt this way and would i like to post on the I.W forum?.
Game IS good, but a 9? when many games, just have good have scored 7, 8 in Edge and a review that cannot seem to decide what to make of the game?
Edge reviewers really need to either p*ss or get off the pot.so many times i`ve seen a score marked down for swearing, violence, Shooting gallery type gameplay, being so similar to games before it, then another game gets scored highly despite featuring the same. Which IS it? These are either things that can be over looked in games as long as the overall package holds up, or you mark every game to feature them, with the same criteria.
Thankfully, i buy Edge for the features/Articles and not the reviews.
It feels more like a Hollywood approach, lots of spectacle, but as a gamer, i wanted more involvement, not more scripted events.
Seven.
Didn't know Len Goodman was moonlighting from Strictly Come Dancing and reviewing games these days!
i'd like to ask if anyone suffers multiplayer problems after the new update.I can't find a game and my online status has been erased(PSN)
Just been trying for the last 15 mins or so to connect to the (PSN) server. No joy. Wtf?
UPDATE: PSN servers are KIA cos of overload due to unprecedented demand.
they should have predicted this,anyway i hope they will fix it soon
I like the way there has been a different story atleast every other day abuot the amount of copies MW2 will sell, yet Sony still claim un-precedented demand
Well, I don't think anyone should be too harsh with Sony, it is after all a free service, and they really have no way of knowing how many people who buy a copy of MW2 will play it online.
Well, they could base it on
A) Modern Warfare 1
B) The fact that argueably the games primary purpose is online gaming
I will give the game a whirl, and I expect a good experience. But not a great one. Every CoD since the original seems to receive high marks simply because of all the flash on the screen..but there hasn't been much substantial bang in a long while (concerning the single player, that is. Multi seems to be the true focus for innovation now).
Personally I found this game a bit camp, a bit soft. They could have made it more hardcore. For example you could play half the campaign from the terrorist point of view with more atrocities . Then in the final level the stories converge and you have a massive moral smack down with who to assassinate – McTavish or Makarov? hmmm...
Then in the final level the stories converge and you have a massive moral smack down with who to assassinate – McTavish or Makarov? hmmm...
Thanks for the low down mate. I really don't know what I'd do without thoughtful people like yourself lighting my way and making sure my life is completely without surprise! I'm only half-way through the game, but I'll be bearing that in the back of my mind from now on. Cheers..... X (
no that doesnt actually happen... unfortunately
Lol, shame cos, even though I was pissed at being previewed the ending, I was rather looking forward to it! Nice one, maybe you should see if there's any story writers jobs going at IW. ; )
Yes I think my ending is better than the game proper. So if I was working for IW firstly I would have spent a lot of money to get Sean Connery to do the voice of McTavish
‘ok move upschtairs. Control we’re advanshing to dock two’
Lol, awesome idea. Then you could play a character called Mitch:
"Mitch, breach that door! Mitch....Mitch Monipannie, where are ye?"
Bought it two days ago and and I've played both campaign and multiplayer.
Modern Warfare is a shinning game.It was awesome to me because of the spectacular situations the plot deserved, following the sniper through Prypiat and feeling like a rookie, dying on a nuclear blast, going trough a ship killing sleeping people...all mixed with fantastic graphics and gameplay.THE MAJOR SUCCESS WAS THE SCRIPT.
That's why I'm dissapointed with with MW2.Better graphics?sure.But the scripts doesnt give you the moments offered in MW.Something is lost: they've changed the rithym, now every action moments are very fast and everything is more chaotic.I had the feeling that I didnt control the game, the game was controlling me, and inmersion is lost.
A major mistake is the blood when someone hurts you.Am I the only one getting confused by them?? it's so frustrating...
Special ops is the only part of the game that remind me to the greatness of MW.
Dissapointing.I had high expectations, I can enjoy it, but it's a 7-8 game and Uncharted is waaaay better in epicness terms.
Hmm cant get my head around this review. The first page and the closing paragraph are clearly at odds with each other. The reviewer sets out camp as a wise sage of combat in entertainment, laying out thoughts on the topic in general so the viewer knows we have a voice of experience delivering an opinion. Once that is delivered, the criticism bites and it bites deep into the product at hand. The words are a flashback to Edge of old, and suggest a score of old to match; a 7 or 8 at best. Then on the second page, caution is throws to the wind, happy pills are consumed and peer pressure comes to into play and we have a fabulous product worthy of a 9.
As I said earlier 'hmm'.
I completely agree with you; it feels like the reviewer back pedals at the end of the review, more so, it feels like the review was edited down considerably. For the significance this game pertains to in context to the entertainment industry as a whole, the depth and length, but particularly the depth, of this review didn't match the expectations set out in the opening paragraph.
As for the game itself, I have yet to play it. I was a big fan of MW, still playing it online until about a week ago, however I am of two minds about MW2; I feel the reviewer is of a similar mind set. On one hand, I severely dislike what this game stands for, I feel it only serves to highlight everything that is wrong with our industry at this moment in time: short, visceral, meaningless, brash, violent, monopolizing, and glamorising. On the other hand, as a gamer, I want to play it. I want to experience the refinement of everything that made the first game such a joy to play: the underlying mechanics, the online system, the sheer spectacle of having so many people playing one game at once.
I am undecided about where my loyalties lie; I am ashamed that Infinity Ward have dropped the ball so drastically on the PC version, and would be more comfortable picking the game up if everyone was catered for, especially considering the developer knows the the particulars of the audience they are catering to. I don't want to support what Call of Duty has come to stand for, but I desperately want to play it; forget oxymoron, that's an out and out paradox.
I have never played the first one (!) (except briefly in multiplayer), so I don't suppose rehashing the plot will affect me too much.
As a rule, I tend to prefer the heavier feeling shooters like KZ, because my reaction time is measured in minutes. However, if I happen to be in sainsburies, I may feel the urge to splash £26!
Does anybody know if it has split-screen? I'm sort of old-school, and quite like it...
There's a co-op mode, sounds like you could use some back-up ; )
What are peoples' feelings on the single player campaign?
Personally I am a little disappointed with it - yes the set pieces can be very spectacular but I thought it was a little too short and I don't think it gives the same feeling of being in the middle of a warzone or on a special mission as the first MW did, not that it was ever a simulation (which I wouldn't want anyway) but it seems to have strayed too far into feeling like a "game" to really grip me like the first MW - although I appreciate that it's still very good relative to most games. I haven't got round to playing Special Ops or MP yet so I reserve judgement on the game as a whole package.
I agree with you, Mooks.The magic is lost.Read my comment if u wish.
I'm only a couple of levels after the No Russian airport level, but I'm finding the whole experience so far strangely disengageing, with no sense of camraderie I got in COD4. And the levels seem to be comically bite-sized. But I'll reserve judgement till I complete the whole game.
Don't know if you've been to Metacritic, but there seems to be a HUGE discrepancy between what the critics see in the game to what the punters have experienced thus far. Having played it for a bit online, it certainly seems to be that that is where the game's strengths lie.
Perhaps it's the juggernaut-sized marketing behind this that's hyped gamers into a frenzy and now that it's actually here we're all expecting something that's on par with the second f*cking coming of Christ. I know it worked on me as I queued up for this. I'm at the 'Wolverines!' level and I've spent a few hours online. I've had more fun online than on campaign and I agree, there does feel like there is something slightly missing that had me so hooked with MW1. It's early days so I will reserve judgement but at the moment I get the impression I'm on a 'come-down' from all the media hype and gushing reviews!
Anyone else slightly dissappointed with the standard release's packaging? I'm surprised that for this amount of money, I'm left with a crap 6pp leaflet with no credits to the developers and cast?? It's the most basic package I've seen in a long time. It's a little bit tight-fisted if you ask me. I don't want night vision goggles but I would have liked a list of weapons and credit list in print.
With all the rhetoric surrounding the leaked airport footage I thought Infinity Ward might be looking to reinvigorate their single player war game, doesn't sound like it I haven't heard anyone praising the single player campaign yet, seems the airport scene won't sum up to much more than a ham handed pointless scene about the horrors of terrorism, but Team America is there to save the day lol. Co-op sounds great, online sounds solid, story sounds crap but entertaining, I'll get it sometime. I'm really interested in the sales figures though after it's first week out, with Infinity Ward succeeding in scaring off a lot of the competition everyone knows this is going to sell really well. And fair enough, I know from my teen addiction to CS that shooting people in the face online over and over again is pretty damn fun.
edge you annoy and moan for originality, innovation blablabla blablabla...edge please explain us why this time you don't deserve the same treatment for MW2 or the same obsessed scrutiny reserved for ps3 exclusives (killzone2, Ratchet & clank, etc) edge, we are still waiting your response to justify your self -proclaimed elitist magazine.
PS3 version working as it should yet or are trophies still not being given or showing and friend invites not working blah blah blah?
originality, innovation blablabla blablabla
Modern Warfare 2’s set-pieces are not only inventive, full of twists and shots in the back as much as the frequent shots in the arm for the firstperson perspective, but cleverly play with expectations.
It's a rubbish argument - let's nip it in the bud. Edge have scored PS3 exclusives highly - LittleBigPlanet for a start. Uncharted 2 as well. There is no argument. Just cos they didn't flat-out adore Killzone 2 or MGS4 - I didn't particularly either, and I love my PS3. There is no double standard, as these are reviews written by different writers giving subjective opinions.
Here we go
like all FPS it's not something new,innovative or cutting edge but it's gameplay is so intense i just can't stop playing it.It is exactly what i expected nothing more nothing less.i think 9 is fair enough
Good review. I'm not seeing it as a 9 game yet, but probably not in deep enough to pass judgment. It's got to be better than MW so maybe the 9 is justified. More play time will decide that for me