Modern Warfare 2 Review
Thursday, 19 November 2009 22:13
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The wait was excruciating. The anticipation was nearly unbearable. The result was everything we’d hoped for, and more. Infinity Ward and Activision have done it again; they stole the spotlight, they stole the stage, they’ve stolen our hearts. Modern Warfare 2 blasted onto the scene to meet a massive, hungry fan base gathered from the original Modern Warfare, and it did not disappoint.
Call of Duty has become a household name in war simulation shooters since its debut in 2003. Climbing in popularity to compete with big names such as Battlefield and Medal of Honor, Call of Duty has been consistently raising the bar, and providing gamers with enjoyable titles, for just over half a decade.
Not until now though, have Infinity Ward and Activision decided to release a sequel to a specific title in their series. Previously, all Call of Duty titles have been based off factual World War 2 battles. With the release of Modern Warfare in 2007 developers took a different approach, creating a fictional war in a not-so-distant future, encompassing the latest in warfare technology. The risk paid off, both financially for the developing and producing companies as well as its reception into the gaming community. Modern Warfare was an instant hit, and stole our hearts immediately. At E3 2009 when Infinity Ward dropped a teaser trailer for an upcoming sequel, people went crazy. Now it is here, and has stolen our hearts all over again. Modern Warfare 2 is what modern war simulation shooters strive to be, in all aspects.
Presentation
The game is nicely laid out into three main sections; Special Ops, Campaign, and Multiplayer. From the main screen you can easily track your progress using the handy completion meter shown under each section. Either reminding you how close 100% is, or how satisfying getting it was.
Further into the main menu’s each section is further broken down. The Special Ops menu gives users five neatly packaged Special Ops sections named Alpha through Echo. Each section contains five Special Ops missions with the exception of Echo which contains three, very difficult missions.
The Campaign menu offers everything familiar to the Call of Duty campaigns, with mission selections, statistics and progress meters, as well as the start a new campaign option. The loading screens within the campaign offer captivating story line dialogue backed by an intricate mission briefing. These small details keep the game constantly flowing for the player even while loading.
Within the Multiplayer menu the options are endless. Loaded with un-lockable call signs, emblems, tags, perks, and kill streak rewards it is obvious that this is a place that hours can graciously be lost immersed in battle as well as preparation for battle. Simple yet elegant, the layout of Modern Warfare 2 gives you almost every option you could need. Personally I found no flaws within the presentation of this game.
Presentation Score: 20
Graphics
This is the first new game I have played on my Xbox 360 using the VGA adaptor instead of the standard components. It is also the first game I have played on a HD screen, and the first game played on a widescreen. In short, my 4:3 television has been replaced. So, this is the first game I have had the pleasure of playing at its full potential. I have to say the potential in this game is incredible.
The environment was beautiful; in the snow levels the blizzards were even realistic. Character detail, lighting, and shadows were absolutely captivating, and the destruction. Well the destruction was incredible to watch. It is clear that Infinity Ward didn’t try to create a new Modern Warfare, and start from scratch. It seems they believe in the: if it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it theory. Instead it seems time was spent refining what was already there, building on previous elements and improving the quality of the design and presentation of the graphics in Modern Warfare to create what we see in Modern Warfare 2. Obviously new elements such as the snow terrain, and blizzard environments were added but at its core Modern Warfare 2 is really just a new and improved Modern Warfare, which is exactly what fans had hoped for. Another dose, a bit bigger and a lot stronger of the game they already love.
Graphics Score: 20
Sound
Modern Warfare 2 brings an orchestral backdrop of music that matches the tempo of the game, both in single player, and multiplayer components. It works well with the overall feel of battle, and really assists the already stunning graphics, environment, and game play, creating a completely rounded experience that immerses the player into the game. It feels like you’re there.
The sound effects of the game have been perfected. Weapons sound very close, sometimes almost exact to the real thing. Having used some of the weapons in this game in real life I can attest to that statement. Vehicular sounds seemed accurate to me. The engine never revved while I was braking so that’s a good thing.
The dialogue in this game was well written as we’ll cover in another section of the review, but the accompanying voice actors are really what made the dialogue as powerful and real as it is. The voice of Gaz from the original Modern Warfare has returned to play the part of Ghost in Modern Warfare 2 which was a comforting and familiar aspect of gameplay.
The sound didn’t make this game, but without it as it is, it wouldn’t be nearly the same.
Sound Score: 18
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