Lawrence.com

In video games, as with most types of media, sequels and spin-offs rarely live up to their own hype, let alone the success of the original title.

The biggest shortcoming for most video game sequels, and especially first-person shooters, is a lack of innovation, with most coming off as glorified expansion packs. Last year’s entry in the Call of Duty series was essentially the original with a World War 2 makeover. But Modern Warfare 2 makes significant improvements in almost every aspect of this already excellent gaming franchise and exceeds already high expectations.

The story occurs five years after the end of the original Modern Warfare. Since that time, the once friendly relationship between the United States and Russia has deteriorated, and a terrorist similar to Imran Zakhaev from the original title has popped up. The story follows two teams of military specialists across multiple continents. It’s every bit as adrenaline-pumping as the original, but feels more like a military thriller movie than the original, resulting in a loss of realism. Hopping between locales can make the narrative difficult to follow, but not so much as to lose the player’s interest.

The campaign is linear, but leaves the players multiple ways to achieve objectives. Your squad’s AI is above average, although your fellow soldiers will still occasionally wander into your line of fire, resulting in a “friendly fire” end of game. The enemy AI on the upper difficulties is challenging, using cover to their advantage and firing with deadly accuracy. Much like the original title, the campaign is very short; but it’s six-to-eight hours of consistently exciting gameplay, not 15 to 20 hours mediocrity.

The story mode still does not include cooperative play, but instead there’s a new Spec Ops mode, where one or two players can take part in a series of missions similar to those offered in the single-player experience. When I first heard about the mode, I figured the developers were basically throwing a bone to the masses clamoring for co-op. What I instead found was a few dozen missions that — while not as intense as the cooperative Nazi Zombies maps included in COD: World at War — significantly expand upon the single-player experience, as well as occasionally offering cooperative gameplay similar to the Gears of War series.

Multi-player

Finally, the real reason most people purchase Call of Duty games. Sweet, sweet multiplayer.

There’s a reason that that the original Modern Warfare still ranks regularly in the Top 3 games played online on Xbox Live, two years after its release. The depth of options and modes is unparalleled in console shooters. Well, Modern Warfare 2 has taken that blueprint and expanded on it greatly, while also tweaking the gameplay to correct gripes from the previous iteration.

There are a massive number of weapons, including a greater number of upgrades than has ever been offered in the COD series and multiple types of secondary weapons beyond pistols. The perks system, while removing unpopular perks such as juggernaut and multiple frag grenades, now includes perk upgrades as a reward for their extensive use.

The game modes haven’t changed substantially, although some third person modes are now available. Players can also unlock numerous awards and titles, with which they can create a custom in-game gamercard. Although it’s essentially only for bragging rights, it is a neat way to show other gamers what you’ve achieved in multiplayer.

The graphics are among the best offered by any game this generation, both in single- and multiplayer settings. The characters move realistically, and facial expressions and movements do not interrupt suspension of disbelief. The locales, vastly differing in layout, color palate, and weather, are beautifully rendered and feel authentic to their various geographies. Explosions, weapons fire, and smoke are all intense, fully immersing the player into the experience.

The audio is equally enthralling. The sound effects complement the graphical offerings, but the true star is the soundtrack. Composed by Hanz Zimmer, who has composed soundtracks for multiple movies such as the recent Batman and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, the music gives the game a grander sense of scope than that typically offered in a video game. Emotions meant to be relayed through the story are amplified by the score, further indoctrinating the player into this reality.

The COD series has always offered some of the best and deepest gameplay for both hardcore and casual gamers. COD: Modern Warfare 2 is the epitome of what makes the COD series great, and can arguably be called the best first person shooter of this generation — and likely will be for couple years.

Graphics: 9.5

Sound: 10.0

First Play: 9.0

Multiplayer: 10.0

Replay Value: 10.0

Overall: 9.75

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