Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Sony PlayStation 3

The videogame equivalent of a series of 24, this is a Republican's worst nightmare fully realised: Russia invades America and nuclear war breaks out.

You play the role of one of several special forces soldiers in the run-up to, and during, these catastrophic events. The story plays out such that there are several major turns and a couple of unexpected, brutal twists as well. These work well and give the game a good sense of narrative, holding these global events together. Some of the scenes in the game are breathtaking and terrifying in equal measure, which many games just cannot acheive.

Graphically, it is high definition gaming all the way. Environmental effects such as weather and explosions are all handled very well with no drop in framerate. Sound too, is very good - but not quite as deafeningly realistic as the Bad Company series.

The gameplay is absolutely solid, just as you would expect from a COD game. The single player campaign is maybe a little short but is action-packed until the end. There are also a new set of short, bonus missions which add to the playtime but have not yet enticed me to play through thoroughly. Basically though, if you don't have an internet connection you just aren't going to get your money's worth with this title.

On that point, I should say that the online aspect is as frantic and enjoyable as ever. I would like to have seen more features or a better selection of maps on this title but alas, apparently we have to wait until Black Ops for those goodies.

The one major gripe I have with this game is the controversy. The now-infamous "No Russian" level sparked masses of public outcry against the content, so much so that the level comes with an optional "skip disturbing content" feature. Now I can accept that the political premise behind the level could be controversial, but the role the player carries out is to shoot a few innocent people in an airport. All Grand Theft Auto games for the past 15 years have allowed players to carry out far more violent and disturbing acts against innocent people! And if this is the case, why didn't the rest of the game have a "skip disturbing content" option, such as in the scenes where you shoot, stab and blow up hundreds of soldiers? Yes, they signed up for war but that doesn't make killing them graphically in the face any less harrowing.

Overall - 74% - Not quite as improved as it should have been, undeserving of any controversy, but still a thrilling and top-quality FPS.

The online multiplayer mode of Modern Warfare 2 retains the same experience points and unlockable reward system as that of Call of Duty 4, with game modes that include Free-For-All, Search & Destroy, Demolition, Sabotage, Domination, Team Deathmatch, and Capture The Flag.[25] Modern Warfare 2 introduces several new features. Aside from new weapons, equipment, and perks that upgrade to "pro versions" after meeting utilization requirements.[26] The player can choose three of fifteen killstreaks, which are earned after getting a certain amount of consecutive kills. Among these is the ability to receive a supply drop after achieving four kills in a row, guide a Predator missile strike after five kills, and control an AC-130 gunship, or Chopper Gunner, after eleven kills. Some killstreak rewards earn kills that go towards your killstreak. For example, Harrier Strike(7 killstreak) will stay and shoot down enemies after it has bombed a general area.[27] Players can also gain a tactical nuke if they obtain a 25 kill streak. The nuke will achieve victory in a match for the player or team that called in the nuke regardless of whether the team was winning or losing at the time the nuke was called in. Another new feature is the in-game host migration; if a match host leaves the game, or if the host struggles to support the game, a 'host migration delay' allows a new host to be selected and the game to continue.[28][29] There is also the addition of an optional third person mode which can be used in certain game types.[30]

In the Xbox 360 version of the game, the party chat system is disabled while the player is playing online in certain playlist types. This decision, designed to promote cooperation amongst team members, has caused some controversy within the Xbox Live community. The offline (splitscreen and LAN) multiplayer mode retains the experience and rewards system found online, a first for the series since the system was introduced. However, the rewards are separate from those that are earned while playing online.

For the PC version, Infinity Ward decided to implement a new matchmaking service: IWNET working through Steam. This system is nearly identical to the console version of IWNET. Dedicated server support is removed, eliminating the ability for mods or user-created maps to be incorporated. This removal has created anger among many PC gamers. Since the multiplayer aspect runs within Steamworks, the PunkBuster anti-cheat system utilized in previous titles has been replaced by Valve Anti-Cheat.[31] In addition, the PC version shares the same 18-player cap as the console versions (matches are a maximum of 9 versus 9).[32] However an unofficial mod was released in Q3 2010, called alterIWnet, which supports dedicated servers along with a few other fixes which the PC community has asked for.
Synopsis
Characters

During the single-player campaign, the player controls five different characters. For the majority of the game, the player assumes the role of Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, a member of an elite, multi-national counter-terrorist unit known as Task Force 141.[33] However, the player begins the game controlling Private First Class Joseph Allen, a Ranger stationed in Afghanistan, who later goes undercover in Russia for the Central Intelligence Agency under the alias of "Alexei Borodin". Private James Ramirez, a member of 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment stationed in the United States.

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Not I have nearly eagerly wanted to write a review for most things, but this game is something special-in my eyes it would be a crime not to tell people about the greatness of this game.
It was one cold day in January and I was roaming around in GTA4 and my friend pops up with this new game "Modern Warfare 2", I at the time thought it must be some intense repetitive shooter that I
wouldn't have the skill to cope with it. Nevertherless he eventually convinced me to buy it........it all began from here.

This game has to be the greatest shooters I have ever played to this date. The game mechanics are outstanding! Every gun has a unique feel for recoil and weight and the noise it makes. You can running around with a SMG
which would recoil like mad forcing you to burst for long ranges, all of a sudden to pick up an assault riffle and find long range shots easier to hit but your close range rate of fire limited.

Then there is the multiplayer maps, most of which are very fun with multiple entry routes into room. In particular a map called terminal in which you can hold down the actual aircraft with people trying to force entry with either flashbangs and
shotguns and people holding it down with claymores and riotshields.

The singleplayer can be summed up as short and sweet, there are quite a few epic moments in it, twists and turns, betrayals and friendships which I don't want to spoil. You actually feel like you are part of an elite task force group, going to all ends to get the task achieved. It takes you across all ends of the world, from snowy russian bases to the favelas of brazil!!!!!

The AI can be summed up as very inteligent. They react to you and the environment very well. If they see you, they will fire at you and assume cover at once. The AI will run away from grenades if you throw them at them, they will also move cover to pressurise your situation. This is definitely evident in the harder deficulties where the AI actually try to pin you down and corner you if you don't make the adequete movements forward and fight them.

But I must mention the heart and soul of the game lies in its multiplayer. It creates endless gaming time and hours and hours of enjoyment. What am i talking hours, I mean DAYS AND DAYS of enjoyment. I have clocked around 10 days on the multiplayer of this game and each moment has been epic. The multiplayer caters for many styles of combat. I have found myself holding flags down with the FAMAS, to running like a mad man with G18 Akimbos, to sniping people across Afghan desert with the Intervention, to RPGing rooms full of people. The possibilites are endless and make this game great.

The multiplayer is so addictive it can barely be put down into words. You can earn killstreaks and try out various equipment such as manning a gunship, to manning an AC130, to calling in airstrikes on strategic location to even calling in the Nuke and ending the game there and there.

Then we have the Spec Ops part of the game, this I have to say has been one of my most enjoyable parts of the game (more than the epic single player as well). You are basically put into short missions which can be done in a co op mode with a friend online. You can vary difficulties and every time the enemy AI behaves differently, even in some cases pressuring you on higher difficulties if they believe you are staying in one spot for too long.

Now I write this review again on a cold day in December and all I can say is that it should have ended here

Aside from the aforementioned excellent gameplay, the developers pack the missions with epic set pieces, breakneck tension, scenes which garner reactions of shock and awe and more than a few moments which will that prompt audible gasps from anyone watching or playing the game. There simply isn't a mission that goes by which doesn't succeed in nailing the player's jaw to the floor. There are, it has to be said, more than a few of scenes of disturbing violence which have the power to unsettle players – the footage that has already been leaked is probably the most obvious (but not the last) example of this. But these scenes are meant to have this effect within the context of the plot. Despite the silly extremes of certain plot developments, there is a serious undercurrent to the campaign's story which not only takes a hard unblinking look at the destabilising effects of armed conflict but also the fact that some of the people who operate within that environment exhibit a fish-eyed pragmatism which belies their brutal nature. The extremes to which some of the characters – even those with less questionable motives – go in order to accomplish their goals would mark them out as sociopaths in any other context. Modern Warfare 2 may toss a large chunk of reality into the rubbish skip in terms of its story, but it nails the motives of its protagonists to the wall.

Depending on their accuracy, players will probably finish off the campaign in around six to eight hours, and although they'll probably play it through more than once, the game's online multiplayer mode is where its true longevity lies. Once again, Infinity Ward have kept the nuts and bolts of their multiplayer intact, while adding in some new features that are sure to delight the faithful. The RPG/perk reward system remains the same and with players advancing through the ranks depending on their abilities and gaining experience points with each battle. There are new Killstreak rewards which unlock weapons drops and air strikes – which are always handy in a firefight – and players also have the option of customising their Killstreaks, which allows them to unlock more advantages and battle assets. This customisation, however, remains balanced; players aren't able to rain down drone attacks after just a couple of kills. There's also the new Deathstreak feature which helps out the less accurate players (like me) with 'rewards' such as the ability to steel your killer's military class and weapons.

Aside from the new weapons and equipment, players have far more options when it comes to customising how they approach the multiplayer. There are the preloaded classes such as Ranger and Overwatch, as well as some unlockable classes such as Riot Control. Players can also unlock the option to create their own classes, which in itself opens up a plethora of new ways to enjoy this mode – fancy tackling foes with just a riot shield and a rocket launcher? Help yourself. Another handy addition to online multiplayer, is in-game host migration. If a match host (usually on the losing side) decides to leave the game, the mode won't reset to the main lobby as in COD4, but will instead select a new host from the remaining players and the game continues. Up to 18 players can take part at any time in various match types which include Free-For-All, Search & Destroy, Domination, Team Deathmatch and new Demolition and Capture The Flag. As far as DLC is concerned, Infinity Ward have remained tight-lipped, al

Over the years the Call of Duty series has set the bar for immersive, action-packed, cinematic FPS gaming, and no matter what camp you're from there's no denying the franchise's influence on the industry. When Infinity Ward moved from the classic World War II setting and blazed new ground with Modern Warfare we saw the first obvious split within the world of Call of Duty. The series dropped its historic focus, created a new cast of characters, and began treading on new ground by taking the first-person shooter genre to new locales, and pushing the boundaries of what military games are willing to show. With Modern Warfare 2, the sheer amount of hype has been practically inescapable, with preorders alone setting it up as one of the biggest selling games of all time, the addition of even more multiplayer modes and features, and the game's new Special Operations mode has set Infinity Ward's lastest up as the game to beat this year.