Gamers answer Call of Duty
By Ricardo Guzman
The most anticipated video game of 2009 had gamers flooding into any and every game store in the country back in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, rated M, is a direct sequel to Call of Duty 4 and was developed by Infinity Ward, published by Activision. It is available on Xbox 360, Play Station 3, and Microsoft Windows.
Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person war shooter played in either single player or multiplayer modes. Single player campaign mode can be played in different difficulties depending on the player’s skill and confidence.
Campaign mode restarts where Call of Duty 4 ended. You are an Army Ranger put to the task of protecting the country from a Russian invasion and their “ultranationalists.” Adventures include racing down a mountain on a snowmobile, various man hunts, and a controversial mission where you are forced to go under cover and work for the enemy. I recommend the campaign mode to be played with an HD TV and a surround sound system.
The graphics are well-thought out, especially if you notice the minute details, such as a dirt spot on a soldier’s face or the occasional graffiti art seen throughout the game. The camera angles that are used in each scene made me feel as I was the actual soldier in the game.
The only downside to the mode is that it can easily be completed in 7 total hours, which is relatively short compared to other first person shooters. Because campaign is relatively short, when they conquer it gamers can play online multiplayer mode. This is where Infinity Ward really worked to improve and expand and is what caught my eye. With over 10 different games to be played during online multiplayer, which also has the largest online community, there is something for everybody.
Being a sequel there are bound to be comparisons with the original Modern Warfare. To avoid this Infinity Ward has added many new weapons and features. Some of the main additions are the new kill streaks, titles, and emblems.
The titles and emblems are unlocked by completing certain tasks and challenges that can be displayed to other players to show what each player has done, such as sprinting for a certain amount of miles or reaching a certain level. This combined with the deep ranking system keeps players interested in playing and makes online multiplayer virtually never ending.
Of course with any video game there will be players that are frowned upon due to their choice of playing style. ‘Campers’ and ‘boosters’ are the root of all evil in the Call of Duty world. Camping is when a player stays hidden in one spot and waits for an enemy to run by. This gives them an automatic advantage. Boosting is when two players from opposing teams help each other achieve challenges, which moves players up to higher ranks faster. Although there was an update to remove some of the glitches, there is no way to get rid of these styles of play.
Overall, Modern Warfare 2 has different ways to enjoy the game. Its campaign mode is short, but is made up for in its audio and visual quality. The online multiplayer’s new features and deep ranking system bring a better replayability factor. Beware of campers and boosters. All in all, I’d have to give this game an A-.
