The Call of Duty franchise is something that needs little introduction, having entertained gamers since 2003.  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the latest title in the series, and a direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Taking place 5 years after CoD 4, Modern Warfare 2 sets you (for the most part) in the role of “Roach,” a member of elite commando unit called Task Force 141. Facing off against Russian forces as you character hop between a series of levels, it’s up to you to repel Russia’s highly coordinated invasion of the United States.

Modern Warfare 2′s story quickly unfolds as you progress through your objectives, and it’s filled with enough twists, turns, and surprises to make your head explode. I could recount each and every joy filled moment of my play through, but not only would that spoil everything, it wouldn’t do MW2′s campaign justice. It’s simply epic. However, it’s far too short.

After a 6 – 8 hour play-through on the Hardened difficulty level, the campaign ends. It’s by far the biggest criticism I can level on this game, and even then it’s only because the campaign leaves you on such a high that when the credits begin to roll it’s an absolute shock. You’ll be left either scratching your head at the sudden (yet epic) ending, or screaming in a fit of rage that there isn’t just “one more level.”

While disappointing, the Modern Warfare 2 experience doesn’t end with the campaign. In addition there are two further sections, Multiplayer, and Special Ops. Special Ops is by far my favourite mode in Modern Warfare 2. A series of challenges ranging from vehicle races, stealth missions (one of which has been pulled directly from CoD 4), and various objective based assaults, it certainly takes longer to progress through than the campaign.

Special Ops can be played solo or via co-op with a friend, and once you start pushing for Veteran difficulty, you’ll be glad to have the back up. It’s fun, challenging, and each level is short enough so that you can pick up and play any time you have a few minutes free.

Multiplayer is similar to that of Call of Duty 4, with weapons, perks, and various equipment being unlocked as you gain experience from playing. New additions such as death streak rewards, where you unlock a further “perk” for dying a certain amount of times in a row, and a whole host of new killstreak rewards add a level of character customisation not seen in other FPS games. The only real negative to these new perks, is that a lot of them do seem to be overpowered. Coupled with slightly erratic matchmaking, it can lead to newcomers getting obliterated by a level 55 player with excellent weapon unlocks and a killtacular killstreak setup. The end result is that some games can be over within the first 3 minutes.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be, for some, the most anticipated game of the year. With hopes so high, it’s safe to say that it certainly delivers a solid gameplay experience, with eye watering visuals to match. If you can overcome the short campaign, and embrace both the Special Ops and Multiplayer aspects of Modern Warfare 2, you won’t be disappointed.

8.5/10

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