Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - review

With the first Modern Warfare rightly heralded as one of the best games of all time, can the sequel deliver? The short answer is a resounding yes.

The first Modern Warfare was praised for both its blockbuster-style single player and its incredibly addictive online multiplayer. MW2 does not try to change what isn't broken, instead taking the "turn it up to 11" approach and simply giving players even more of a good thing.

The single-player campaign follows on directly from that of the first game, meaning if you are unfamiliar with the story so far, you will have little clue as to what is going on. For fans though, jumping back into the story is exciting, and the campaign wastes little time getting players stuck into the action.

Many characters return, including main character of MW1, Soap MacTavish, who has since become your new captain. The campaign is a globe-trotting affair of epic proportions, with missions ranging from snowy Russian wasteland to sunny Brazilian favelas.

Amazing action set-pieces take the forefront, from snowmobile chases, to infiltrating an oil-rig, defending the White House, fleeing from an angry armed militia, and much more.

The action is tense and exciting at all times, and although the campaign itself is quite short, there is not a single dull moment throughout. Coupled with a great story that leaves a final sequel a very possible prospect, the single player is fantastic.

New to Modern Warfare 2 is Spec-Ops mode, which can be played either alone or co-operatively with a friend. This mode takes the form of small missions, with a total of three stars to achieve on each one.

Ranging from wiping an area of enemies, to defending a friend as he tries to escape an armed mob, these are short and sweet bursts of fun, although as the difficulty ramps up, they can become very hard indeed.

With no checkpoints, failure means a return to the beginning of the particular mission. That said, getting all the stars quickly becomes addictive, and Spec-Ops mode is great for anyone with only a few minutes to play.

MW1 had multiplayer than can accurately be described as more addictive than crack, and MW2 continues the trend in style. Similar to the first, MW2 has players levelling up as they play, gaining experience from killing other players, or helping their own team.

As you go up levels, more weapons and abilities are unlocked, giving experienced players more options in how to play. Importantly, these unlockable weapons are not necessarily better than those you start with, merely alternative choices.

This ensures even a new player has a good chance of doing well as he tries online for the first time.

With a multitude of match types to try, such as team deathmatch, sabotage and domination, there is plenty to do online. Couple this with the fact you can create your own classes, choosing your weapons and abilities that you use as you play, and the possibilities become endless, with a game that essentially will never become old.

Even abilities, or perks, can now be levelled up, with "pro" versions becoming available to those who use them enough. Unlocking everything, including every attachment and camouflage skin for every weapon, will take a very long time indeed.

Of course, this would all be pointless if the game was no fun to play, but the fluid control and satisfying action from previous entries in the series are perfectly reproduced once again. No other shooting game feels as good to play as Call of Duty, and the same is true for the newest instalment.

Modern Warfare 2 is a fantastic example of a brilliant sequel. Taking everything that was great about the first game, and delivering even more of it, this is a game that truly deserves to sell the millions upon millions of copies that it is. Probably the best game of 2009, Modern Warfare 2 is a game that simply no-one can afford to miss.

10/10

Review sponsored by Game - www.game.co.uk

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Age restriction: 18+

XBox 360

44.99