Something momentous took place in the world of gaming this week, the arrival of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the most successful first person shooter of all time and the most anticipated video game release of the year.  According to figures released by the industry trade body, ELSPA, Modern Warfare 2 sold 1.23 million units generating £47 million in the first 24 hours (in the UK alone), which means it’s already beaten Grand Theft Auto IV as the most successful games release ever.  So did Modern Warfare 2  live up to the hype, well yes, it’s a totally unmatched gaming experience. 

Here’s my thoughts…

If you’re unfamiliar with the Call of Duty franchise I’ll kick off by explaining the background.  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is in-fact the sixth Call Of Duty game, four versions have been set in World War two, the most popular version however was Call of Duty four (or COD4 to us fanboys), a version set in modern times, Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to this version. 

Modern Warfare 2 has three gameplay modes, multiplayer, special ops and the campaign mode.  Multiplayer is where most of the action takes place and is why this game is so popular with fans all over the world.  Within multiplayer there are several game options either playing as a team or on your own.  These multiplayer games can involve anything from a free for all gun battle (in essence shooting the shit out of each other) to defending or denoting bombs.  What Infinity Ward (the game developers) have managed to pull off in the multiplayer experience is pure addiction, the action is intense, the adrenalin flows and it won’t be long before you’re hooked in.  The multiplayer mode will leave you saying “just one more go” time and time again. 

Special Ops is a much more calm experience, it’s still action packed but this time it’s a series of 20+ two player missions.  These mission are again varied and include defending yourself against wave after wave of terrorists, a very cool mission where one player controls a helicopter whilst the other moves through the streets to his pick up point and the fun (if short) snow ski race.  The special Ops missions are a welcome retreat after the craziness of multiplayer and if you play with a friend you’ll be working through each mission for hours.  

The campaign mode kicks off with the usual tutorial missions to get you ready for the action that awaits.  As the campaign moves forward you travel all over the world killing thousands (possibly millions) of terrorists.  The plot is somewhat superfluous, campaign mode is all about action and the enormous set pieces.  The level design, sound effects, music and graphics are truly amazing, Infinity Ward have clearly spent a long time researching how the game should look, sound and feel.  Such is the closeness to real life it’s even impressed English Novelist and former soldier Andy McNab who said:

" I sometimes play the last Call Of Duty with my godson, who wipes the floor with me, and I was already impressed. But this new game takes it to a new level. The movement of the characters is spot on. The way a trained soldier holds and fires a gun is very specific – and they’ve got the movement right, down to the last detail. Even the blood spatter and impact of a bullet on a human is correct. Some maps in particular are very close to the real thing. In the opening level you are fighting insurgents through rat runs, in and out of back alleys, mosques and markets in a city. That is exactly the sort of conditions our troops were fighting under in Basra, Iraq. The game really gets across the frantic chaos of a firefight. I’m sure this game will be on the receiving end of some stick – but its biggest defence is its realism. It isn’t glorifying war, it’s bringing it into living rooms and simulating it as closely as possible".

There is off course the controversy that has surrounded Modern Warfare 2 that I feel deserves a mention.  Here in the UK Labour MP Keith Vaz  strongly criticised the game saying he was “absolutely shocked” by the violence, and  "It contains such scenes of brutality that even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game".  What he was referring to is the level in which you become an undercover agent and are asked to help shoot civilians in an airport.  Sure it’s a violent level, but no more than anything I’ve seen in a film or other video games such as Grand Theft Auto.  And what Mr Vaz seemed to forget is that Modern Warfare is rated 18, children should not play this game, if parents buy it for their kids it’s bad parenting, simple.   

Mr Vaz, by chucking in your opinion you’ve actually ended up giving Modern Warfare free publicity so well done!  Word of advice, try talking to another Labour MP by the name of Tom Watson who’s set up a Facebook group to defend games such as Call of Duty from their critics.  Mr Watson has said "This is specifically intended for an adult audience and accordingly has emotional, adult content."   

Anyway, rant over onto the summary of Modern Warfare 2.  This game is a “must have” for any fan of action games, it’s the complete package, mind blowing campaign mode, cracking mini missions and the depth and longevity of the multiplayer that will keep you entertained for days, possibly years!  I’m yet to believe it deserves the title of best ever game (that title goes to GTAIV in my opinion) but it miles ahead of any other first person shooter.  One word of warning though, say goodbye to your social life, Modern Warfare will demand your attention.     

See you on the battlefield soldier.