MW2: Single Player Impressions

In short...short. Like the prequel, Modern Warfare's single player campaign is short for a die hard FPS fan like me. Enjoyed every explosion, cut-scene, abundant action, stunning graphics, what I haven't enjoyed was the although intense but short SP campaign. Nonetheless, it was worthy.

 

The main story does feel a bit short, but it's so packed full of action that it doesn't disappoint. Each mission contains so much variety and it means that no level feels out of place or boring. Not only is there a lot of satisfying first person shooter sequences, there are also stealth segments and vehicle chases. So in essence the campaign's length feels just right. Not to mention that the story can be played through higher difficulties to make the game a little more challenging.

 

Rookies of the 'First Person Shooter' genre and perhaps even seasoned players will have their moments of frustration during the campaign. Not because of cheap AI or glitches, but because of the shear chaos during many of the missions. Modern Warfare 2 immerses you in combat and expects you to strategize and improvise your tactics in the blink of an eye. Enemies will constantly flank and out maneuver you to stay one step ahead. Cover will only save your sorry hide for so long when most is destructible or can be penetrated by weapon fire forcing you to advance. You and your squad never seem to have the high ground and are almost always outnumbered and surrounded by what seems like 10 to 1 odds or worse. It is fast, frenetic, insane, and man is it fun. Few games this generation can come close to matching Modern Warfare 2's intensity for one level let alone an entire campaign.

 

Environments are massive and extremely varied. You will find yourself frostbitten in the snow, sweating under the sun in Rio, and seemingly everywhere in between. Dozens of enemies and allies are on screen simultaneously as walls crumble and windows shatter from gunfire. Vehicles explode in a hail of debris as gunships streak overhead. Garbage, dust, rain and shrapnel details are constantly assaulting your senses. All this polish and detail with zero frame rate drops. I am still in awe and would love to see this graphic engine utilized elsewhere in the future.

I am currently on my veteran playtrough, after beating the game on regular and hardened dificulty. I am just waiting to enter the real MW 2 world: Spec ops and the cherry on top, multiplayer.