November 5 9:15 A.M.
Modern Warfare 2 isn't just one of the biggest games coming out this holiday, it's also one of the most secretive. Now that the marketing machine has ramped up around the action title, more information has begun to leak out about what the game will be like, stirring up controversy and leaving gamers thirsty for more. We've organized all the best info out there so you can know what you're getting yourself into:
The Story So Far
It's been a few years since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and now it seems a new threat has arisen in the wake of the death of Imran Zakhaev. Vladimir Makarov, new leader of the Ultranationalist movement, has grown in strength, attracting the attention of multinational anti-terror group Task Force 141. Led by COD4's “Soap” MacTavish, Task Force 141 adds a new character, Sergeant Gary “Roach” Sanderson, and that's you.
But as in the previous game, players take on different characters within the game as the story plays out. In one particularly controversial mission, gamers go undercover as a CIA operative participating in a Russian terrorist attack on an airport -- only to find themselves exposed by mission's end.
Modern Warfare 2's missions are expected to take players around the globe, including the aforementioned Russian airport, Afghanistan, a shantytown village in Rio de Janiero, and a snowy mountain range in Kazakhstan. The latest trailer also showed at least one mission on U.S. home turf, with a dramatic firefight raging outside the the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The Gameplay
On land, and air, Modern Warfare 2 is there.
While Modern Warfare 2 looks and feels a lot like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, much has changed both under the hood and right on your screen. A more powerful engine allows more sophisticated AI routines for bad guys. Enemies won't spawn from the same place over and over again, and will use different tactics to hunt you down. All told, the single player campaign should ring in at about 6-10 gameplay hours.
Beyond the campaign, there's also a Special Operations mode made up of standalone missions like time-trial races on a snowmobile or a terrorist hunt in the slums of Rio. Each of these missions can be played with a friend, and in fact, some of them require a second player to participate, like the COD4-inspired AC-130 level, where one player tries to reach a checkpoint while the other clears the way with the armed-to-the-teeth aircraft.
Finally, the dynamics of the game itself have evolved, thanks to a few equipment changes. Players can now carry any secondary weapon they want, instead of simply toting around a pistol, so if you want to carry two types of shotguns, you can. You can also choose the new Riot Shield, which blocks and deflects incoming fire very effectively -- or opt for no protection, and pray and spray with dual-wielded guns.
The Online Experience
There are now two new gametypes in Modern Warfare 2: Demolition, which tasks teams with bombing multiple positions, and old-favorite Capture the Flag. Competitive gamers now have deeper customization available for their characters, including new Perks which upgrade the more you use them, and call signs and emblems to help personalize your soldier. Well-honed players can design their own killstreak bonuses while those mowed down by rivals one too many times are compensated with death streak rewards that give added health or allow gamers to copy the weapon loadout of their killers.
Last but not least, Infinity Ward has integrated a new host migration feature, which yes, sounds technical and boring, but means matches won't be aborted whenever the host leaves the game. Instead, the session will find the next suitable host and the match continues. Considering the amount of quitting that goes on in current Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare games, this one's a good thing.
In Conclusion
There are many other secrets and improvements in Modern Warfare 2, but naturally, we can't spoil them all before its release on November 10th. Instead, if you need your Call of Duty fix, take advantage of the Variety Map Pack sale going on right now for the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Consider it combat training; you're going to need it.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Posted: 4 Nov 2009
