Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 [X360]

Now that we've got the basics down, let's dive into the real guts of Modern Warfare 2, which is the insane amount of customization. When it comes to pure depth and options, Modern Warfare 2 blows away the competition, and that includes COD4. The killstreaks include an insane amount of versatility, guns are far more expandable, and perks are even crazier than the first game.

I'll kick it off with the guns, starting with the weapons themselves. The beta includes a huge range of weaponry, with the list comprised of the M4, FAMAS, SCAR-H (which is a mix of AK-47 and M4), Tar-21, the MP5K, UMP45, a submachine gun called the Vector (similar to the original MP5, but with a faster firing speed), the aforementioned light machine guns, and sidearms. The SCAR was a blast to play with, and the iron sights were easy to use from even mid to long range. Speaking of long range, kills from a farther distance earn you extra challenges, as do double and triple kills and headshots. Not bad. Oh, and the P90 wasn't playable, but it's in the list, and in the first half of submachine guns you unlock.

Where things really get interesting, however, is in the new gun-based attachments. Modern Warfare had things like doubletap as a perk. This time around, gun attachments include modifications like those as well, so you've got silencers, the ACOG scope, red dot, grips, heartbeat scanners, improved speed, and high-cap magazines. With the new Bling perk you can have two attachments at a time as well, so increased firing speed and a larger mag is entirely viable. These don't take the place of any perks either (minus the Bling one), so tweaking weapons is now deeper than ever.

On the grenade front, the same thing applies. There's now frags, semtex, throwing knives, but also a strange addition called "Tactical Insurgence," which replaces all primary grenades with a flare stick. Crack it open on the battlefield and you'll mark that spot as your next respawn point. This is a bit tricky to use, since you have to not only know where you want to spawn next time, but also get there. If you use it right though (on Afghan you can crack a stick by your sniper position, and if killed will spawn just a few meters from the person that flanked you) you can dominate. This is also interesting for snipers that spend time getting to out-of-the-way areas as well. Get to a killer spot? Crack open the stick, and hop right back up there if you're counter-sniped.

And then there are the perks. First off, Pro Perks. Pro Perks are new additions to the game as well, allowing for you to actually increase the power of a specific perk (say, stopping power or increased speed; another addition announced tonight) if you use it a lot. Kill a set amount of people with stopping power on – I believe it was 1,000… no easy task – and you unlock "Stopping Power Pro." These perks can be seen on the main perk selection menu, and like all the other customization in the game it's entirely streamlined. If you hover over any attachment, gun, or perk in the game and press X, you'll see info on that selection, including how many kills you need for the next challenge or unlock. Nice.

As for other perks I noticed, the list goes on and on. Scavenger allows you to re-up on all supplies and ammo any time you cross over a dead body, and new "deathstreak" system actually comes to your aid with a class-stealing ability – die four times, and you can steal the class setup of the person who last killed you, allowing you to get guns not previously unlocked – and also a perk that gives you automatic health boots for 10 seconds after respawning. The health boost is also included as a standalone perk, as is the Bling perk I mentioned. A new infinite sprint option is included, "hardline" lets you get to your killstreaks one kill faster (if UAV is at three, you get it at two every time), there's a speed boost perk (which was the "feathered boots" pic in the original MW2 teaser trailer) that lets you run faster, and then the expected stopping power and steady aim options.

And then there's the kill streak perks. The new killstreaks are what really elevate Modern Warfare 2 above and beyond any other online FPS in terms of customization and user diversity, even raising the bar well over what Modern Warfare did two years ago. Shown off tonight was the AC-130, UAV, anti-UAV (nice touch), sentry gun turret (which can be placed anywhere and then moved by any teammate), precision airstrike, which now lets you change the approach direction of the attack, the amazingly deadly predator missile, the supply drop (which is the roulette of other killstreaks that drops in) and helicopter. The choppers are still pretty deadly this time around, though with none of the advanced rockets that appear to be in the game unlocked I'm sure this is balanced out later with a decent grouping of anti-air. I also tried to stick a chopper with semtex, but didn't quite have the arm. The predator missile is going to piss off a lot of group-up clans, since you can instantly drop a huge explosion down on an entire group of people, but while I originally wasn't a fan of this upgrade since it was overpowered, you can also see it coming on the radar and prepare for a good three seconds or so, gving you time to run inside or disperse. I avoided a few direct predator attacks, and it was pretty satisfying.

And finally, a few other "housekeeping" bits to mention. First off, a new version of Search and Destroy is now supported in the game. Titled "Demolition," this new mode (whether it replaces S&D or is just in addition to it) allows for everyone on the attacking team to have a bomb, and full-on respawns as the round goes on. Defenders try to stop the attacks at both an A and B site, but if attackers succeed in a single bombing their time is increased and the focus shifts to the other site entirely. This was a great mode for using the predator missile, as you could blow away teams that were moving towards sites, and the sentry guns (basically auto-turrets) could be dispatched at various choke points and used to control the flow of the map. Oh, and while I'm on the subject of capping and planting, shields are a bitch to fight against. You may not always have a buddy with you, but shield carriers can squat on a point and deflect a huge amount of fire. I managed to score some captures in domination using that tactic, and I'd assume "shield spam" will be a worthy tactic when dealing with headquarters as well. As for the new mode, demolition is a great addition to the Modern Warfare game set, and one I'll be playing right up there with headquarters for the months (and let's be realistic; years) to come. Hopefully classic Search & Destroy makes a return though too.

We'll have more on Modern Warfare 2 soon, so keep checking back for more updates. As for this initial hands-on, the game is a blast, the bar is again being raised, and Modern Warfare 2 is proof positive that when it comes to first-person shooters Infinity Ward is in a league all its own. This is just the beginning for our coverage, so stay tuned for future updates and more hands-on play as we near 11.10.09.

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