Infinity Ward has always been excellent at developing new Call of Duty games, and with Modern Warfare 2, they have demonstrated once again why they are the finest in the industry. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a continuation of the plot that was included in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot in 2019. It was meant to bring a new viewpoint to the franchise by reimagining the iconic characters and story of the Modern Warfare series in a brand-new game with spectacular visuals.
The success of the 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare established that the brand is still alive and well, and the sequel continues to demonstrate why. Modern Warfare 2 is the most comprehensive Call of Duty game in recent memory, with an incredible single-player story as well as a fun multiplayer addition to the franchise. It takes everything good about the Call of Duty series and amplifies it.
The campaign graphics in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are the best I’ve seen in a video game. Perhaps more importantly, it is one of the most visually appealing first-person shooters on PC. On a PC, the animations, graphics, and gunplay all feel and look fantastic. However, although the gameplay is fun, with some excellent action set pieces, the story falls short. If I’m being honest, the writing is bad overall, and it’s difficult to keep up with the characters’ motivations at times. Part of the reason is the story’s quick pace, which takes you on a globetrotting adventure.
The story of Modern Warfare 2 is filled with action, but there are also stealth and calm moments of tranquility where the player may stroll around a semi-open environment. These times may be few and far between, but they do bring a feeling of relief after some of the more difficult encounters. Still, it appears that the story in this Modern Warfare sequel falls short of the expectations established by the 2019 reboot. In some ways, it is a step forward, but also a step back.
While the single-player campaign is engaging, it is a one-time event, thus the multiplayer or spec-ops modes will provide the majority of the replay value. This is where the game shines the brightest. The Modern Warfare reboot created the groundwork for fantastic gameplay, and its sequel has continued the tradition. It’s one of the most responsive first-person shooters I’ve played on PC, which is saying a lot.
It takes little time to become acquainted with the guns in the game, and they are a joy to use in multiplayer matches. Learning the ins and outs of a certain weapon might give you an advantage in some multiplayer games, and personalizing a loadout is always vital in ensuring victory. The game’s mechanics are a delight to see in action, and hit detection is fairly good, lessening any sluggishness that may have been felt. Most multiplayer matches went out without a hitch for me, however, it’s a shame we still don’t have stats tracking for a game of this level.
There has been a lot of innovation for the franchise over the years of various Call of Duty games. It has been to space, the future, and the past, and is now placed in modern times. Infinity Ward has learned a lot from their past games, and the gunplay in Modern Warfare 2 feels just about perfect. The fast-paced mobility featured in previous games has been replaced by a systematic approach to warfare. It has a slower tempo in multiplayer, but after years of fast-paced battles, this is a much-needed welcome shift that is now much more anchored in reality.
As much fun as I had with the game, there were some difficulties with the PC port. On PC, I had numerous crashes, especially when a new update was applied. For some reason, it also resets the settings, so I have to redo them. Having said that, the controls are excellent on PC when using a mouse and keyboard. The game includes some fantastic reload animations and weapon sounds, which contribute to the whole experience. Unfortunately, the PC port has some UI issues and frequent crashes, but I hope they may be fixed with post-launch patches.
If we overlook the problems, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a fantastic PC port. It runs rather nicely on a PC, especially when using DLSS. The game is also stunning, and with the potential to run at an unlocked frame rate, it may be quite handy in online matches when played on a screen with a higher refresh rate. The ability to change numerous PC-specific options from a quick menu is interesting, and the new search bar makes it easier to locate our desired settings.