Check out this trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429l13dS6kQ
With an advertising blitz rivaling Hollywood blockbusters, stunning graphics, a soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer and frantic gameplay, "Modern Warfare 2" has become a social phenomenon. Since its Nov. 10 release, the game — released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC — raked in more than $550 million in five days in global sales, according to game publisher Activision.
"Modern Warfare 2" picks up five years after the first game. Ultranationalists have taken power in Russia, and a botched CIA operation ends with a dead American framed for an airport massacre. The player races around the world either as a Task Force 141 operator or as an U.S. Army Ranger, fighting in locales ranging from Rio de Janeiro or the streets of Washington, D.C. Be warned, plot twists abound.
The fighting in the single-player campaign is vicious. Stealth and aggressive game play are featured. A particularly fun feature is when the player has to breach and clear rooms. The game slows down into "bullet time," giving the player time to aim and choose between hostages and the bad guys.
Some in-game cut scenes — such as gliding underwater to attack an oil rig or stepping into the ruined streets of Washington, D.C. — are so well-composed and elaborately done they feel like they belong in a Michael Bay film rather than a game. In fact, two moments in the game take cues from the 1996 film "The Rock."
The story's pacing is brisk, even to a fault. For those who care, keep subtitles on, since much of the plot is explained in the loading screens between levels. With a short playtime of five hours and an abrupt ending, it seems like Infinity Ward cut the story in half to save material for the eventual "Modern Warfare 3."
"Modern Warfare 2's" major faults are in its multiplayer game play.
For regular multiplayer on the PC, Infinity Ward's IWNET matchmaking program is built to get players into the fight quickly. Gamers click on a game type to play — deathmatch, capture the flag, domination, to name a few — and IWNET takes care of the rest. Players that want to stick with friends online can create parties and join a game together.
However, the matchmaking program causes much frustration. It might take multiple attempts of canceling out a two-minute unsuccessful search to find a team deathmatch.
Multiplayer gameplayers are likely to notice more trouble with random server disconnects or host migrations, both of which are relatively common.
"Modern Warfare 2" seems to be just more of the same; as one reviewer was quoted, "Didn't I just play this five times ?". Online stability issues and IWNET bugginess mar an otherwise great game. Not to mention the problem of no dedicated servers. Look like the PC industry got hosed.
Review 1) 361 customers respond: http://www.amazon.com/Call-Duty-Modern-Warfare-2-Pc/product-reviews/B00269QLJ2/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Review 2) 478 comments: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/modernwarfare2/news.html?sid=6233212&mode=previews
Review 3) IW responds to MW2 petitions; servers caped at 9v9: http://www.destructoid.com/iw-responds-to-mw2-petition-servers-capped-at-9v9-154091.phtml&mainnav=PC&mainnav=PC
