A Marine reviews Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2’s singleplayer. Is it any good?

This sounds lame, but in 2007 I played an absolute ton of Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. I had already decided to join the military by that point, but I was still absolutely stoked to get to play as the Marines in the game. During my military career, I played Call of Duty a ton but largely fell off after Ghosts. But recently everyone was raving about the new Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 so I jumped in too.

The game is confusingly not a remake but a sequel to the 2019 reboot. I’ve beat the campaign but haven’t dived deep into the multiplayer mode just yet. I prefer the single-player experience, and this will be a review of that. So, let’s dive in

Call of Duty – It’s not about the story

Thankfully, Call of Duty stories has never been what we play the games for. The story in Modern Warfare 2 is simple: Track down the generic bad guy and destroy these super-advanced missiles he has. The story takes you around the world with multiple members of Task Force 141. You play as Soap, Gaz, and in a few short segments even as Ghost. Captain Price, Laswell, and Farah also pop in to give the story some familiar faces.

The voice acting is fantastic and helps convey the story well; some of my favorite voice actors are those for Phillip Graves and Vargas, who give great performances. Everyone gets memorable lines, and the characters converse casually, tell jokes, and talk trash. Ghost and Soap’s conversations are often hilarious.

Where the story falls apart is in its plot holes. For example, when you capture the bag guy, you have to release him because it’s a war crime to take him as a prisoner. I guess all the murders and destruction he’s caused since then aren’t an issue. And I do find myself asking why British soldiers are working for an American general and CIA agent.

Also, the story is all predictable. Oh no! The shadowy mercenary group switches sides! Who saw that coming?

Graphics and sound

I’m playing on last-gen hardware, but the game is still absolutely beautiful. Holy crap, I’m stunned. It looks like a tech demo at some points. Everything from facial animations to the water on the ground. It’s fantastic. The guns and gear look on point and are shockingly well done. What’s even more impressive is that the frame rate never dips. Even when everything is going nuts on screen, it flows smoothly.

The sound in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is fantastic too. The vehicles, guns, and little things like glass breaking sound fantastic. There is a section where you are a gunner in an AC-130, and you’re covering your allies. You can hear the impacts of your shots on the ground through your allies’ microphones.

The developers did a fantastic job with the graphics and sound.

Gameplay and guns

What impressed me in the campaign is that every level is distinct and different. You are always doing something different, and most of the time, it’s fun. Maybe you’re sneaking around in a ghillie suit or participating in a car chase. Or maybe you’re infiltrating a cartel compound or sneaking through the streets of Mexico crafting shivs to kill your enemies. Other times you’re rappelling Australian-style and carefully killing people through windows

Some sequences don’t hit home, though. For example, the car chase was too long, and I just wanted it to be over. However, it’s really impressive the number of different gameplay portions you get to experience.

The gunplay is also a blast. Each gun feels unique while remaining punchy and powerful: a shotgun feels like a shotgun, and an SMG feels like a power saw. Weapons vary widely throughout the campaign, and you can find various gun configurations — and many are the military weapons you expect, like the MP7, the AK series, M4, and Benelli M1014.

The gameplay moves at near-break-neck speed and levels never feel repetitive. With Christmas around the corner, this would be a great gift for your servicemember.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 scores high in the fun factor.

Like I’m 19 again

I was shocked at how much I enjoyed the game. I might have walked in with low expectations, but I’m leaving suitably impressed. Interestingly enough, I did realize I’ve grown up a bit when I think that Ghost’s mask is so cringy and we’d make fun of him. Also, it’s 2022 Soap. Ditch the faux hawk. Price still rocks, and he’s the soldier I want to be.

I also wish they’d make a return to the Marine sections from the original Modern Warfare. Give me Sgt. Jackson from Recon and his levels again. We need a rebooted SSgt. Griggs as well.

Maybe next time. Oh, and stay tuned for the single-player campaign’s after-credits scene. Remember, no Russian.

Feature image courtesy of Activision.