The Call of Duty franchise has reclaimed its spot as gaming’s premiere first-person shooter.
After a sub-par journey back to world war 2 and another dip into the Black Ops well, we find ourselves back at where the franchise first took off in 2007 - a modern war setting.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare is a reboot of sorts that somehow manages to tug on the heartstrings of my high school years and also propel the series forward.
It’s a nostalgic thrill-ride that despite a few unexpected bumps, keeps me grinning from cheek-to-cheek and never wanting to put the controller down.
Time to order some Taco Bell and a Mountain Dew.
Campaign
This year’s campaign continues the Michael Bay-like action fans have come to expect but throws in much more close-quarters combat scenarios, creating for an up-tick hair-raising moments.
Missions take you into buildings with tight layouts making for more intense sequences, especially when the night vision goggles come into play. I held my breath through more than a couple of enemy encounters, a feeling this series has not caused me in quite some time.
The campaign’s story leans a bit on the predictable side, but its use of flashbacks help add to certain characters’ importance. More than once you’re put in the role of a child where you learn the backstory of how a character got to where they are. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the run n’ gun nature of the rest of the missions. It’s easily my favorite since the original Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare.
Multiplayer
Where do I even begin with how much I love this year’s multiplayer? After the series experimented with needless wall running and over-complicated hero-shooting nonsense, this year’s multiplayer is more finesse and stripped back, focusing on the fundamentals.
Adding on perks to my loadouts felt just like 2007 again and achieving a kill-streak created so much excitement that my voice nearly cracked. When coming face-to-face with an opponent, I always feel like I have an even chance to win a shootout, a real testament to the weapon balance in this game.
Multiplayer modes are mostly the ones you expect to be present, but one of the new additions might be my new favorite. Titled gunfight, this two-on-two mode pits teams against each other on a map no bigger than a paintball field. The small space makes every shot feel more crucial, making for even one second of inaccuracy exponentially increasing your chances of losing. Make sure to have those mics on because communication is key.
If you’re looking for a more co-op experience, the game also offers a mode called Special Ops. This mode combines more of the campaign’s story along with objectives to tackle with a friend. It’s by far the weakest mode, but it’s there as the game’s third pillar, replacing zombies mode.
Perhaps my favorite part of this game is how it allows crossplay. As the years have progressed, friends drifted to different consoles, but now it’s possible to assemble the old crew just like the old days. I never dreamed of the day video games could pull off this sort of sorcery, but gosh darn it is it magnificent.
Verdict
Call of Duty Modern Warfare is my favorite in the series since, well, Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare (yes, the naming mechanics are weird). It toes the perfect line of being nostalgic and feeling fresh. The game’s shock and awe campaign are gorgeous and action-packed and its multiplayer will keep its hooks in me for months to come. It’s safe to say I have my now sights on next year’s sequel.
REVIEW SCORE: 9/10
Review code provided by publisher
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