The team over at Infinity Ward gave us the gift of the OG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare waaaaay back in the year 2007. I would have been 11 years old. My hair down to my shoulders and a big wonky tooth smile. Eventually my teeth straightened out and I was finally able to find an aesthetic that worked for me. I grew out of my youth and moved on in life. Fast forward 15 years, and the folks at Infinity Ward are STILL making Call of Duty games. That’s right, Infinity Ward are back at it again with what feels like their 35th addition to the Call of Duty franchise.
In reality, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II on Playstation 5 is their ninth game in the series. Not THEE ninth game in the series ,as there have been other developers who have hopped into give it a go, but ninth for Infinity Ward. With the exception of Ghost and Infinite Warfare, I’ve played every Infinity Ward Call of Duty game and I have enjoyed them all. I didn’t play a ton of Modern Warfare 2019, but I played enough to know I thought it was alright. I am so happy to say that I was blown away by how much fun I had in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022). I have become addicted. I have reached max level, got three gold camos, and have been grinding like a maniac trying to max out my weapons. Call of Duty is back and for once it feels so so so good.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a fucking blast to play. Plain and simple. For me personally, it features some of the best gunplay the series has ever had. Bullet impact has severe weight and headshots feel devastatingly satisfying to pull off. Call of Duty games typically live or die by their maps. If the maps aren’t good then nobody will want to play on them. Thankfully, the maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II are pretty good on average. There is only one map I outwardly hate and that’s the border crossing map. The idea of fighting among blown up cars in a crowded road is very cool on paper, but in practice it feels a little too constrained. Unfortunately, my biggest problem with the game is magnified in this map.
The spawn systems are nonsensical. On modes like hardpoint and domination each team has to take control of a certain area of the map. If a team reaches the max amount of points from controlling these areas, they win. See, the problem is that some maps turn these modes into complete coinflips that don’t feel fair. I am not the best player, but I do think it’s kind of wild that someone can spawn behind my team and I while we completely have that side of the map under control and they can just toss a semtex killing all of us. It’s very disorienting and I can’t remember a game in the franchise were I felt the spawning was such an issue.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II really shines with its progression. The only things you can currently unlock in the game are camos for your weapons through the new camo unlock system, weapon parts and emblems. For the first time in the series, the camos are universal. If you unlock a camo with a weapon you now own it for every single weapon available. That is all except for the mastery camos; gold, platinum, etc. Earning the gold camo has never been this easy. For some, that’s an issue, but not for me. I’m so happy that for once I don’t have to break my back to earn a shiny gold skin for my gun of choice. Making the gold camo easy to obtain is also a great way to motivate you to play with other guns. Some guns can only be unlocked if you play with another gun and get it to a certain level. MW2 does a terrific job of making you want to use weapons you might not have given a chance. This is all before the Battle Pass has even released. I cannot wait to see what content that offers. If it’s expansive and the rewards are good, I see myself playing this game for a long time.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a terrific addition to the Call of Duty franchise. The gunplay is as tight as ever and the new camo unlock system gets you excited to use each weapon. I actually can’t wait for the inevitable DLC. If you’re on the fence about this one, don’t be. This is such an exciting entry to the franchise and such a fun time. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a delight (but only if you mute everyone the moment you enter a lobby)
