Activision and Infinity Ward have released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Read on.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare brings players a re-imagining of the classic series and allows gamers to actually join the fight together through cross play. Gamers will be able to play through several modes including the impressive story campaign, online multiplayer and a collection of Special Ops missions in co-op mode.
Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter that contains one amazing narrative that connects every game mode. One of the best parts of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is its new engine that gives the game some of the most realistic graphics and environments yet to appear in the series.
Players can start out with the game's immersive single player campaign which has them partnering with special forces and freedom fighters in order to retrieve chemical weapons that have been stolen. The campaign ventures across several places around the globe including Europe and the Middle East. One of the interesting elements of the campaign is the moral choices that gamers will have to make while assessing which civilians are threats. The dialogue that you will have with NPCs depends on the choices you make which adds a great deal of immersion and realism to Modern Warfare. Your choices will end up impacting the global balance of power and really shines a light on what modern war really looks like today.
In Modern Warfare's multiplayer, you have several options, including Quick Play which allows you to play a rotation of selected game modes and map types. The popular mode Ground War returns with its large scale conflict, with 100 players dropping into combat, and using anything at their disposable, including a wide selection of vehicles, to be the last person standing. Other modes include Gunfight (small team, multi-round cage matches), Free-For-All (kill everyone, top 3 players win), Realism (hides all HUD elements for more realism), and Private Match (play with custom rules).
Multiplayer mode has a ton of customization options this time around with the ability to edit loadouts, kill streaks, operators, and more. You also have the ability to select your field upgrades, select a watch for your operators and browse weapon blueprints & mods you collect.
There are two operator classes in Modern Warfare, Coalition and Allegiance. In order to unlock new characters, you are tasked with completing certain objectives first. For example to unlock Domino from the Coalition, you have to first win five matches of Gunfight. One of the things I didn't like off the bat was that there is not a female operator automatically unlocked for girl gamers. So instead, I am stuck with a default male character until I was unable to unlock a female one.
As you start to get the hang of things, you can visit the Barracks to look at your daily challenges in multiplayer. As you complete these, you will gain XP. In this same area, you can also customize your identity which consists of your emblem, calling card, clan tag, sprays and gestures. Your rank progression and records are also available in the barracks.
One of the first things you will notice in combat, that will be different for those coming off of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, is the controls and mechanics. For example, you will have to hold down the button for a few seconds to open drops and weapon/ammo chests. And instead of using gauze and health packs to heal, you will instead have to duck and take cover while your health replenishes after taking damage. Much of the mechanics in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare are designed to add a more realistic combat experience for players. And also one key difference is there is no Blackout mode in Modern Warfare but you do have Ground War which seems a lot more hectic and chaotic then it was in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
One of my favorite parts of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the Special Ops Co-op Mode which takes a turn at the classic special ops with replayable experiences where you will test your proficiency in regards to weapon types, kill streaks and more. It is here where you get a special mix of the campaign and multiplayer, in a more low-key environment. You can join up to three other players in this mode to complete special operations that focus on taking down certain objectives. This mode visits several locations throughout Call of Duty history and definitely give gamers a sense of nostalgia. As you unlock content in Special Ops, this will also carry over to multiplayer. And vice versa. Some of the missions you complete will scored and you will receive a star rating that can motivate gamers to compete for high scores. The co-op portion is really perfect for you to join three of your friends in Call of Duty while still getting the same narrative fun you would from campaign combined with some of the energy that comes from multiplayer matches. It really is a perfect combination!
In the end, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is another great addition to the series and manages to offer one of the most realistic combat experiences to date. While the game doesn't contain the beloved Zombies mode, there is still plenty of stuff to love about the release, like its Special Ops Co-op missions and the entertaining Gunfight mode. Add that to its amazing narrative and kick-ass graphics, well what more could you ask for?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. To learn more, visit the official Call of Duty: Modern Warfare website.
Several editions are now available for purchase, including:
- Standard Edition and Digital Standard Edition – Suggested Retail Price (SRP) $59.99
- Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Edition – Supports veterans through the Call of Duty Endowment, SRP $59.99, exclusively available at GameStop in the US
- Digital Operator Edition – Operator Packs and more, SRP $79.99
- Digital Operator Enhanced Edition – Operator Packs, Call of Duty Points, and more, SRP $99.99
- Precision Edition – Operator Packs and more, SRP $99.99
- Dark Edition – Collectible Night Vision Goggles and more, SRP $199.99
Reviewed for Xbox One