If there's one video game series that never fails to have me pulling my hair out, it's Call of Duty. Infinity Ward have delivered the latest instalment to the franchise with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and it's no different. Just ask some of the people I've been partied up with in multiplayer. Despite this, it's clear even to me that Modern Warfare is a huge step in the right direction for the series, after a few entries that have failed to live up to expectations.
Let's kick things off by talking about the Campaign mode. It goes without saying that CoD campaigns aren't for the faint of heart, and that has never been more apparent than with Modern Warfare. A terrorist attack in the centre of London, England opens up proceedings, with a familiar creeping feeling of dread seeping in to encourage an immersive experience straight from the jump. It doesn't take long for you to start caring about the cast of characters, which makes soe of the heaviest moments hard to stomach.
Campaign modes are often a great way to test out the array of different weapons at your disposal, which you'll be hoping to put to good use in Multiplayer, so jumping into solo play before anything else is a great idea if you're feeling a little rusty. It certainly allowed a healthy introduction to the game in my own experience, allowing for the removal of initial frustrations and loadout confusion when going up against other players.
Whilst the narrative is a brilliant one, developers could have gone a couple of steps further to really push the envelope. The sides of 'good' and 'evil' are sometimes blurred, but not enough to force the player into really taking a moment to sit back and wonder if they're doing the right thing.
What really matters however, is whether or not the Campaign is enjoyable. I'll happily admit it's the most fun I've had with a CoD campaign for many years. Dialogue choices are a welcome addition, even if they don't have a real impact on the direction of the story; it shows that Infinity Ward aren't afraid to test the waters with new gameplay mechanics, that could have an even bigger role in future entries.
When it comes to Multiplayer, well... I think it's fair to say that I'm just not very good at first-person shooters (other than Overwatch). I would suggest my reaction times aren't quick enough, but I'm a nimble player on Crash Bandicoot when jumping across the infamous head-on icy bridge. What I have the most trouble with is seeing enemies across the map. By the time I've realised someone is moving in the distance, they've taken me down. So, the problem I have with Modern Warfare is the size of the Multiplayer maps.
Sure, I could sit back and camp certain spots, as many players seem to be doing in this 10-strong set of maps, but that's just not the type of player I want to be. It's boring. Who wants to stay in the same corner and just pop people off as they come rushing through?
There are a handful of new modes in Modern Warfare's Multiplayer, with Realism one of the most exciting. Taking away all of the HUD elements and throwing players into a beautiful piece of chaos with just their weapons and teammates to look after them is an experience that takes some getting used to, but rewards those who take their time to invest fully in this unique world.
If you're more about working together than taking out other real-life players, there are a set of co-op PvE modes that test your skills in wave-based gameplay. Specific objectives are given, which means you'll need to work closely with teammates to ensure success.
With a number of different roles available, it may take a few runs through each Spec-Op before you discover which of those roles is your favourite. Heavy reliance will fall on the Medic, for example, so if you're good under pressure, this may be the class for you!
Combining the Campaign and Multiplayer modes together, Infinity Ward have done an impeccable job of bringing replayability and enjoyment to the Call of Duty series. I might be tearing my hair out whenever I get picked out from across the map before I've even scanned the area, but at the back of my mind, there's finally a lot of love for a series that was dangerously close to losing its sparkle.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. A code for Xbox One was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Tagged in Call of Duty