Of course, eight hours of single-player action is nothing compared to the dozens -- if not hundreds -- of hours one could conceivably sink into the game's other two modes. Everyone's been talking quite a bit about the new Special Operations (Spec Ops) mode, and for good reason. These bite-sized sequences are perfect for those times when you just want to hop into a quick game (either alone or with a friend) without dealing with the mouth-breathers and basement-dwelling sociopaths online. There's also a nice bit of variety on display here, as one mission might find you and your partner defending a platform while the next has one player raining down death from an AC-130 as their buddy attempts to make it from point A to point B.
My only issue with the Spec Ops mode is the fact that there really isn't much in the way of options. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the highly customizable multiplayer mode (more on that in a bit), but I couldn't help feeling like Infinity Ward was holding back something with the Spec Ops mode. More maps, more players, and more scenarios would be greatly appreciated, something I'm sure Infinity Ward knew people would bring up. I would be willing to bet that we'll be seeing a Spec Ops DLC pack in the near future, but here's hoping it's not just a few new maps. Come on IW, give us the ability to add more players!
Given the fact that CoD4: Modern Warfare is still one of the most-played games on Xbox Live, it wouldn't have been a shocker if the folks at Infinity Ward simply decided to throw some new maps and modes into the mix before calling it a day. Thankfully, that wasn't the case, so while the multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2 feels a lot like the adversarial action in the last game, there have been a number of tweaks and improvements to make it a better multiplayer experience in every way. From customizable killstreaks (or deathstreaks, for my fellow n00bs and I) to a variety of earned emblems, there are a number of different ways to stand out from the crowd while you're online.
The level of customization is impressive, and it's unlikely that you'll see multiple players with the same loadouts or perk selections. In the time I spent online over the weekend, I saw a number of interesting and unique classes. My favorite was the "ninja," who moved faster than normal thanks to the Lightweight perk and sprinted endlessly because he had Marathon equipped. Add those to the Commando perk (which allows for melee attacks from further away) and he was darting all over the place. Even when I saw him coming, he was able to dodge two of my gunfire bursts before closing the gap and stabbing me in the face. Oh, and did I mention you can drop a tactical nuke to end the match if you get a 25-kill streak?
The fact that I didn't even get into the stunning visuals and amazing sound design speaks volumes about the sheer amount of content in the game, and I could probably write another 800 words simply about the ridiculous attention to detail on display in each level. It's ultimately up to you whether you want to listen to the marketing hype or not, but believe this: With its combination of an engaging single-player campaign, addictive adversarial multiplayer modes, and enjoyable cooperative Spec Ops action, there's no denying that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of the year's finest games.
