Modern Warfare 2

Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare II deserves one word to describe how it is: awesome!

(Note: To be honest, this review is based on my own observations. I'm not a huge fan of FPS games, so I let my bro show me how cool it is! XD If you want a more professional review, you can head over to my bro's blog. Sorry! =P)

Though many would complain that its story isn't as long as the first game, nevertheless it makes it up by including a great story that's as great as a real movie, what with all the plot twists scattered throughout the campaign. Truly, you'll forget that you're actually playing a game and watching a movie unfold in front of your eyes.

The story takes place five years after the death of Russian ultra-nationalist leader Imran Zakhaev. The world falls into turmoil once again when terrorists storm a busy Russian airport and kill countless innocents. The blame is placed on the United States, but naturally things don't seem right. You'll be battling your way in numerous different locations across the globe with numerous foes to face, whether its militia in Brazil or Russian troops on American soil.

Wherever you are, EXPECT LOTS OF INTENSE GUN BATTLES! They will seriously test your military skills in FPS games. Your enemies are now much smarter than in CoD4, as they WILL try to flank you to make sure you do not succeed. So always guard your flank. And they're much tougher too, so be very careful!

Sure, the story is short but believe me you'll be hooked onto it so much you'll want to replay it over and over again to enjoy the movie-like feel it gives you. Infinity Ward did a good job in presenting the plot, and kudos have to be given to them.

That, and the new weapons you have at your disposal. Not only do you have your standard M4A1 Carbines and Russian Kalashnikovs in the arsenal, you ave more new weapons to use! From the SCAR-H and Clarion FAMAS assault rifles, to the AT4 disposable rocket launcher and the AA-12 automatic shotgun, there is a lot you can toy around with. Oh, and the riot shield comes really handy as well. There are also new weapon attachments available, like the neat thermal scope and the useful heartbeat detector that really come in handy in certain difficult missions.

Vehicle sections are now available in the campaign, too, especially if you've seen the gameplay trailer in the snow-capped mountains of a Russian military airstrip. But be warned, for these sections can be quite a challenge, as you'll be faced with lots of enemies who are out to get you. The highlight has to be where you race against time to catch up with your foe in a rubber dinghy near the game's end.

Characters here display the same amount of emotion as they did in the original game. How they react to their surroundings (though most of these scenes are scripted) is very much something to marvel at. But it's more noticeable in how they react in combat. However, don't be surprised if they do last for only a brief period of time as your enemies swarm your squad!

All in all, campaign is a real treat to all CoD fans, who're looking for some intense fighting and a cool plot to boot. When you've finished the story, you'll be able to access the Museum which contains all the character and weapon models featured in the game, as well as vehicles featured in the game. (although you can't drive or fly them) I'll keep this a secret because it's quite a treat, but whatever happens DON'T press the bell!

Then there's SpecOps mode. Basically, this is a game mode where you and a friend have to go up against numerous waves of enemies as you try to complete the mission you've been assigned with. For example, you might have to clear out an area of all foes, or stealthily pass enemy patrols. As you complete them, you are awarded stars depending how you've fared. With a certain amount of stars, you'll unlock more SpecOps maps to complete, gradually increasing the difficulty of the maps. And believe me, this mode is meant to be played with a friend, as going solo usually means trouble. Especially when you have to go up against the Russian Juggernauts, who are easily able to absorb heavy amounts of punishment from your guns. Oh yes, be afraid of them!

When you've survived SpecOps, there's always Multiplayer to jump into. It's essentially like the usual fare you find in CoD, except for new perks, maps, and Killstreaks. Also featured are Deathstreaks for those of you who keep getting pawned by the others, so there's some balance had in the games. The only problem is you'll need to reach a high level to unlock most of the modes available. And newbies will get thumped real bad by pro players, so watch it! (I can't elaborate more on this, as you know I can't access the Net!)

My verdict for MW2 is definitely a high one (even though I didn't play it! XD) and I highly recommend it to all you FPS fan[atic]s.

War...what good is it? Answer: endless amount of time to kick enemy butt!