Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II has been a long time coming. After repeated cries for a remake from the hardcore fans of the franchise, we now have a reboot. Following the footsteps of the monumental success of Modern Warfare 2019, it makes sense to follow the same direction. Admittedly, I am a Call Of Duty player who likes to dive straight into the online multiplayer mode. This time around though, players who pre-ordered were gifted the incentive of early access to the Campaign a week early. Smart move from Infinity Ward and Activision as it encourages those who don’t normally bother with the story to at least give it a shot. There are also multiplayer unlockables by progressing through the Campaign, so if you want the goodies, you better dive in.

Introduction

I’m not going to spoil any of the storyline in this review nor am I going to reveal any of the progressive plot. It is genuinely best to go in blind with this one as I did, and you’ll genuinely enjoy it a lot more. There are 17 missions that take you across various locations with iconic and returning characters Captain Price, Gaz, Ghost and Soap. Whilst 17 sounds a lot, missions differ in length with some being as short as 5-10 minutes and others lasting up to half an hour.

Task Force 141 are seemingly here to stay for some time since Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II is expected to see us through to 2024. This has to be the first time in around 16 years that the franchise has taken a breather from a new instalment. Rumour has it though, that there is a planned story expansion and a lineup of classic remastered multiplayer maps during 2023 so watch this space. There are also hints of the gang making appearances during the Special Ops and Warzone 2.0 portions of the game when they arrive.

Gameplay

The formula of gameplay is largely the same throughout Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II compared to other games in its almost two-decade life. Whilst I have noticed some disappointment from others about the lack of difference and fewer engagements when it comes to huge bouts of action, it doesn’t hamper the game for me. Some may also argue that the look and feel are far too similar to that of MW2019 and you would probably be right in that respect.

The control scheme handles exactly the same as every Call Of Duty game we all know and love. The return of swimming and combat in the water was a welcome addition and adds a new layer to the game that’s only been visible in some of the Black Ops titles. There is a multitude of options to enhance or finely tune your time with the game. FOV sliders, motion blur and all that jazz can be altered to cater to your needs.

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II brings an aura of realism to the fray that perhaps won’t appease the ones who want to constantly be going in all guns blazing. That’s what the multiplayer is for though right? There is plenty of action to be had here though and combat feels fluid and responsive with reactive TTK.

Graphics & Audio

Whilst the graphical presentation of the Call Of Duty games has always been fairly decent across the board, I’ve always felt they can fire some elements up a notch. Boy has the development teams done an outstanding job here. Whilst it remains to be seen whether the excellent visuals transition through to the multiplayer portion of the game, players won’t be disappointed with how fantastic the core game looks.

Immediately noticeable is the lighting effects which hits the sweet spot every single time. The opening scenes are played in almost complete darkness but seeing the rays of any glimmer of light gleam through a gap in a door or a chopper raining fire from above is a sight to behold. 

By far the most impressive for me was a part of the game played on the streets of Amsterdam. It was the first time in a while that I have sat back in my seat and just said “wow”. Every fine detail is poured in, with the reflections and the ripple of the water, even discarded bottles floating on the surface. Everything throughout the short campaign is an offering of quality and not quantity, and I’m OK with that.

Audio is equally as exceptional, especially with a reputable pair of quality headphones. The cutscenes and voice acting are superb and with the clear concise subtitles, it feels as if you’re tuned into a high-budget movie. The sound effects of weaponry, explosions, and the echo of extremists’ voices screaming down dark dingy corridors all add to the suspense and all pack a real punch in your ears.

In Conclusion

Believe me when I say that this campaign is absolutely one, you’ll want to submerge yourself into. I say this as someone who tends to ignore the story side of the game and just absorb myself with real-life players. Call Of Duty stories are traditionally short and sweet and this is no different. It’ll take you 5-7 hours to clock the game at reasonably casual pacing. Obviously, completionist’s and achievement hunters may take longer if they put themselves through the pain of Veteran mode.

Those who are used to just buying Call Of Duty for its single player will be pleased with the level of polish and graphical stability here. It’s a game that runs at 120fps with no glaring issues whatsoever. It gives me vibes of the incredible playthroughs I experienced with the original Call Of Duty 4 all those years ago and the most recent MW2019. A memorable campaign in what is one of the best graphical showcases of 2022.