So, I recently played the Xbox Beta for Modern Warfare 2 (2022) to get a first taste of the gameplay. Graphically I had some idea what to expect from the trailer footage. I'm happy to say from a graphical and performance perspective it holds up well, though bear in mind I played this on a Series X. The experience will differ from console to console.
First impressions then. There appears to be your standard team warfare modes as well as others slightly more unique for the series such as Prisoner Rescue. I spent most of my time on Invasion, which is effectively large team warfare.
The series retains all of the standard features we've come to expect of late, customisation of weapons and gear, killstreaks and a mix of large-scale warfare and more intense close quarters combat. The gunplay is as solid as the first Modern Warfare reboot and relatively accessible. A good thing to, the series used to have you climbing the ladder to prestige before you gained access to the high-powered weapons or gadgets.
That's not to say there aren't benefits to really committing to the game, but it is more about getting better gadgets and killstreaks as opposed to having a significant advantage over everyone on the battlefield. So, whether you're just starting out, or a seasoned veteran, you still have to earn your perks in the game.
Having said all that there may need to be some balancing to the killstreak system as during game of Invasion it felt as though every player on the opposite team had unlocked a missile strike and my team were continuously getting shelled from above, and by tanks. That wasn't particularly fun.
There are some quite cool unlocks this time around. A Rainbow Six style throwable camera which would detect enemies in any given area so you can try and avoid being snuck upon. This does however rely you on having pretty good map awareness.
There was also another decoy gadget, which is essentially an inflatable version of you used to distract your opponent. Had quite a few funny encounters with that one.
It looks like they've invested a lot in trying to be a bit creative with gadgets and killstreaks this time around.
One thing I'm still not 100% is the inclusion of vehicles. They just don't seem as though they add anything constructive like they do in Battlefield. I get it, when map sizes get larger you need quick ways across the battlefield. However, in that one particular map in Invasion they just seemed a pointless addition.
Also, I wasn't really blown away so far by the map design. I felt it was all a bit stale and generic. The maps just aren't really memorable. Personally, I feel Battlefield 2042 suffers from this also. I'd like to see some more close quarter maps that you can really get to know. COD established itself with these types of maps and it's where I feel it excels over Battlefield. With these larger maps it takes longer to get your bearings and it just adds a layer of frustration for me.
Also, what happened to weather and nighttime effects? Is that just not a thing anymore? It's almost as if they just stopped bothering adding any real-world weather variation to maps. I really appreciate it when it's included as it just varies your experience even when playing the same map. It just makes the game feel more like a living world as opposed to a static training scenario where the weather is always sunny and mild.
I've been playing COD since the first Modern Warfare so I've seen it evolve over the years. I feel like the series has pretty much done everything apart from time travel (or it did and I missed that one). It's been in World Wars, recent conflicts of the present, near future, future, space! I get the financial model for releasing a new entry every year but what does that do to the series legacy.
They've run out of ideas to the point where it's essentially rebooting itself. I wouldn't be surprised if they reboot COD Ghosts in the next entry. Oddly one of the few entries I didn't play so to be fair I'd probably play it. I stopped with Black Ops 2 and picked it back up with Modern Warfare. My series standout is still Black Ops and I also really enjoyed Cold War. I feel Trayarch have a better handle on the series roots as opposed to the other studios. They just seem to be able to make their games more memorable.
However, one thing I can say for the Modern Warfare reboot was the campaign was excellent. What I've always loved about the COD series is not just the multiplayer but the over the top, Michael Bay inspired, campaigns. I hope this one also delivers in that respect. Overall, I'm pleased with what is on offer so far and it's a good start. Bring on November!
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