The computer game Modern Warfare 2 has become a phenomenon in the week since its release — it has broken not only gaming benchmarks but general entertainment records, bringing in well over half a billion dollars. Here ninemsn's James Forman reviews the game:
For 95 percent of Modern Warfare 2 you play as a soldier in one or another American Armed Forces fighting global terrorism.
Starting in Afghanistan you are thrown into the action against local militia as you move through city slums with the aim of clearing a school house.
Each mission moves on to other equally likely terrorist hotspots. At mission four things take a dramatic turn.
Suddenly you’re the terrorist holed up in an airport with a large group of hostages separating you from an incoming SWAT team.
And yes, you can shoot the hostages. Given I’m not quite ready to believe games are art in the same vein as movies I can only conclude this is a deliberate decision designed to create controversy and generate publicity.
In my experience other games of this nature would progress the story-line through passive cut-scenes.
The Modern Warfare 2 developer, Infinity Ward, has instead chosen to put the player in charge and it obviously sets a complex precedent for future game titles.
That said Modern Warfare 2 itself is excellent. The mission designs are varied and the role you are expected to fulfil changes throughout the game. From a front-line soldier, to sniper, to lone CIA operative you’ll man mini-guns, participate in convoys and even don some scuba gear to fulfil your mission.
All of the environments are realistic and well presented. Modern Warfare 2 is certainly immersive. Voice acting is great, sound effects are realistic and the banter between fellow soldiers presents the action in a highly realistic fashion.
Modern Warfare 2 is rated MA15+ and I strongly recommend keeping kids away.
While the gore isn’t gratuitous when the player gets injured, the entire screen looks like a camera lens smeared with blood. It isn’t pretty.
Considering you can also play as a terrorist shooting unarmed civilians the moral complexities of the game are hard enough for an adult, let alone a child.
I played the Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox360 and the controls felt natural.
Aiming weapons was a smooth process, reloading was quick and movement throughout the environment was well paced.
The game also mixes the action up with some ice wall climbing using the two triggers to control the action of the ice picks as a standout example.
With sales as they are you can expect a strong multi-player community. This will give the Modern Warfare 2 plenty of replay options and should represent good bang for buck.
So another game is released that causes a moral up-roar but goes on to make millions (I’m looking at you Grand Theft Auto). Maybe as a long-time player and ardent follower of the gaming industry I can’t help but get cynical.
It seems the best way to generate publicity for a game these days is to make sure the Classification Board gets wind of something offensive and as far as offensive goes Modern Warfare 2 has it nailed. With a game as good as this was it necessary?
Game: 9/10
Shooting hostages: 1/10
Front page
RSS Feed