When I first heard that a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was going to be released in 2019 I was skeptical. For the last eight years, Call of Duty has seemed like a ghost compared to its glory days. If we were to pinpoint the era where the franchise started to go downhill, some would say around the time of Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 2, or Ghosts. It has been eight years since the release of Modern Warfare 3. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews, MW3 felt like a cheap addition to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise, which is why I was hesitant to get excited about the new entry, simply titled Modern Warfare.
Despite Call of Duty continuously disappointing their fanbase, many, including myself, have remained hopeful that the franchise would return to its former glory. Black Ops 4 was the first title within the last eight years to make us believe that Call of Duty was back. Although Black Ops 4 returned to the boots-on-the-ground style, the microtransactions system left many players feeling disheartened.
Call of Duty‘s gameplay has always focused on finding the threat to the world and bringing it down. Modern Warfare blurs the lines of who is friend or foe. There are three modes of play, much like what was offered in Modern Warfare 2: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Spec Ops,which is a cooperative mode. Before you can even start playing, you must download six different packs. The base file to even get to the main menu is over 70GBs. That alone is a bit excessive. Then once the base menu is downloading, the five other packs allows for access to the Campaign, Multiplayer, or Spec Ops. We understand why Activision broke down the game into separate packs but for the first installation and future updates, it can be rather frustrating.
When Modern Warfare originally launched, a bug caused the game to show that said packs were not installed. This would lead to many players deleting the pack and reinstalling it to get it to work again. Within the next 24 hours, Activision released a patch to fix this issue but it then caused some lower bandwidth users a headache. For many players, especially on consoles, hard drive space and download times can sour the experience. Modern Warfare was off to a bad start in this regard.
Campaign
Modern Warfare‘s campaign is a prelude to the Modern Warfare franchise that many revere and love. The player steps into the shoes of multiple characters throughout the story, including a young John Price and Kyle Garrick. The game’s campaign is never just a uniform style of gameplay either; the player must be able to adapt. As you proceed through the campaign, stealth missions, an escort mission, and even a sniping level will stand in the way. The sheer contrast in style can be frustrating for those used to the loops of past games but in this title, these elements create a well-rounded experience.
The game’s campaign is rather short; our playthrough took roughly six hours to complete. Despite this, the game flowed effortlessly with cinematics and gameplay balancing out. The cutscenes felt natural and immersive unlike many of the story’s allies. The AI in the campaign can be ineffective. At times, allies are either the most efficient soldiers or they make you want to put the gun to your own character’s head in sheer frustration. Overall, the campaign is like a refreshing breath of cold air on a hot summer’s day.
Multiplayer
Modern Warfare is the first Call of Duty to be cross-platform compatible. The Xbox online multiplayer is easily playable with PC players but requires a user ID to locate friends on alternate devices. Because of cross-play, new and expanded lobbies have been created. Multiplayer features a variety of game modes including 2v2, Kill Confirmed, Domination, Search and Destroy, Team Deathmatch, and more. If you are stuck waiting for an update of one of those packs though, the game only allows you to play four game modes in Training Grounds. The inability to play all game modes even against AI’s or in local Co-Op is rather insulting. This division of packs and online co-op requirements limit the player’s ability to play Call of Duty offline and it’s disappointing, if not ridiculous.
Like previous entries, multiplayer offers a variety of weapon classes and attachments to unlock. Unlike the previous Call of Duty titles, players are able to attach five attachments to their guns. All upgrades and attachments can be utilized in Spec Ops as well. In Modern Warfare, the player is not forced to choose between attachments or perks and equipment. The variety of game modes allows players to pick and choose their favorite game modes but the best can rotate through all. Our biggest pet peeve regards the voice communications for multiplayer but that falls more under the sound category of the review. The second grievance is that no-scoping a Sniper Rifle is still a move that comes up far too often in lobbies and can make those lacking that skill feel discouraged.
Co-Op (Spec Ops)
Spec Ops is a tactical sandbox game mode. Players are tasked with completing special operations either solo or with a group. At this time, only four missions are available but we expect that new missions will be released as the game is updated. The game mode presents operatives with a variety of objects similar to Socom US Navy Seals. The player’s level is shared between Spec Ops and multiplayer with experience counting towards level and guns which makes upgrades feel consistent. Unfortunately, during our time with Spec Ops, we saw a multitude of bugs. Some of the most notable glitches were weapons not swapping, characters’ body parts missing even upon resurrection, and the always fun, falling through the map glitch. Spec Ops also feels almost impossible without proper communication.
Overall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare‘s gameplay feels rather polished despite a few bugs. The story will draw you in and before you know it you will be deemed a War Hero and forming your very own 141 Task Force. The everyday multiplayer has players thinking tactically compared to the prior Call of Duty run-and-gun style. The game makes you feel like you are in a war zone and it is your duty to overcome the opposition. Spec Ops will likely be an enjoyable game mode to play with friends or teammates once the bugs are fixed but for now, it is a quick objective swarm mode.
Call of Duty‘s controls have always remained constant and because of this many COD fans return year after year. Luckily, there are not many updates to the control scheme. The only two noticeable differences are smoother aiming and more accurate button responsiveness.
Modern Warfare‘s gameplay is definitely Grade A material.
Graphics & Visuals
Graphically, Modern Warfare shines above its predecessors as the most visually impressive Call of Duty to date. Provided the game is not lagging, you can see the muzzle flashes of guns, sights lighting up when light hits the scope, and the sun’s beams create impressive shadows across landscapes. When watching the campaign cinematics, it felt like we were watching a movie rather than playing a video game. The sheer amount of detail that went into every level and each character’s design is astounding, if not breathtaking. Objects in the game look as if they were scanned from real life into the game. Hopefully, Activision and Infinity Ward will be able to smooth out the gameplay and graphical issues in Spec Ops.
Audio & SFX
The musical composition and sound effects for Modern Warfare are topnotch as long as the game is running smoothly. The campaign showcases a wide assortment of sounds while providing the player with an emotional dialogue from the cast. Each weapon fired sounds realistic and could potentially lead to neighbors calling the cops if the game is too loud.
Don’t ask. . .
Whether it is the realistic sound of breathing, boot thumps as they come around corners, or bullet casings falling to the ground, Modern Warfare provides the most realistic sound experience to date. The only flaw that we could find comes from the multiplayer. The voice communication system sounds like a walkie-talkie, making it rather hard to hear allies during games. Hopefully, we will be able to find a solution to the multiplayer voice communication system. If anything, those partying up can use third-party programs for a higher quality chat.
Replay Value
Call of Duty‘s replay value has always been high, to the extent that it seems like that is how Call of Duty has always made much of its money. Players want to team up with their friends and prove their merit on the online battlefields. They form clans for organized skirmishes, call out players for using unbalanced weapons, and it’s become a comfort game for a lot of people from a lot of walks of life.
Call of Duty has typically rewarded players for continuous play and that continues in Modern Warfare. The fact that experience carries over between multiplayer and Spec Ops in Modern Warfare makes leveling feel smoother and allows players to try modes they wouldn’t otherwise. Spec Ops gives players a tough challenge with various ways to succeed while staring down the barrels of small armies. The Campaign has several opportunities to alter the campaign slightly and decide what lines to cross. Replayability seems to be at the core of this game’s design.
Conclusion
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is one of the three best Call of Duty titles to be released within the last eight years. This game is a beautifully crafted tactical collaboration that makes players want to come back for more. The multiplayer feels crisp and refined but could use a little touch-up to deal with latency. Spec Ops is a great concept but the bugs definitely should be worked out. Yes, it may have its flaws but so far Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is reminding us why we loved the Modern Warfare franchise. The game provides moments that will make hearts race, eyes water, and mouths scream out, God damn!
All in all, it has been a blast playing Modern Warfare and we are glad that microtransactions have yet to flood the Call of Duty marketplace.
More information can be found on the official website. A digital Xbox One copy of the game was provided for the purpose of review. For more shooter action, check out our thoughts on Bulletstorm Duke of Switch Edition or for a more exploration-centered shooter, see our take on The Outer Worlds. Lastly, if you’re looking for a must-play title, read why Catherine: Full Body is a remaster that shouldn’t be missed.
