Expectations: Modern Warfare 2
After the release of the trailer on May 24th, I’m beginning to wonder what I should actually be expecting from one of the biggest titles this year.
The trailer released that day was constructed completely from in game footage, and was composed to seem more fast paced and ambitious than it’s prequel. A very cinematic trailer, indeed no less could be expected from the likes of Infinity Ward. However, after the astounding success that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was, the question must be asked – how can the developer top this?
The trailer gives a distinct action feel to it, suggesting the franchise’s move towards the use of action movie conventions rather than the original war simulation roots of the Call of Duty series. This is in no way a bad move, but it must be questioned if the franchise is slowly losing it’s heritage. Personally, I have always recognised the Call of Duty franchise as portraying World War II in a very realistic way. Perhaps this may suggest why Infinity Ward has decided to no longer include Modern Warfare 2 under the Call of Duty series. Instead, they are deciding to establish Modern Warfare as a new franchise, with Modern Warfare 2 acting as the diverging title.
Deconstructing the trailer, I expect to see a larger campaign this time around. Not only in terms of length, but in scale and intensity too. After the nuclear threat in the original, the aftermath of Modern Warfare must be dealt with. However, it seems that the threat is not yet over and it can only be expected that the situation is about to take a turn for the worse. Many gamers had the criticism of Modern Warfare that the single player campaign was too short. Infinity Ward replied with the ominous quote “It’s not the length of the single player, it’s about the experience.” This is a point I for one can agree with. Considering the cinematic style of the game, the campaign of the first felt much like a movie. I expect for this cinematic nature to continue, but expanding on the previous game in terms of quality as well as quantity, the latter of which has already been announced.
According to what we’ve seen of the title, a change of location is in store for the player. We’re off to Rio de Janeiro to bask in the sun. It seems to me that Rio is replacing the Middle East in the sequel so we’re looking at a different style of architecture with a more exotic nature. I’m expecting to traverse through both slums and central business districts in the search or pursuit for a key component in order to prevent the larger threat at hand. I would like to see Infinity Ward suprise us through the choice of a new, more exotic locale than the dust and deserts of the Middle East.
Vehicles. Yes, as the trailer already shows us, there will be one or more forms of vehicle available in Modern Warfare 2. However, I expect these vehicles to remain in the single player campaign and not make their way into the multiplayer portion of the game. Infinity Ward has never included vehicles in the multiplayer part of their Call of Duty games, and I expect them to continue this trend. Their infantry based multiplayer component is well-done and has resulted in the longevity of Modern Warfare.
On the note of multiplayer, I would expect Infinity Ward to build upon the successful system of Modern Warfare. With the competition of other popular multiplayer shooters such as Killzone 2, Infinity Ward are going to need to step their game up in order to keep gamers compelled by Modern Warfare 2‘s multiplayer portion. From my experiences of playing the predecessor, many players would express their wishes for a silenced sniper rifle. That is in no way a hint, Infinity Ward. I’d always questioned why ghillie suits weren’t available as a perk, and were only tied to the Sniper rifles. Along with that, it would only be natural that the multiplayer customisation be furthered by the ability to customise a player’s outfit. This customisation option is evident in the likes of Rainbow Six Vegas 2.
I am expecting a few subtle differences in the core gameplay. Using the trailer as evidence, I believe that the knifing in Modern Warfare 2 will be slightly different. I no longer expect the quick swipe of the blade that the first game had, but a longer charged knife, as shown by the man in the white balaclava twice during the trailer. Following the trend of many other shooters these days, I’ve wondered if Infinity Ward would decide to introduce a cover system to Modern Warfare 2. I continue to believe that the developer need not change the gameplay in this way, as the stand-crouch-prone combat system that has existed in all of Infinity Ward’s titles has never felt out of place. As they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and I believe this is one of the components that the phrase applies to.
From the success Modern Warfare was, it is hardly necessary for Infinity Ward to take their newfound franchise in a radically different direction, and from the evidence available it seems that this is the case. I do not expect drastic changes in the formula, but little changes to an award-winning composition will definately be necessary to keep the attention of gamers in an age where we are easily distracted by the next shiny thing that comes along. In other words, Infinity Ward, I’m expecting you to blow my mind.
