COD Analysis: Modern Warfare II; Infinity Ward action returns

With the Activision/Blizzard acquisition on the horizon, this October 28 we are preparing to receive what could be the last annual release of the saga. Call of Duty. Con Infinity Ward at the forefront and considering its last release in 2019, everything suggested that modern warfare II It would be the perfect pin ahead of the franchise’s supposed break.

After getting into the frenetic action of his campaign, I think I can now say that fans will be more than happy with the return of Price, Ghost and company. From my perspective, Infinity Ward has already proven to be Activision’s best studio at delivering these installments, again denoting exceptional form on all counts. But let’s look at it in depth.

Modern Warfare II raises the technical level of the saga

The best way to understand this is to take advantage of the images that I can share with you throughout the analysis. Some captures could directly pass for images of a real operation, carried out by the American army. And it is that at the technical level, I think that We are facing the climax of the saga Call of Duty. I like how it looks all the time, even in open spaces that have fewer possibilities.

The use of lighting couldn’t be better, and it shows from the very first moment, whether outside or inside any building. Rays of light through a window, glare from the sun, using a flashlight, reflections… whatever example I can give you, at any time Modern Warfare II It’s very immersive and realistic in that regard.

As is customary in Infinity Ward titles, missions using night vision goggles are back. At the risk of repeating myself, I will say that it remains the most spectacular, now with an even higher visual level than its predecessor. Of course, this graphic power is maintained in the cinematics, something in which this development team has always been outstanding, showing superb animations and hyper realistic designs of the protagonists of the conflict.

Terrorism, cartels and global conflict

Modern Warfare II takes us, as usual, on an exciting action-packed adventure around the world. We will find Ghost, Soap, Price and a fantastic cast of secondary characters that will accompany us through the most varied locations. One of the places that surprised me the most in this campaign is Amsterdam. To avoid spoilers, I will only tell you that this is a pure and simple spy mission, in which we evolve discreetly among people. This means hiding our weapon, which gives greater photo realism to the print.

Of course, there’s more, and while some names are fictional, we’ll soon find out that these maps are based entirely on actual locations. The best example is The soulslocated in Mexico, which is actually Guanajuato (the players of Forza Horizon 5 they will understand). On the other hand, we have Al Mazrahcapital of the fictional Republic of Adal, which in addition to appearing on the map of Warzone 2.0, supposes an important enclave for the countryside. This territory, based on Arab countries like Iran, will be the hideout of terrorists Hassanone of our main goals.

The plot will focus on finding and destroying ballistic missiles in the possession of Hassan himself. Little by little, history will become convoluted, and new fronts will emerge to fight. It is therefore necessary to set foot on Mexican soil, because a dangerous cartel led by the “Nameless” will be fully involved in the transport of the missiles. Oh! and we will also travel to Europe.

Modern Warfare II is slower but just as deadly

in the skin of Soap there Gas, we will test the equipment used by both Shadows and enemies. Needless to say, the campaign puts at our disposal various assault rifles, machine guns, pistols and throwing weapons. A fantastic showcase to offer a sample of what we can use in Warzone 2.0 and multiplayer Modern Warfare II.

On this occasion, the dizzying speed we were used to seems to have slowed down, as our colleague Kevin had anticipated in his first impressions with the multiplayer beta. A portion of users claimed it, and Infinity Ward complied. Now our character moves slower which will affect online modes. If you ask me, I’ll tell you that I don’t hate it at all, it’s more a matter of getting used to it.

But the variety of missions in the campaign goes far beyond the conflict on foot. There are beautiful sequences, with operations in which We will participate in AC-130. With unrivaled weapon power, these giants of the air return to make our games as realistic as possible. There’s also room for pursuit, infiltration, and espionage… a bit of everything.

Throughout the campaign, a radial menu, which instead of being a weapon selector, focuses on creating certain secondary items and weapons. It is something that has already been commented on the networks some time ago, and which has ended up being confirmed. In the case of the campaign we will find wax, traps and other resources with which to make artisanal mines or even a tip with which to pick locks. Craftsmanship is minimalbut it remains to be seen how this will be applied in Warzone 2.0 or other ways of WM II.

A sound show to the end

From beginning to end, Modern Warfare II It’s a stellar experience by any measure, and much of the blame for that lies with the sound section. A section that those responsible have worked on conscientiously, as it is essential when it comes to immersing the player in the action. You won’t be at all surprised to find that the sound of the weapons was captured when firing each one (or at least most of them). The bar has always been set high in the saga, and this time it couldn’t be lower..

Everything you would expect is amply realized, be it explosions, weapons, vehicles, water… but where this video game surprises the most is in the small details. There are moments of real tension when we enter enemy territory, eliminating them with night vision in their own homes. The creaking of glass on the floor is also noticeable, or just the rain in the middle of the street. With just the sound of our footsteps, an indication of our platoon or a shout from the enemy, the resulting atmosphere is perfect.

As for the dubbing, we cannot say more about a saga with so much travel and with huge performances behind it. Price, Ghost, Soap, Alejandro, Shepherd, Laswell and the rest of the cast share a weight that, to a greater or lesser extent, gives the campaign a huge package. Many are already old acquaintances, but it’s always a pleasure to enjoy their voices in Spanish., with the characteristic level that we have in Europe. Yes, one of the few buts that I can put into play is the fact that the subtitles, even having disabled them, appear randomly in many sequences. Nothing a post-release fix can’t fix.

Rock-solid multiplayer

In addition to all this, we are faced with a title that once again offers us a simply titanic multiplayer. The sensations he had already transmitted to us in the beta have now returned with much more intensity. And that’s it, From a superb technical section and a breathtaking shooter, a multiplayer mode is built that has hardly any cracks. We again have a large number of game modes that suit our tastes. Go from minimalist and tactical modalities such as search and destroy to much more massive events where you try to compete Battlefield.

Also, added to this is a door to mass customization. As we have seen in previous episodes, the gunsmith is one of the great protagonists of this modality. Customizing our weapons by changing their parts is a fantastic experience because it literally multiplies the possibilities. In itself, we can say that this sequel brings us all the good of modern warfare but with new improvements and additions. New weapons and sequences are added to the great classics of the franchise offering a complete experience. With all of that, it’s hard to fault a multiplayer that has returned to dominate the online environment for another year.

The only downside or regret we have left is having to wait to take advantage of one of its flagship modalities; war zone 2. However, we have plenty of content to whet your appetite. And it is that in addition to this PvP mode, we have cooperative missions where we can live experiences similar to the one we saw in the campaign.

It’s nice to come back in front like this

I had a great time playing the campaign of WM IIbasically like the one who enjoyed the first trilogy of modern warfare. They have always been my favorite titles, and seeing the level that Infinity Ward has reached with their developments can only bring a smile to those of us who really enjoyed their first big titles. Plus, it still has that addictive gameplay.

Among the new game modes added to its multiplayer, and a Warzone 2.0 around the corner, also stands out a brutal campaign, with a sufficient variety of situations, and above all, an audiovisual section as we have never seen. In the new generation WM II arrives in many moments at the not so distant photo realism, and is a more than worthy continuation of the previous Infinity Ward game. The argument may be weak in its final chapters, but it doesn’t take away from the fun of the experience. If you are a fan of the Modern Warfare saga, you cannot miss this new installment.

As always, remember that if you liked this analysis, you will find many more in the Xbox Space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqqQUhzSDg