Modern Warfare 2

[jcap]

Look who's talking.

I don't see your point. I've made my case and you have yet to present yours.

[StankBacon]

jcap, its a game, your looking WAY too much into it.

[=sw=warlord]

I don't see your point. I've made my case and you have yet to present yours.

The whole point of being on the front line was to show the consequences of what went on in the previous modern warfare game as well as the shopping center shooting.
Wasn't makarov that fat russian in cod4 who gaz nearly toppled off the side of the wall?
Yeah i would guess i would be pretty pissed if i was put into that situation as well, trying to link only things that went on in one game doe's not help you much at all, look at halo 3 for instance, i bet someone who has never played it thought, "who are we, where am i, whats going on?".
Your letting your grudge about features that were never there in the pc version cloud your thoughts way too much, they never "removed" anything because it was never there in the first place and if it was then it was not intended to be there by the time of release.

[jcap]

The whole point of being on the front line was to show the consequences of what went on in the previous modern warfare game as well as the shopping center shooting.
Wasn't makarov that fat russian in cod4 who gaz nearly toppled off the side of the wall?
Yeah i would guess i would be pretty pissed if i was put into that situation as well, trying to link only things that went on in one game doe's not help you much at all, look at halo 3 for instance, i bet someone who has never played it thought, "who are we, where am i, whats going on?".
Your letting your grudge about features that were never there in the pc version cloud your thoughts way too much, they never "removed" anything because it was never there in the first place and if it was then it was not intended to be there by the time of release.

Actually, the DC missions had absolutely nothing to do with the previous game. They just came up after the airport massacre. But anyway, since I think you were trying to say how the point of the DC missions is to let you see everything happening, I agree. Yes, I think it was great they did that. But my gripe with them is that they went on for too long to ultimately achieve nothing. If they had somehow related it to getting intel, such as maybe invading a Russian hold-up or locating a downed military vehicle for intel pertaining to the story, that would be way different.

I really don't understand at all your next point of not linking to previous games in a series. I seriously hope you never consider anything related to storylines in your future, because a sequel that picks up from the previous game should not have a "new" story ("new" as in "not related to other games). Anyone who plays the sequel should play the previous game first. In a perfect story, the sequel would integrate explanations of events from the previous game into its story, but it's not at all required. In a sense, I almost feel that the opening credits video of MW2 was slightly unnecessary, although I do think it is good they included it as a recap.

As I said before, I really don't give a shit about the multiplayer. If I did, I would still be playing Modern Warfare. I would also have the game for the Xbox so I could join in with my friends. But the truth is, I really don't care for it. I don't care for Halo 3 either and I played that for like a year and a half straight after it came out. I have TF2 and I haven't even played it online yet, and I've probably played a maximum of 20 games in L4D.

[ejburke]

I feel your pain, jcap. But you just have to realize that you're not going to change anyone's mind and move on, resolving not to succumb to any hype for any future Call of Duty games.

I've played through CoD 1 and CoD 4 and I just don't enjoy that style of game. I don't like the multiple perspectives or the silent protagonists. I am constantly distracted by the fact that every scenario IW puts in their games was ripped straight from a movie or a TV show. Moments that are intended to feel intense and exciting feel stilted and scripted to me. I don't even appreciate the mindless action.

But no one would agree with me, except those that agree with me. To everyone else, enjoy.

[flibitijibibo]

Wait, I just thought of something. jcap, try and follow me here: Perhaps the lack of any meaning/direction is the point? After all, this is a war taking place around our time, isn't it? If you consider the setting, it makes perfect sense. At least, if you take in the message... XP

Edit: Just read your story post, and holy shit you were looking for too much.

Here is my understanding of the story:

You start out on Road Kill as Joseph Allen. Your convoy is ambushed and you survive. You make it to the end of the level for evac. There really is no relevance to this level other than to just play as the person. Hell, this could have been taken out entirely since it would have been just fine to do your training and then move into Task Force 141. Perhaps this is training for actual AI and not a bunch of wood? It would make sense to have some training before getting into the story, otherwise the more noobish folk might miss a thing or two.

As Roach, you need to recover an ACS module from a satellite before the Russians clone it and breach our national security. Your cover with Soap is then blown and you make it out with the ACS module in a cool snow mobile chase.

As PVT. Allen, you are then put into Task Force 141 and you have an undercover assignment as a terrorist. You shoot up an Airport with Makarov, then be betrays you for being an American and sets up the US for attack. This is an important part of the story because it IS the reason Russia invades us. However, I can't help but notice the severe problem with why they would attack the US, killing hundreds of thousands for revenge if just one corrupt extremist group killed a few hundred. This would be like the US killing every Palestinian because we think Major Nidal Malik Hasan was behind the Fort Hood shooting. Isn't this group you were following an extremist group as well? If they want to show the US that the deaths of those people will not go unheard, I think extremist groups would do just that. Have you jumped from your own perspective, by chance?

Now that we lost our only lead on Makarov, we're screwed. The only thing we know is who supplied him with the means to do the airport shooting. So, you go to Rio to find him as Roach. You do that, but his capture is insignificant to the story. I don't think you ever find out what he knows or how it puts you any closer to catching Makarov. So this mission was to use the remaining intelligence we had on Makarov's operations to find him? Doesn't seem pointless to me, unless you like giving up in chess before anyone even gets check.

So then the US is invaded by Russia. You fight in a neighborhood in Virginia as Ramirez. There is no story to this other than to show first-hand what the invasion is like. This level is fairly irrelevant. You mean you'd rather not experience an invasion of the US from a soldier's perspective? I don't even want to know what kind of shit you're in to then.

Back as Roach again, the next level I believe is all about getting out of Rio. I think. No story, other than how you got out (like it really matters...) is conveyed here. Better than just getting to the dead end in his last mission and going "well, shit. Guess the enemy will let us go then, on to the next Roach mission!"

Now you are again playing as Ramirez and you are again fighting in a different neighborhood. Eventually at the end of the level, you think something major is going to happen with the story when you are asked to rescue someone from a panic room! You find him with the panic room door open and a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with a guy outside who has a strange tattoo. I thought this was going to somehow relate to the story in a big way, but I don't think they elaborated on this. Maybe he was somehow related with Shepard's plan? Look for the tattoo/symbol anywhere else? Did this guy in the room have a name?

As Roach, now you need to get to a castle being used as a prison for Makarov's most hated person. To do that, you need to board an oil rig that is under Russia's control. Unfortunately, they are using the occupants as human shields, so you need to secure them and claim control of the rig. This is a good part of the story. You save the hostages and provide an open route for the invasion to happen.

The Gulag picks up immediately after the oil rig. You invade the castle to capture Prisoner 627. When you reach him, to your surprise you find out it is Cpt. Price. You make it out of the castle just as it is being destroyed by US forces. This was also important because now you have Price. But still, no significant story. You did not just write these last 2 paragraphs, including the blue text above, and end with "no significant story." I'm going to assume for your sake that this was massive typo.

As Ramirez, you need to help fight the Russians and provide support for the US forces to defeat them (what's new?), then get to the roof for evac. You do that but your helicopter is shot down. In the final moments of the level, you witness several enemies closing in on you as you have no ammo remaining.

In Contingency, you are playing as Roach again alongside Price. You need to get Price close enough to the submarine so he can do something. At the end of the level he intentionally launches a nuke at the US.

Back as Ramirez, you witness the nuke detonate in the upper atmosphere, resulting in an EMP that wipes out all electronics and causes helicopters and planes to fall like rain from the sky. It is IMPLIED (not clearly at all, though) that Price's plan was to paralyze the Russian and American forces' communications, since now the US should have the upper arm on our own turf. Your objective is to make it to the White House. "Price saved all of us and I'm mad that I didn't get his blueprints/approval first."

The following level is a continuation of the previous one in which you now need to take control of the White House. You hear on the radio that the Hammerdown Protocol is in effect and DC will be carpet-bombed in a few minutes unless green flares are set off on the roofs of the buildings, signifying you have control. In a race against time, you make it to the roof and set off the flares, as you witness several significant landmarks also with green flares, meaning DC is back under American control. Finally, the whole DC thing has a meaning to it...but it doesn't put us any further into the story. You really need to be careful with that keyboard of yours.

Now that we're finished with DC, you have one final mission as Roach to complete. There's only two places Makarov could be hiding, so Roach takes a safe house in the hills somewhere, while Price takes the second site at a boneyard in Afghanistan. You find out that there is definitely a lot going on in this hideout, so you copy the hard drive of his computer to get all valuable information in hopes to put an end to Makarov's terror. At the end of the level, Gen. Shepard betrays you and Ghost for reasons I really don't understand. Price says Shepard wants to write history his way, but...what? Does he just want to claim credit for the info on Makarov? What the hell did you even retrieve from the computer? Why wan't this explained? Poor story. I doubt they know what's on the drive either, but that won't stop self-important cocks like Sheperd from trying to take whatever credit they can to get in some imaginary history book. No explanation needed, just a douche trying to be a hero.

Now you are playing as Soap and you are fighting against both Russians and Shepard's men. Your only goal is to make it to the runway where Nikolai is waiting to pick you up. The only significant thing that happens in this level is that Makarov tells Price where Shepard's hideout is, because "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." All other priorities are put on hold until you stop Shepard. (You're still no closer to finding Makarov, might I add...) So Makarov is temporarily helping you down a traitor? I should point out that most military branches always prioritize traitors/deserters over anything else, so that makes sense as far as realism is concerned. As for Makarov, heaven forbid that he be good at covering his tracks/keeping you distracted.

Now you are at his base so you invade it. He runs like a coward and self-destructs the cave, having absolutely no regard for any of his own men. This part confirms my statements 2 paragraphs up.

Now that he gets away on boat, you need to chase him. Price shoots down his helicopter, but you go down too.

In a last stand, with your last breath, you find Shepard and kill him just before he strangles Price. You are rescued at the last moment by Nikolai and you find out he has a place we can hang low.

End.

[jcap]

Oh, and by the way, contrast that with the Modern Warfare story:

You get intel that there is a smuggling operation going on. You board the ship in Crew Expendible to try and find out what is up. In the process, you stumble upon a nuclear warhead. The Russians get word of the attack, and they fire upon the ship. (Now you know something is up.)

So then in the opening credits (btw the opening credits in MW2 suck since they didn't do them like MW1), you are the president as he is taken prisioner out of his palace and then assassinated live on national television by Al-Asad, who you don't know, but you see there for the first time.

That is followed by you needing to rescue the informant, Nikolai, from being assassinated. That little piece tells you how you got info of everything going down. You successfully save him.

Now, you are attempting to capture Al-Asad. You find out he was broadcasting from a television station, so you make your approach to it in attempt to capture him. You then find out that it was a pre-recording and he isn't there.

After that, it's all about fighting the terrorists and securing the capital. You find out over the radio that a nuclear bomb has been found in the palace, armed. They attempt to disarm it while you make a rescue attempt on a downed helicopter. Unfortunately, the bomb detonates as you make your getaway. You die.

Now it's about locating Al-Asad again to get to the root of this. You know he would have never sacrificed himself because he's a cowardly shit, so you go to his safe house. You find there that they are killing everyone in the village. Way in the back, in a farmhouse, you find Al-Asad. He is tortured, but then he receives a phone call giving away who the man above him is. No longer needing Al-Asad, he is assassinated.

The man who was on the other end of the phone was Zakhaev. Price (right?) thought he killed him back like 20 years ago or something after the incident at Chernobyl. So, you play in the flashback of you using a high powered sniper rifle to shoot his arm off and then get chased down to the evac site. Guess he didn't die after all.

But now back in the present, you have no leads to him. You do, however, believe the one way to get to him is through his son. So, you trace him down, but after a long chase scene and with him cornered, he kills himself.

Now, I think you learn that Zakhaev has taken control of an ICMB launch facility, and that doesn't sound too good. He says in the cutscene that their "so-called leaders have prostiuted them to the west," and that he is out for revenge on the US. Your goal is to stop him. As you work your way though the entire level to the launch facility, you secure a hostage and blow the power lines to create a window of opportunity to cut through the fence. Upon meeting up with the other team, two missiles are suddenly and unexpectedly launched from the facility.

You now have only a few minutes to get inside the facility and make your way to the war room before they reach the coast of the US. Once inside, they launch more. Now you only have 9 minutes (or less depending on difficulty, I think). After blasting through the wall of the war room, you kill everyone inside and enter the codes. The missiles are destroyed.

Now you notice that Zakhaev is making a getaway. He leaves, and you leave after. Then, you cut him off on the highway. A fucking badass chase scene takes place between vehicles and helicopters, ending with almost everyone from your unit being immobilized and killed. With one last hope of surviving, you kill Zakhaev and his men just as the good Russians arrive to kill everyone else and then lift you away to safety.



You can easily see the difference.

[Donut]

if anyone actually took the time to read what jcap posted you would understand exactly what hes saying. hes right too.

what happens to makarov? he gives us some information, and thats it? we dont go to kill him after we kill shepard?"

this doesnt change the fact that the campaign was fun and interesting, its just that there wasnt much of a point to anything you did.

think chapters 2 and 3 of gears of war one, except you had no original goal in mind.
E: i still love the multiplayer anyway even though there are areas where people can hide (i think the map is called skyline...?) and shoot up your entire team, while being almost completely unexposed. i feel like there are quite a few more places like that in MW2 than there were in MW1. also, the map estate (the nice big house in the woods) just seems too difficult to play on. it might just be me, but i get absolute shit kd ratios there. i can never find anybody, and my team is always getting shot within the first 15 seconds of the game (and usually its me ). i feel like the only way to get kills is to snipe other people who are as lost as i am, which is what i do. basically, the thermal scope, an unlockable attachment that takes a good amount of time to get, reins supreme here.

i feel like its almost a shame to rate the entirety of this game in one rating. imo, i would give the campaign a 6 or 7 out of 10, since it WAS fun and i see alot of replayablity, but the story holes are kind of difficult to ignore. i would say the multiplayer is an 8.5/10. very fun, lots of replay value, so much variety that i cannot ever figure out what i want to use, and lots of interesting and visually pleasing environments. my only gripe lies with some places where camping is way too effective and maps like estate that almost require you to use a specific weapon attachment.

i played the target shooting training spec ops mission for 3 stars, and that is the extent of my specops experience. cant give any rating here

[flibitijibibo]

if anyone actually took the time to read what jcap posted you would understand exactly what hes saying. hes right too.

what happens to makarov? he gives us some information, and thats it? we dont go to kill him after we kill shepard?"

this doesnt change the fact that the campaign was fun and interesting, its just that there wasnt much of a point to anything you did.

think chapters 2 and 3 of gears of war one, except you had no original goal in mind.

Sequels, bro.

[Donut]

kind of a shitty way to set up a sequel imo. it feels like they more just totally forgot about makarov than they were setting it up for a sequel (yeah sentence flow is a bit off there). the game just ends without acknowledging makarov at all
AND WHO WAS EXPECTING ANOTHER MILE HIGH CLUB? that let me down a bit.