I shall endeavor here to present a balanced view of Modern Warfare 2, trying not to become too fanboyish in my writing.
Oh fuck it.
This the second best online multiplayer experience I have ever taken part in and that is a damn close second. Modern Warfare 2 offers numerous game modes, weapons, callsigns/ accolades and general awesomeness in a package that for £26 is yet to be bested (Killzone 2 was £40).
The Playlists
- Team Deathmatch
- Mercenary Team Deathmatch
- Free-For-All
- Domination
- Ground War
- Demolition
- Sabotage
- Headquarters Pro
- Search and Destroy
- Capture the Flag
- 3rd Person Team Tactical
- Hardcore Ricochet: S&D
- Hardcore Team Deathmatch
- 3rd Person Cage Match
- Team Deathmatch Express
- Mosh Pit
So let us start with the new game modes, as I’m sure most of you are familiar with the concept of a Death-match…
Demolition is a bit like S & D in so far as there are two possible bomb locations. That’s about it for the similarities, both sides have the Bomb at all times (yeah everyone is a potential bomber). So it basically plays like a weird mix of Sabotage and S&D, respawning is on and its quite fast paced. The fact that anyone can end the game with a ‘Stealth plant’ adds an element of paranoia to the slow and tactical S&D.
3rd person game modes are shite. Don’t play them.
Team deathmatch express is as the title might suggest a game mode where one goes about killing the opposition, but with less time in-between games for the gamer with a life outside of their living rooms (Don’t kid a kidder).
Hardcore Ricochet: S&D is Hardcore S&D except if you try to kill your team mates, those bullets now rebound and are more likely to kill you than that noob that shot me short of a Pave low. Interesting but ermm why Infinity Ward? Couldn’t you have used this time to say allow Dedicated servers for PC!? Instead of making some shit 3rd person mode that nobody will play or care about, and indeed instead of the biggest liability to hit FPS, since Josh started up on Killzone 2, the riot shield (which by the way pretty much guarantees death to the hands of a retard with semtex).
The Maps
I’ve played all of the maps now, many times over each and have finally collated my personal top five and justification for it. So rolling in at…
Number 5: Derail, a snowy level with large open spaces perfect for sniping and buildings which allow a mix of long and medium range combat. Best bit: My personal sniping ledge far right of the map if you spawn as TF-141.
Number 4: Terminal, mainly indoor and based on the Campaign mission ‘No Russian’ mainly close quarters battle (CQB) which favours grenade launchers and indeed assault rifles in general. Best bit: The metal detectors are a nice touch.
Number 3: Underpass, outside raining level with a rich variety of combat zones which allow for many different play styles, under the remains of an underpass ( shock horror). Mostly long range fighting (although the rain obscures truly long range shots) to close range fighting (sniping and sniper-hunting). Best bit: Killing Et on his least favourite map.
Number 2: Wasteland, set in Ukraine/Russia and therefore features large open spaces with the only real cover being a series of underground tunnels connecting one side to the other. Best map for sniping IMHO, the long grass provides perfect cover for the patient sniper whilst the Thermal scope really comes into its own. Best bit: Damaging someone so they run for cover in the radioactive zone, big mistake.
Number 1: Highrise, my new personal favourite map which is set on top of a construction site/ skyscraper. Makes for a very interesting game, the tunnels which come out in either end of the map mean that sniping is difficult except for the veteran player who is one step ahead. Incidentally this is the map where I achieved the One bullet two headshots challenge 
. The fighting in the middle is broken up by office related boards and a Helicopter pad. Best bit: Running up the plank/walkway and high roofing some noobs.
The Perks
Only one to talk about really and that is Bling. The best new perk which allows for initially two weapon attachments on your primary weapons and then later after achieving Bling Pro; two on your secondary as well. For example a Barrett 50.Cal which is pre-scoped, Heartbeat sensor and a silencer or TAR-21 with an ACOG Mars scope and the grenade launcher. Both weapons I use, both very effective.
The Kill/Death streaks
Kill streak: Repping Pave low and Predator missile.
Death streak: Martyrdom.
I really do like the addition of customisation with killstreaks (death streaks not so fussed about), it adds an element to the game which was perhaps missing and along with the callsign/accolade (which is sadly my favourite part of MW2 Multiplayer) makes for an interactive and highly re-playable game. Don’t want a UAV? Kick it out in place of a Care Package instead.
Finally the callsigns and accolades really make this game for me, adding an element of uniqueness to this experience makes it unforgettable and wastes hours going through all the possible combinations I could have for myself, at the moment I’ve settled on Ghillie in the Mist with a little cross hair over a target. With hundreds to choose from I haven’t met two people the same, most are rewarded for completing challenges or ranking up- good times.
So in the main whilst this isn’t the best multiplayer FPS out there *cough Killzone 2 cough*, it really isn’t far off and if it had dedicated servers for the PC that is what I’d be play it on. Between the callsigns and accolades, perks and killstreaks this is a brute of a game and will probably win the GOTY award; beating off the likes of Empire: Total War, Killzone 2 and Red Alert 2 (from the amount we have been playing it feels like an ’09 release).
Keybrood Rating: 94/100
For comparison, Killzone 2 multiplayer was 95/100.
Repping VA: Channel swimming, RA2 God, iPhone carrying, Lenin lovin' PIMP. Currently Playing: Dragon Age Origins, Robot Unicorn Attack and Modern Warfare 2. 
:O Killzone better than COD? :O
Not that we disagree or anything! *shifty eyes*
I think it MW2 is a far more pure form of online multiplayer with more action and speed and less emphasis on the boring stuff.
I love Derail.. 23 kills 1 assist 0 deaths
Underpass 24 kills (one streak) 0 assist 1 death (right at the end)
Derail is a lovely sniper map. The only draw back is that the thermal scope tends to have problems with a white floor. Sharp eyes needed. However, wherever I snipe from i place a tactical insertion nearby, so most people will disable it, giving me a few seconds to turn round and blast off a few shots (with a shotgun).
Demolition isn’t new either.
3rd Person modes are fun, if you do cage matches, as it becomes far more tactical. Camping becomes an impossibility, because you can look round corners using the camera. I fairly enjoyed it tbh.
Hardcore S&D:Ricochet is a great idea. Hardcore S&D on MW1 often had the random moron who would RPG the teammates early on, resulting in a fail for the whole team. The whole ricochet idea is great and makes what was my favourite mode for a while, more enjoyable.
I never did post what my favourite 5 maps are so i’ll do it now.
5. Wasteland, simply because if sniping begins to anooy me, I can blast the crap out of anyone in the tunnels
4. Derail, deceptively good for close range weapons as the map is way to wide for snipers to watch the lot, allowing you to get up close and personal
3. Skidrow, again a good map, with plenty of scope for any weapon except snipers. LMG’s can watch over the long corridors, notably the tunnel on the western side of the map, and the corridor directly above the exit of the tunnel. Assault rifles good for accurate shooting and SMG for those liking to get up close.
2. Karachi, love this map, plenty of scope for any sort of weapon and for it to be effective. A good map with multiple layers and areas of intense fighting.
1. Favela. Fight it out in the tight corridors (ideal for knifing) or gt up on the roofs and pick out people from large areas of the map. Plenty of hidden corners, little alleys, but mixed nicely with open areas. I tend to do well here, due to the predictablity of people’s direction after the game starting spawn and the urban combat which I do best in.
I like all the maps really, just Underpass the least, because I rely on having sharp vision(well awareness of moving) to get the drop on people. Stick me in a rainy map and that’s taken away. Same with Downpour in CoD4, not a fan.
Another thing I like is the reduction of Mounted MG’s in kill whoring areas, making them an oppotunity weapon rather than just a stand and spray everywhere weapon.