PS3 Informer

Is Modern Warfare 2 Really Over-hyped?

\nI have been playing MW2 for about a week now and have hit the single player campaign hard. I enjoy a FPS and this one looked particularly good considering all of the hype leading up to its release, the heritage of the series and general pre-fight talk from the development team. Unfortunately, after playing a good bit of the game I have come away\nslightly underwhelmed. I understand that you all may not agree with me, so I've provided some explanation below about why I feel MW2 has missed the high bar it was aiming for.\n\n\n\nI opened the game, mad with anticipation what with the Billboards everywhere with that infamous caption 'The most anticipated game of the DECADE,' which for me is a massive statement. I popped the game into the PS3 and loaded up and proceeded. Graphically it isn't awesome.Although the sequel is polished in comparison to the last one but the detail level on consoles is still not great. The gameplay and speed of movement feels fast and precise which is good. Getting to grips with the control set up is also very good and how FPS Games should be set up 'Pad Wise'.\n\n\n\nThe opening level is authentic with the Camp of Rookies used to show new recruits how things are done, but it kind of feels tired and uninspired. The levels that follow all feel as though they never really get going, or ever really kick into high gear. Despite the constant barrage of action, it always feels tepid as oppose to red hot. The game is definitely held up by the Online Challenges and Cooperative features. The online again is very good and has a feel of urgency running throughout the game, offering the sense that no matter where you go, you would never be better off unless you had a set of eyes in the back of your head. So the feeling of pressure and concentration is great here and adds to the overall experience.\n\n\n\nAfter completing the game and looking at it through fresh eyes, it is clear that the massive media push before the game's release set expectations unrealistically high. To offer a more apt description, I feel as though the Campaign and body of the game are the 'Drunken Man' and the online and coop offerings are the bar and surrounding area propping him up. It just feels as though it the wrong way round where priorities are concerned. It feels as though if MW2 didn't offer online it would have hit a 6 if not 7 out of 10 at the most.\n\n\n\nThis does beg the question that maybe games as a whole are evolving and single-player campaigns aren't the focal centre piece that they used to be. I would restructure the game and offer a much bigger Campaign as looking at the game it was there, the story could have had at least twice as many tasks to complete and a few Sniper Levels would have been great, along with more levels where the elements and weather play a part and offer Cover as well as Hindrances. I just think as a whole the game hasn't really deliver what I was expecting and that never a good thing.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe way the game unfolds feels scattered and slightly dizzy. I mean the infamous Airport kill fest, the premise of shock is what they were aiming for but really, pointlessly gunning down loads of people, don't get me wrong, I mean Manhunt is one of my favourite games ever as the chasing down of Hoods and Skins makes sense within that realm, but MW2 just showed a lack of story and driven set pieces for me here. For me however, PS3's Killzone 2 and the 360's Halo just carry out the same tricks much better [I mean the desert level on Killzone 2 was amazing] - I think MW2 is a 7 if not 8 at the very best. Sadly the main bonus was having a Supermarket selling the game at a cheap price, but for me Killzone 2 is where it's at for Campaign and Online battles.\n\n\n\nI think a lot of gamers are going to disagree with my views on the game. Don't get me wrong -- it's an enjoyable piece of entertainment and I understand how its army of fans would say it's the best game out there. I just think it hasn't lived up to its expectations. I mean do you expect the hype to be this huge when MW3 inevitably hits the shelves after having played this game?\n\nYour views would be well received as I would love to be convinced that I am missing something, so be sure to comment in the box below.\n