Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Rapid Review

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Fast Facts

Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered
Developer: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Website: https://www.callofduty.com/
Genre: First Person Shooter, Multiplayer, Shooter
Platform: PS4, Xbox & PC (coming soon)
Age Rating: PEGI 18
Release Date: 31/03/2020 (Other platforms 30/4/2020)
Price: £19.99 – Rapid Reviews was very kindly provided with a review code for this title.

Modern Warfare 2 was the masterpiece of 2009; it was critically acclaimed and launched one of the best multiplayer experiences available at the time. We had the MW1 remaster in 2016, four years on, let’s hope MW2 lives up to the remaster hype.

So, time to rejoin Task Force 141 and see if I can I save Burger Town, survive the Favela and get to the submarine in less than 2 minutes!

Flashbacks

I remember back in 2009 playing MW2 on PC; I was so excited to be able to continue my journey as Soap and Price. These were some of the best games I played growing up, I was part of a competitive clan back then, and I spent quality time with friends and family having enjoyable times. So this series is quite nostalgic for me.

That said, remasters are often a difficult thing to accomplish, sometimes games that are held in such high esteem often lose kudos by their “remasters”. The same can be said for films, Dumbo for example! 

Therefore, as always, I was apprehensive about undertaking this remaster but excited nonetheless to re-visit some memories.

Into the Fray

I’ve been playing the current Modern Warfare continuously online for a while, and am currently popping back and forth on the campaign in realism mode, so I opted for Veteran. I ran the shooting range at 33 seconds, so it suggested Hardened, but I thought I knew better!

Into the first mission, it’s easy to see the remaster work visually; the game looks stunning. I’m running on a PS4 Pro with an HDR TV, and it looks incredible, the lighting, the character models and details are all fantastic.

The game has had a massive facelift, and I was stunned, looking at the character model of Sgt Foley. So much so, I forgot to pick up the gun and do the basic training!

There’s a great video over on YouTube by CyCu1 with all the differences; check it out here.

After reacquainting myself with the controls, I began to feel it lacked in something, and moving along the Pit; I realised it was the character movement that felt less fluid going back from the newest MW release.

Transitioning to crouch and then prone seemed slower, not being able to mount or peek corners was evidently missing and made the experience clunkier than I remember. Not because the game is bad, but because controller patterns and advancements have made games more realistic.

I ran the Pit a few times and got a decent time, but that sub-30-second run still plagues me. I’ll keep trying for sure; it’s my Platinum trophy white whale.

Oh before you run the Pit, make sure you give Shepard what he deserves!

S.S.D.D

With those in mind, I still ventured into the game on Veteran. Adamant I could complete it without an issue. Well, I was right in a sense, I did finish it, eventually…

What plagues the remaster vs the remake is the same old difficulty of never-ending enemies and lacklustre AI unless you physically pass a checkpoint in the game.

Countless times I just watched as the AI fought each other and nothing happened, as if they had water pistols, but I moved only an inch and was shot without even seeing where it was coming from. Without peaking around a corner, or mount on a crate, I was a big hitbox. 

This made the game super frustrating for me, and almost cost me a controller replacement (they fly pretty well).

The Favela mission was an absolute slog; I died more on that than in any other mission. I remember clearing the entire front part, to push forward to only get shot from behind because an enemy re-spawned, I moved into a building to reload only to be shot as I stood up, with no idea from where. The enemies seem to have a magnetic attachment to my head and only me, plus the mission never went forward if I didn’t kill everyone and advanced my way through.

There were a couple of other missions that could’ve benefited from more updated controller options, Wolverine, Contingency, The Hornet’s Nest, Loose Ends, Enemy of my Enemy… you get the idea. (The whole game needed this.)

Return of the Mac(Tavish)

Controls aside, it was incredible to relive the storyline of MW2. Its globe-trotting, character switching, intertwined narrative that when I first played it, made me feel like I was part of a film.

I wasn’t surprised to see the return of “No Russian”, the controversial mission of yesteryear. It struck a chord with a lot of people, but you can as always skip it if you find the content upsetting. I was surprised, however, to see Yuri lying on the ground near the start. There are some neat easter eggs in the remaster; it’s worth looking out for them.

One of my favourite moments is in Cliffhanger as you ride the snowmobile and avoid the chaos, gunfire and helicopters, only to then have to jump a considerable ravine, this felt easier than I remember. I did it the first time, even on Veteran.

Just Like Old Times

Nostalgic moments and controller frustrations aside, this game is still a solid contender for greatest of all time. It delivers an impactful story and is a Hollywood movie from beginning to end; even the end credits are some of the best you’ve ever seen.

Yes it garnered much of its praise from its multiplayer experience, and no, they aren’t bringing that back separately, but they are bringing that content into the current MW 2019 not to dilute their market and player base. I’m happy not to have another online system to grind; maybe they could bring back some of the kill-streaks and weapons though.

If you currently own MW 2019, you can buy the MW2 Remaster as part of an in-app purchase and unlock some content for the newest game, specifically the UDT Ghost skin.

Then once it’s all over, head to the Museum, and if you’re feeling brave, press the red button.

Check out my other reviews for;

Modern Warfare 2019 and my thoughts on The Battle Pass.

Rapid Reviews Rating

You can purchase Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2 Campaign Remastered from the PlayStation 4 on the following link, https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP0002-CUSA07904_00-CODMW2RSTANDARD1