It's the first day of Gamescom and we're already dripping with sweat. That's not the German beer sweats though, we've just sat down with Infinity Ward to see Modern Warfare II. These are real excite-sweats.
IW played through an entire mission in the game's Special Ops mode, a new mode that throws you into small, bite-sized missions where all hell breaks loose for a few minutes - enough time to make you sweat out without the hassle of story getting in the way.
Our IW guide compared it to the Mile High Club mission at the end of Modern Warfare, which was a short mission unlocked at the end of the game that challenged you to storm through a terrorist-filled plane and rescue a hostage. It was go-mental-and-headbutt-the-TV tough, but short and simple in theory. That's what Special Ops mode is based on.
Modern Warfare 2
Official trailer
1:22Multiplayer trailer released
Modern Warfare 2
Official trailer
1:22Multiplayer trailer released
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The final number of missions is yet to be confirmed, but IW says that the Special Ops mode is equal to the single-player and competitive multiplayer modes in size and depth. "It's had the same amount of blood, sweat and tears poured into it," they said. We promise not to mention sweat anymore.
As you'd hope and expect these mini-missions can be played in either single-player, two-player split screen or two-player online co-op. Every mission has been designed with co-op gameplay in mind.
The mission we were shown next was called 'Breach & Clear'. You start in a small corridor with a yellow glowing marker on the wall to your right, where you're to place a bomb. The timer doesn't start until the explosive is detonated, so you have time to gather some weapons for the bat-shit-crazy shoot out that's about to take place.
Plant the explosive and the blast rips through the brick wall, dust and debris flying everywhere. No doubt to show off the carnage a little more, IW immediately activates a temporary bullet-time mode, slowing down flying debris and, more importantly, the gunfire as the player bursts through the new entrance, all guns blazing. You're met with resistance from several enemy soldiers in the derelict, run-down building - some on the same level as you, others on balconies to the upper left and right.
At this point our eyes are wide open. We're smiling. The IW rep leans over to turn up the giant volume wheel on the seriously powerful sound system Activision has set up in the tiny box room. He's turning that bastard right UP and we're loving it. 10/10 for 'sound', we'll tell you that now.
The action is absolutely chaotic, bullets ripping into the scenery, shouting and gunfire everywhere, and the red laser sights of the enemy weapons flash around, which isn't just a pretty effect, it gives you clues to their position.
It's all kicking off but there's not even a hint of a dip in the game's absolutely silky-smooth frame rate. It's totally lush - like you'd expect from this year's biggest (and most expensive) game.
The objective marker is 60 metres and two enemy-filled rooms from the insurgence point. We watch as IW gets its ass handed back in 20 seconds. When you're shot in MW2 you really feel it - the violent shaking of your view is accompanied by thick red splatters of blood on the screen, making it harder to see. You squint just watching it.
Second time lucky, the rep blasted through the mission, using walls on either side of the rooms as cover from the onslaught. The mission ends when you drop through a hole in the floor at the far end of the stage. Short and sweet.
IW explained to us that finishing the missions on different difficulty levels earns you a different number of stars; one for easy, two for medium etc. These stars are accumulated in your profile, not just for showing off but also for unlocking other features in the game. We're seriously liking the no-messing premise of Spec-Ops mode. No need for a story - you just kill. And in two-player. And online. And it's awesome.
I really enjoyed COD4 although for me it was the SP that stood out and not the MP (freak I know!), hopefully this expands the experience without it having to turn into a frag fest.
This, ODST and Forza are going to take up an awful lot of my time, which is always a good thing !
Sounds rubbish really, no where near as good as nazi zombies. I've never been a big fan of CoD multiplayer, single player of 4 was the highlight and zombies was the best thing about 5, think i'll wait for this to drop or pick it up second hand. Just a shame this will be the best selling title ever such an average franchise.
I really doubt it will be as good as nazi zombies. 0 points for inventive thinking here. I'm sure they could've come up with a much better mini game mode. It sounds predictable and tedious(compared to nazi zombies)
I'm sorry but why does everyone bash WAW, it is a cracking game. It might have lacked the punch of COD4 in the single player but it adds more, with co-op and nazi zombies. Plus the multi-player is equally as good as COD4 IMO.
It’s a highly addictive mini game where you shoot zombies, and is probably the best thing to come out this year. Try playing it with a good team; you get such a rush just surviving the higher levels on any of the new maps. This special forces mode just sounds like a section of a level with lots of bad guys, between you and the exit, yawn.
I really doubt it will be as good as nazi zombies. 0 points for inventive thinking here. I'm sure they could've come up with a much better mini game mode. It sounds predictable and tedious(compared to nazi zombies)
While I think it can probably be highly entertaining, and it incorporates a very interesting & tumultuous period of human history, I'd hardly label Nazi zombies as "inventive thinking". Both are huge stocks of cliche material in this day and age.
It’s a highly addictive mini game where you shoot zombies, and is probably the best thing to come out this year. Try playing it with a good team; you get such a rush just surviving the higher levels on any of the new maps. This special forces mode just sounds like a section of a level with lots of bad guys, between you and the exit, yawn.
Where as Nazi zombie mode sounds like a lot of guys, albeit undead ones, trying to break in to a claustrophobic room. No similarities there at all...
Why does every one keep going on about Nazi Zombies?!? Why it is ok in it's own right, it really has no place in a war 'simulation' (term used loosely). And why people continually bash W@W? I put COD4 back in my 360 for the 1st time in ages the other day, and it doesn't even compare to W@W, either graphically or in smoothness of gameplay. In my opinion Infinity Ward did a fantastic job (bearing in mind I was addicted to COD4)
Back to the topic - I think IW have got his spot on - give the side games an element of realism, make them short but exciting, and scale rewards in accordance with difficulty. It will also add some variety and length to the single player experience - giving the game a longer shlef life for those who don't divulge in the multiplayer experience. I for one can't wait get 'Search and Destroying' on a set of new maps with new guns and of course customizable kill streaks!
Zombies is ace...its an extra game, challenging you to try somehting different. It also has lots of hidden depth, by finding the hidden story. I love playing it... This website is going down hill with people moaning...they are not supporting the product because they bought 1 map pack out (COD4)...they are bringing too many map packs out (COD5) and its costing me to much...Its great to have choice, you dont have to buy the map packs. People will start moaning about the Avatar clothes next...instead of moaning, dont buy them.
Zombies is ace...its an extra game, challenging you to try somehting different. It also has lots of hidden depth, by finding the hidden story. I love playing it... This website is going down hill with people moaning...they are not supporting the product because they bought 1 map pack out (COD4)...they are bringing too many map packs out (COD5) and its costing me to much...Its great to have choice, you dont have to buy the map packs. People will start moaning about the Avatar clothes next...instead of moaning, dont buy them.
I agree TykerD3 - people moaned like hell that IW didn't support COD4 enough with only 1 map pack - and then vice versa with too many map packs for W@W! People on here just seem to moan about anything and everything. The point is you have a CHOICE And I agree Zombies was ok, but I would prefer Treyarch to create a whole game on the Zombie theme and keep COD to humans!
Would you prefer no mini game in COD: WAW at all, and have to Download the Zombies seperately. Really they are seperate games, just that you have to have the COD disc in your XBox 360 to play Zombies.
Im looking forward to the mini game in COD MW2 - sounds fustratingly hard...like the Sky Dive, that i completed on Veteran by the way.
I was explaining how much points a game can have, not showing off how many acheivement points i have, like you are. Its easy to get big scores, if you rent easy, low quality games....
None of you have even played or seen Special Forces mode.
I'm sure if Treyarch announced there minigame was going to be you in a room where you shoot zombies, you would've been whining and moaning about that too.
Nazi zombies wasn't a breakthrough whatsoever. If your mediocre minigame is better than your actual title; you need to rethink why you're a developer.
Some of you guys think Nazi Zombies were creative. Lets see how many zombie games that are out..... Left 4 Dead and Left For Dead 2 oh and yeah Dead Rising. Yeah not Creative and i thought Call of Duty was wartime shooter not a zombie killing game. Oh yeah thats a fail. Spec Ops in much more creative than zombies... y don't some one tell me if there is anything remotley similar to that. Espcially if you guys though W@W was bttr then mw or mw2. Give me facts and i will listen
as far as I can tell from what iv'e read of spec ops it seems like a harder faster version of terrorist hunt from rainbow six rogue spear. nothing wrong with that revamps of old games can be good mw2 itself will prove that I hope! and world at war and it's zombie games are both enjoyable to play if you like that sorta thing. I found playing zombies was a great way to improve my headshots with various weapons. but I wouldn't say one game was better than the other both can have crappy days depending who your playing with/against. I just hope that the customisable killstreaks don't lead to too much noob bashing they have the potential to be quite unfair still fun though. would never turn down the chance to use an AC10!!
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I've felt that way for years on end.
