Infinity Ward once again delivers a dramatic, action packed game that is simply amazing.
I guess I should start with the presentation. The graphics are top notch. Everything is dazzling to the eyes, save a few less than stellar things which are easily over-looked in the fast paced combat that consumes almost every second of this game. The environments are beautiful and each has its own unique look and feel from the frozen fields in Russia to the battle-scarred Washington, D.C. Each has great detail and looks great. The sound is also on par with the graphics. The guns sound powerful and each has its own sound. The voice acting is also very good. The voices sound great and you can hear the emotion. I also liked the inclusion of Keith David as Sgt. Foley.
As far as gameplay goes, it is easily some of the best in the genre. The controls feel comfortable and the shooting mechanic is pristine. The infinitely spawning enemies that caused so much pain in the first game seem to have been removed, but if they are still in the game, they are hardly noticeable. The only complaint I had while playing the game was getting into jams where enemies seemed to be all around. These were the only parts of the game that gave me frustration; the rest of the campaign was very enjoyable and fun to play. The AI has also received an upgrade. The enemies react better to your moves and are not afraid to find a way to kill you. The friendly AI also received a boost. They now actually advance and help check corners so you don't always have to lead the charge against the enemies.
As for the plot, Infinity Ward delivered a blockbuster story. With non-stop action, intense battles, and shocking plot twists, it could easily pass as an action movie in game form. The only problem was that the story seemed to be a little similar at points to the original Modern Warfare's, but there are plenty of differences to keep you guessing from beginning to end. The only problem is the fact that it ends so soon. I played on Regular and finished the campaign in about 5 and a half hours. I was a little saddened by this, but I would prefer a good story over one that was long but filled with fillers that were there only to increase the story length.
On the multiplayer side of the game, it sets the new bar for online play. With great matchmaking and constant rewards, you easily get drawn in and play non-stop from the start. The only complaint I have is giving the starter classes attachments that you can't get right away for your custom classes. Its a small complaint, but seeing a level 6 person run around with a 50 cal with a heart beat sensor can get a bit annoying. As for Special Ops, each mission is fun its own way. Whether it is a level based on a CoD4 or MW2 campaign level or something new, the variety is broad and enjoyable.
Overall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a spectacular sequel that lives up to the hype generated before its release. It is easily a must have game that will keep you coming back to it for a long time.