Based on my past experience with the Call of Duty games, I started playing their newest game, Modern Warfare, with low expectations. As a soft reboot of the second game in the Modern Warfare series, I was expecting solid gameplay, but not much else. However, the game ended up being a pleasant surprise with a strong survival mode and a solid campaign. 

One of the most impressive aspects of Modern Warfare was its campaign. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I won’t mention much on the story, however it is much more gripping in terms of storytelling than I expected. We return to the original Task Force 141 and see events that take place before Modern Warfare One. Although Modern Warfare it is a prequel, the characters feel important to the story and fit in with the rest of the games in the series, even bringing back some characters from the original game. The gunplay and controls feel smooth and very similar to the multiplayer.

Another strong aspect of the game was how well the multiplayer was done. The maps tend to stray away from typical “three-lane” maps, making the gameplay feel unique and different from other games in the Call of Duty franchise. Despite the many additions, the game stayed true to its roots. The classic boots on the ground style gameplay feels nostalgic and reminiscent of the “good old days” of Call of Duty. The guns were balanced for the most part, and there were very few strictly overpowered weapons. Modern Warfare even included new game modes from the original, giving eager fans of the franchise a fresh experience.

One of my only complaints about Modern Warfare was how “Survival Mode” was brought back from Modern Warfare Three, along with the “classic multiplayer feel” of older games in the Modern Warfare series, such as Modern Warfare Two. The mode was executed very well and provided a unique experience with its brand new maps, although I could see it could getting stale without frequent updates. Despite Activision’s attempts to make it feel original, each round entails a very similar routine. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this game. The elements of a classic are there, they just need to be more developed. With a few problems ironed out, Modern Warfare could easily be a renowned classic.