Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
After Activision released a remastered version of the original Modern Warfare in 2016, it also attempted to win back the favor of at least a portion of its fan community that didn’t like where the brand was going. While the remaster was absolutely hilarious, it also put the publisher back in a not-so-good situation at the same time. While the game’s multiplayer portion was certainly not among the most balanced and content-rich of the original Modern Warfare, it still managed to entice many players. Some of them were bothered by the novelty and content overkill of the latest installments. In contrast, others simply wanted to play the classic maps endlessly in a beloved title with much nicer graphics. Although a few unnecessary cosmetic changes were not avoided in the remaster, there weren’t too many, and the game remains pleasantly faithful to the original. But back to the Modern Warfare 2 campaign, we’re here for now.
Modern Warfare 2: Visualy Great
Modern Warfare 2 looks really great in the remastered graphics. For those of us who have played through the original game many times, it’s easy to spot the many sub-improvements immediately. The models, especially the character faces, look much better in the remaster, and each level benefits from improved lighting, more detailed textures, particle effects, and other tweaks. The first thing you’ll notice is the fantastically detailed weapons, which the developers at Beenox have done a great job with. You can see grooves, dirt, and all sorts of surface irregularities. By pressing the down arrow, you can get a good look at the weapon in your hands and examine it from all sides.
Furthermore, the lighting is noticeably improved, and it stands out most in the underground Gulag equipped with headlights and other light sources. But the truly incredible sight awaits you during the Battle of Washington, where there’s plenty of fire all around, and the battlefield is bathed in the blazing glow of the setting sun. Modern Warfare 2 already offered levels with a much higher density of individual objects in its original version, and this feature of the game comes to the fore even more in the remastered version. For example, there’s no shortage of furniture and other objects in living areas that react to the ubiquitous gunfire. Similarly, the fight with drug gangs in a Brazilian marketplace is excellent, with bullets flying over water jugs or tearing chunks of fruit.
Audio Lacks Behind Visuals
What could have been better is the sound. It’s not that it’s terrible or not improved over the original. Still, the year-older Modern Warfare 2019 reboot took the series’ soundtrack a long way further, and the difference between the current remaster and the last installment is quite noticeable. For example, there are disturbing moments where you can only hear voices from the radio, even though the person speaking is right beside you. The sound of the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot is also much more surround sound, and you can hear the impact of every bullet. The audio remaster of the second installment certainly doesn’t have such elaborate audio, and its sound settings are surprisingly kept to an absolute minimum here. More specifically, there is only one slider for all the sound, which doesn’t please too much.
Replayability Through Modifiers and Collectibles
Also, you indeed will be interested in the game time. The single-player campaign can be completed in roughly six hours without problems. You will remember the collectibles found in most Call of Duty games. Their role has been improved a bit in the Modern Warfare 2 remaster. Finding a certain number will unlock various modifiers that you can use to spice up your gameplay. Modifiers can be functional, visual, or just plain fun.
So you can, for example, turn on the option that all enemies will automatically drop the grenade when they die. The nice graphics of the game can be hidden behind one of the color filters. Some fun ones include a modifier that replaces your enemies’ heads with pineapples that explode nicely when hit. The game has more than enough similar things.
The Return into the Museum
I was pleased to see that Beenox also brought back the fabulous Museum to Modern Warfare 2, which you unlock after completing the campaign. It’s not just a gallery in the game’s menu but a short level you can freely explore. Here, individual characters, weapons, and military equipment are displayed as moving exhibits in displays reminiscent of the game’s levels. Captions will bring up plot details you may have missed or reveal many interesting facts about modern warfare. Paintings painted by talented individuals from the community hang on the walls, and the entire level has an interesting easter egg, which I won’t reveal here. I definitely recommend visiting the Museum at least once after finishing the campaign, especially for fans who would love to bury themselves in it.
Missed Opportunities for a Trilogy Collection
However, despite all this effort to offer added value, a remastered Modern Warfare would make more sense as a collection of the entire trilogy, like Bioshock or Uncharted. Alternatively, Activision could have rewarded all players with a code to download the first installment. Granted, in the same price range, i.e., roughly $25, you can buy games with similar gameplay length but a remaster of an eleven-year-old game? Despite all the qualities here, I’d rather wait for a discount.
A High-Octane Campaign That Holds Up
Modern Warfare 2’s campaign alone is one of the best the franchise has ever offered. Suppose you’re looking for a title where you can wrack your brain and rush forward through the battlefield, destroying hordes of enemies during epic scenery. In that case, you’ve come to the right place. The story directly follows the events of the previous installment. The thing that’s often classically mentioned in Call of Duty reviews is that logic doesn’t sit too well with Michael Bay’s explosive Hollywood movies. In the case of Modern Warfare 2, it’s very much the same, but in the best way.
New players may find it difficult to follow the short briefings between missions. These were widely criticized then, and many called for them to be replaced with cutscenes, which they eventually were. I see it differently here, too. Not only do the briefings look and sound beautiful, but their brevity also matches the brisk pace of the game while not giving much time to think deeply about all the illogic, which is certainly ideal. The game also constantly changes locations, and the level layouts are much more imaginative than when they first appeared. Routine firefights are continually diversified by various military technology gadgets or adrenaline action passages that last barely a few minutes. For the first time in the series, you break down doors and shoot surprised soldiers in slow motion.
Or maybe even its plot absurdity during the massacre of civilians in “No Russian” still sends chills down your spine, and the mission makes you hate Makarov more than any other antagonist in the series. Messy battles in the back alleys of Brazil will test your ability to navigate space, and you’ll find yourself holding your breath during the desperate fight for the White House. This is accompanied by one of the best soundtracks in the series’ history from composer Hans Zimmer. The game never lets the player breathe a sigh of relief. But at the same time, there are plenty of moments, like when you finish a frantic snowmobile chase by jumping over a precipice, accompanied by incredibly haunting music.
Conclusion to Another Reviewed COD:MW Remaster
The Modern Warfare 2 campaign is still fun, and the improved graphics make it a joy to play even today. You won’t find things like reloading during ADS aiming or the ability to put your weapon on the surface or lean out from behind an obstacle. Beenox wisely decided that this would break the authenticity of the game. None of that matters; Modern Warfare 2 is still a simple but very effective action ride that only lets you out of the saddle after the end credits roll.
About the Game
Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered
Type of Game: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Beenox
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: March 31, 2020 (PS4), April 30, 2020 (PC, Xbox One)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Where to Purchase COD MW 2, bit tricky with PC..
You can purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered digitally on:
- PC: Available on Battle.net
- PlayStation: Buy on the PlayStation Store
- Xbox: Get it on the Microsoft Store
Note: This version includes only the single-player campaign with remastered visuals and audio. Multiplayer and Spec Ops modes are not included.