Early Reactions To Modern Warfare 2's Campaign Are Mostly Saying The Same Thing

Though it certainly isn't without its detractors, to deny that the "Call of Duty" series has been one of the most influential first-person shooter IPs in gaming would be grossly inaccurate. This is especially true regarding its "Modern Warfare" subseries, which began with the release of "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" in 2007 and spawned two direct follow-ups in "Modern Warfare 2" and "Modern Warfare 3" in 2009 and 2011, respectively. All of these titles received critical acclaim, ultimately leading to 2019's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" reboot. The latest installment continues the reboot series with several multiplayer modes and a single-player campaign that brings back many of the franchise's familiar faces.

While its predecessor was highly regarded in the FPS genre, the original "Modern Warfare 2" from 2009 essentially pioneered the modern shooter with its own controversial campaign and robust multiplayer. In other words, this "Modern Warfare 2" had better be good if it wants to live up to fan expectations. The reviews are in ahead of the game's Oct. 28 release — and it seems like most critics are in agreement about its level of quality. However, there is some dissent sprinkled in.

Judging by most of the early reviews, it seems that Activision has knocked it out of the park when it comes to the campaign mode in "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2." Josh West of GamesRadar very much enjoyed the game's story, saying, "The 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' campaign is a riot from its impressive opening act to its explosive finale." West also praising its difficulty and overall presentation. Writing for GameSpot, S.E. Doster said that the new "Modern Warfare 2" compares favorably to its original namesake. "The success of 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare' 2019 left big shoes for the sequel to try and fill, but overall, 'Modern Warfare 2' is a strong successor," Doster said of the game's campaign mode. Doster also echoed West's praise regarding the increased difficulty. Press Start's Brodie Gibbons also commended the game's writing, noting that the characters felt fleshed out over the course of the storyline.

Unfortunately, not all reviews seem to love the campaign in "Modern Warfare 2." Matt Purslow of IGN was less than impressed with the game's script and felt that the original "Modern Warfare 2" will be the one people continue to write home about, rather than the reboot. "Thanks to a lackluster story, fumbled mechanical innovations, and largely underwhelming mission design, this year's 'Call of Duty' campaign is an unfortunate misfire that fails to live up to standards set by not only its unforgettable 2009 namesake, but also its 2019 predecessor," Purslow wrote.