Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The term ‘blockbuster’ is one we normally associate with films but it’s now becoming an increasingly apt description for many major game releases too.

This especially holds true when the game in question enjoys lavish launch parties, courts the kind of tabloid attention usually reserved for Hollywood A-listers and makes more money in a single week than many of the highest-grossing movies of all time over their entire box office run.

Like its 2007 predecessor, Modern Warfare 2 (MW2) is a first-person shooter that eschews the Call of Duty series’ traditional WWII-based backdrop in favour of a bang-up-to-date military setting.

The game’s single-player mode puts you in behind the rifle butt of several different soldiers over a variety of fictional present-day engagements around the globe, from dusty Middle-Eastern side streets to snowy Russian gulags and even suburban America.

The story is short and faintly absurd, but Modern Warfare 2 is all about set pieces and there are moments of genuine shock and awe throughout the campaign. Varied environments and objectives also mean that gameplay can often be a little more tactical than that of the average shooter.

In multi-player mode Modern Warfare comes into its own. Again, there is nothing especially revolutionary about its online or network play, but factors such as a diverse assortment of weaponry and well-designed maps all gel to provide a thoroughly addictive multi-player experience.

Of particular note are the game’s two-player co-op missions, some of which task the first player with controlling ground forces while the other acts as air support.

Hype, controversy and commercial success aside, Modern Warfare 2 is a fairly typical example of much mainstream entertainment in that it delivers plenty of big-scale bang without bringing anything groundbreaking to the table.

This is not intended to be a criticism, though. The developers have clearly identified what worked about the first Modern Warfare title and have simply built upon it, delivering a sequel that more than matches its predecessor for thrills, spills and pyrotechnics.

It might not be particularly innovative, but Modern Warfare 2 is probably the most exhilarating blockbuster you are likely to see on any screen – big or small – at the moment.