Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 7381 Ratings

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  • Summary: Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. An entirely new gameplay mode which supports 2-player co-operative play online that is unique from the single player storyModern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. An entirely new gameplay mode which supports 2-player co-operative play online that is unique from the single player story campaign. Special Ops pits players into a gauntlet of time-trial and objective-based missions. Rank-up as players unlock new Special Ops missions, each more difficult. Missions include highlights from the single player campaign, fan favorites from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and all new, exclusive missions. Setting a new bar for online multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer delivers new capabilities, customization, gamestates and modes, including: Create-a-Class Evolved. Secondary Weapons - Machine Pistols, Shotguns, Handguns, Launchers. Riot Shields. Equipment - Throwing Knives, Blast Shield, Tactical Insertion. Perk Upgrades. Bling (Dual Attachments). Customizable Killstreaks - AC130, Sentry Gun, Predator Missile, Counter-UAV, Care Package. Accolades (Post match reports). [Activision] Expand
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. It's hard to see the majority of people wanting to play any other multiplayer shooter until the next CoD is released, such is the quality of what's on offer here.
  2. Infinity Ward has managed to outdo themselves with this sequel, a tremendous feat in its own right. If the games of 2009 were stacked up against each other, there’s no question that Modern Warfare 2 would be incredibly close to the apex, fighting viciously for the top spot and, for many people, getting there and continuing upward. This is what gaming is supposed to feel like.
  3. 91
    The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 is identical to the console versions in almost every way, and that's actually the problem. PC gamers have a certain expectation for online shooters. Removing dedicated server and user mod support from a game that's already $10 more than its predecessor seriously hinders the long term appeal for me.
  4. The surprise factor of the first Modern Warfare is missing and the PC version is by far the worst in the PS3, X360 and PC trio. This new Call of Duty iteration exceeds every expectation with its off-line mode, but loses its place among the best shooters of this year because of its poorly designed and badly executed multiplayer.
  5. Pelit (Finland)
    84
    A true video-game equivalent of a Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay action movie. The singleplayer is engaging while it lasts, but the game's true value lies in the multiplayer. The online matches are fast, fun and highly addictive. [Nov 2010]
  6. PC Gamer
    80
    Modern Warfare 2's convincing weapons, evil enemies, shock-and-awe set-pieces and beautiful-but-unrelated locales suit nothing so well as co-op. [Jan 2010, p.72]
  7. If you told me three months ago we would be suggesting PC gamers hold off on buying Modern Warfare 2 I would have thought you're crazy. But if you are buying this game mainly for multiplayer - especially if you're contemplating serious competitive play at a high level - that's exactly what we're saying. The single player story is great, and if your idea of multiplayer is a quick zap with mates maybe an hour or two a week then by all means - it's great for your purposes. However if you're a Counterstrike, Battlefield, ETQW or even a COD4 player looking for a serious competitive platform to move to - best wait. Wait and see if Infinity Ward can implement dedicated server support.

See all 40 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. ConR.
    Nov 14, 2009
    10
    Awesome game, The single player is short but so exhilarating, some excellent actions scenes and the story line is believable enough. Awesome game, The single player is short but so exhilarating, some excellent actions scenes and the story line is believable enough. Multiplayer is very good too(never had lag). I'm not sure if you're aware or not but there was a atttempted boycott of this game by mostly the clans and modders. If you look at the user ratings for l4d there is still only 1.5k user reviews for it, within a day this page had 2k. All the people who have rated it 0 are the guys who are trying to stop other people from buying it. I think ign should put up a little note saying "Some of the reviews may be part of an attempted boycott by pc gamers" It's not fair on everyone else that just cause they can't have their clan wars or mod the gravity lvl. People might miss out on a brilliant game because of the selfish actions of these boo-boys! Buy it! Expand
  2. Oct 3, 2014
    9
    I'm not much of a fan of Call of Duty, but this game, and its predecessor, stands out to me. I did enjoy the singleplayer, start to finish,I'm not much of a fan of Call of Duty, but this game, and its predecessor, stands out to me. I did enjoy the singleplayer, start to finish, and I replayed it several times going for the Veteran difficulty run. The multiplayer? Meh. I see tons of reviews bashing the community (which is horrible), but that's not the game's fault, so no points taken off for that. Balance, however, is a major issue. Most of the players use either the ACR, which literally has perfect accuracy, or an explosive weapon, which have earned their bad reputation. I'll take -2 off for that. And then, the latency issues. Even when my Internet connection is top notch, I still get the occasional 200+ ping while the host has 0. -1 for that. In the graphical sense, it actually strikes a nice balance between graphics and performance, and has given it a reputation of being able to run on nearly anything. I was able to run this on a Pentium core and a Radeon 4550 HD GPU, and the game looked quite good. If you are a fan of Call of Duty, get this game, but not for the multiplayer. Expand
  3. Sep 1, 2012
    8
    I am one of the rare CoD players who bought it for the story. I was very disappointed in this story, but the mission variety and interestingI am one of the rare CoD players who bought it for the story. I was very disappointed in this story, but the mission variety and interesting things it had you doing ended up redeeming it somewhat. The multiplayer is the same old, same old. The just added more stuff and easier ways to get massive killstreaks. Of course, there is no skill in it at all, but that's what made it fun. Spec ops was a great addition to the frachise and i had a ton of fun playing the large variety of challenges. Expand
  4. ReizoY
    Nov 11, 2009
    3
    As good as the game is on graphics and gameplay, the single player is far too short for an increased price. Lack of dedicated servers makes As good as the game is on graphics and gameplay, the single player is far too short for an increased price. Lack of dedicated servers makes multiplayer tough especially for those who have their P2P ports blocked (Like me since I'm using university connection). Expand
  5. IvanTBB
    Dec 11, 2009
    1
    It is not a big step forward from cod4. Also removing the servers was a bad move since a lot of people play this game for customization. It It is not a big step forward from cod4. Also removing the servers was a bad move since a lot of people play this game for customization. It is time for the game makers to do some fan service. Expand
  6. TylerH.
    Nov 10, 2009
    0
    Lets break this down as to why this game must be advoided no matter what. Dont even torrent it, doing so you acknowledge Activision/Infinity Lets break this down as to why this game must be advoided no matter what. Dont even torrent it, doing so you acknowledge Activision/Infinity Ward created a product you want. I'll compare what features COD4 offered vs. MW2, separated by dashes... networking = client/server - peer 2 peer avg ping (us) = 25-40ms - 100+ console ability = yes - no lean funtionality = yes - no custom maps = yes - no # of players = 64 - up to 18 mods = yes - no record game = yes - no kick/ban hackers = yes - no profiles saved online = no - yes select server to join = yes - no control offensive language = yes - no 0 ping host advantage = no - yes lan pay = yes - yes free demo = yes - no price = $50 - $60 If you think a 3hr, rediculous B action movie style, single player; with a few new perks and the removal of all listed above is worth more than any other game for pc at $60... then you'll only be feeding corporate greed, and you'll be letting them know its ok to raise prices in a recession, completely port a game from the inferior 360, and remove pc components that have always been in exsistance with damn near every game. Let it be known, Call of Duty had died for PC on 11/10/09. Expand
  7. Sep 26, 2010
    0
    I must say MW2 was absolutely horrible. Let us first sum up the campaign. It was full of hollywood Cliche's, it was abysmally short, it wasI must say MW2 was absolutely horrible. Let us first sum up the campaign. It was full of hollywood Cliche's, it was abysmally short, it was full of respawning baddies, the plot made about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine...it has to be the worst story I've seen since high school. MP was functional, but still. IWNet? really? VAC as the sole anticheat? Spending more time in lobby than in game? Toobers? Honestly I feel sorry for anyone who has this tied to their Steam account. Including my friend, who bought it on launch and let me play it on his machine. Poor guy.

    In closing it was the worst game I've ever played in 20 years of gaming.
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See all 1454 User Reviews

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