by This weekend I had the honor of having my hands on a beta code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. So I got my ass off Warzone and tried it when it launched at around 1 AM (GMT+8). Upon seeing the trailer I really readied myself for what was to come. Hell, I had high hopes for the beta but kept it low since it is a beta. Anyway, expect really short impressions as I only got to play it for a short time.
Putting the BOOT in BOOTCAMP
I’m not talking about how user-friendly the beta is, hell it doesn’t have any tutorials. This is more of a personal experience as I have been booted more times than I have played. This definitely affected my bias for this first impression, so this is your only warning for what I have to write.
Honestly, I was wondering if this is due to it being in beta, as most games encounter bugs and problems. I’m sure it wasn’t due to my laptop as it was on potato settings, and met the minimum requirement. So I checked if it was my ISP that was kicking me out. However, I was already using both LAN and wifi with no issues. Sadly, I was just getting booted by the game for unclear reasons.
The Trailer had more Oomph!
I’m not going to lie, the trailer really had me going, especially with Smashing Pumpkin’s Bullet with Butterfly’s Wings. It looked like it offered a lot more than what my copy of the beta had. What really enticed me the most was how easy it was to switch between primary and secondary weapons. Another was how it felt like multiplayer has a lot more to offer in being a large enough world for players to work with.
Aside from that, the graphics for the trailer really blew me away. Although it was only for the trailer right, so it may have been tweaked. The promise of a better-looking Warzone in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Warzone II was something to look forward to as well. I mean better weapons and newer mechanics right? Especially with Gunsmith 2.0 coming.
Snap Back to Reality
Sadly enough, the trailer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 versus my own experience is a classic Expectation vs. Reality scenario. The beta was unplayable on my end, the only time I could play I would get kicked out mid-game. I didn’t even have enough time to experience and unlock Gunsmith 2.0 to see what it holds.
I was also looking forward to playing in 3rd person mode. However, again I couldn’t for I was being kicked too often. I only managed to play Knockout and Rescue the Hostage as they are the only ones to load. The other modes such as 3rd person and the large 20 vs 20 battles would crash when I find a game. Beta woes it would seem.
It Can’t be all bad Right?
Don’t worry I do have enough gameplay to say that I’d be expecting more from this game. I did enjoy a lot of its new functions that I haven’t tried in previous titles. For example, the usual Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 chat lobby is there. If you enjoy the toxicity of the previous titles, trust me you’d enjoy this one. Though kidding aside, what got me going was how easy it was to switch to and from the secondary to primary. You basically wield both primary and secondary at the same time (depending on your weapon set).
Another noteworthy secondary related review is the ability to wield your pistol while hanging from a ledge. Making it possible for retaliation during that vulnerable moment. Although I haven’t tried it on an enemy, I did try it a couple of times and it really was unique. The guns themselves also handle a bit well during this beta, with the default loadouts being newbie friendly.
Initial Verdict
I’ve pretty much said all that I can about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ‘s multiplayer demo. Playing for a little while (when the game lets me) already made me hopeful of its release. I still view the beta as something that is truly lacking, especially with all the hiccups I encountered. I will however attribute it to being a beta, something that is full of bugs from the game itself to its servers.
Although I have given the beta a not-so-stellar initial verdict. I still (hope) believe that the bugs will be squished on release. I honestly think that the main game would deliver more when it comes to the multiplayer route. Anyway, you can pre-order your copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 at the links below:
