Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer First Look

By: Yourcatch22 | Posted On: Wednesday 16 September 2009

This week Infinity Ward ended months of speculation by showcasing the much anticipated multiplayer aspect of its upcoming Modern Warfare 2 title. At the Microsoft sponsored event in L.A., visitors got an in depth look walkthrough from the game’s developers, revealing several new features that promise to fix many of the shortcomings of its predecessor ‘s multiplayer mode. Now we will break down some of the new features and give you a first look into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s multiplayer aspect.

So What's New?

The first new feature, and one that has received quite a bit of hype over the past few weeks, is the customized killstreak. Different from traditional killstreaks, Modern Warfare 2 gives players the choice to enable whichever killstreaks they would like to pursue right from the game menu. Once enabled, the game tracks a player’s kills and awards them with in-game bonuses at different stages of the killstreak. For instance, bonuses included the UAV at 3 kills, a care package of ammo or random updgrades at 4 kills, and the lethal AC-130 gunship at 11 kills.



Although Modern Warfare 2 rewards players for impressive killstreaks, players who aren't doing so hot won't leave empty handed either. Modern Warfare 2 also rewards you for failing by awarding players for extended deahtstreaks. Deathstreaks give players bonuses for dying repeatedly without achieving a kill, and can be very helpful for new and inexperienced players. Awards include the Copycat, where after four deaths, the game awards the victim with the weapon class used by the player which killed them. Players can also receive a health boost on respawn after three consecutive deaths, appropriately titled the Painkiller. Other rewards include Bling, which allows you to carry more weapons, and Scavenger, which allows players to sift through the dead for weapons and ammunition.

Another impressive feature new to Modern Warfare 2 is the Callsign System, which allows players to choose their own callsigns and rank symbols. Players will also be able to unlock new ranks and callsigns as they acquire experience and kill points through the game. These new features will be extremely useful in setting up squads and allowing for quick team identification.

Gameplay Features

One of the only criticisms players had about Call of Duty 4 was the multiplayer mode’s lack of features to help organize gaming squads and teams. Well this time around Infinity Ward took a serious look at the community’s advice, creating an all new system to help improve squad play. Group leaders can now easily be located with their names highlighted on the in-game mini map. Also new to Modern Warfare 2 is the Host Migration system which prevents excessive game lag and timeouts by transitioning a group from one host to another in the event of a connection problem.



A lot of attention has already been given to the weapons of Modern Warfare 2, some based on real-life guns, others born out of the imagination of developers who have watched a few too many sci-fi flicks. The multiplayer portion of the game also features some new weapons, including a missile launcher, double sniper rifles, and even a riot shield to deflect incoming rounds. The secondary weapon slot has also been expanded from just pistols in Call of Duty 4, to a multi-purpose slot which can stash grenades, secondary weapons, or tactical flares to help mark points of interest on the map. And how can we forget the addition of throwing knives?

Game modes also return in Modern Warfare, and yes the popular Domination mode is back. The developers have also added Team Deathmatch, Demolition, and Capture the Flag modes to help reinforce team play and make the missions more exciting with goals beyond simply eradicating your opponent.

New Environments

The recent event in L.A. showcased three brand new maps: Favela, Highrise, and Afghan. While there will certainly be more maps available on release, especially with MW2 communities pumping out third party maps, the first three maps unveiled promise to be extremely exciting - each with a distinctly different gaming environment for players to test their skills.



Favela is a map set in Rio de Janero, Brazil and has been featured in several game trailers released over the past few months. The map provides players with an urban environment, fighting in narrow streets and alleys of poverty stricken shacks. The result is an exciting yet challenging mission for players who do not know what awaits them around each corner.

Next up is Highrise, which puts players inside large tower located in an urban city environment. The skyscraper, which is still under construction, allows players move through unfinished walls and ducking behind large building equipment. Once again play is extremely fast through the confined, but complex corridors of the building.

And finally we have Afghan, which as you can probably guess, takes players into the deserts of the middle east. Yet despite the wide open space, players can still find plenty of cover behind dunes of sand or the occasional abandoned aircraft shell. Keep a lookout for snipers, as the dunes on the perimeter provide the perfect cover for a waiting marksman.

The Summary

Overall, the multiplayer mode of Modern Warfare 2 promises to be even more exciting than ever. Infinity Ward manages to take everything you loved about the original title and improve it with a host of new in-game features, maps, and game play upgrades. You can expect to hear plenty more about these features and more in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, Infinity Ward did confirm at the event that there was currently no multiplayer beta planned. So it appears that you will have to wait until the title ships November 10th for your chance to checkout all these features first hand.