Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II campaign review – Breach for the skies

A weekend of guns, explosions, and that one slow-motion scene of a car narrowly missing your head and explosively barrel-rolling over to the other side of the screen… It’s an end-of-year gaming tradition by now. Call of Duty is to the gaming calendar what Dinner For One is to New Year’s Eve: an annual ritual of popcorn action and weekend warrior exhilaration before you settle in for a year of multiplayer. The only difference is that this year, Modern Warfare II’s campaign ingredients don’t quite combine to create a mouth-watering meal of espionage and adrenaline-infused thrills that’ll have you coming back for seconds.

It’s not bad, but compared to the tighter focus of 2019’s Modern Warfare, this year’s entry in the long-running series is lacking that secret sauce. The campaign doesn’t live up to the high expectations of this sub-franchise.

And that’s a pity because everything else about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is an absolute blast. Gorgeous graphics showing off such an absurd thread count on character clothing, that it’ll keep the bougie-man away? Check. Best-in-class gunplay that has been fine-tuned to favour precision strikes? Double-check. A globe-trotting adventure that has you facing off against terrorist bastards with an axe to grind? You better believe that’s a check!

All of this is thrown into a story that combines Iranian terrorists, Mexican drug cartels flinging cannon fodder at you, and MIA US missiles that threaten to kickstart a new global conflict – something that only a ragtag squad of burly ass-kickers spouting thick military lingo can stop. It’s Zero Dark Thirty with a more jingoistic zeal for preserving the world’s status quo, all held together by gung-ho glue and some of the most riveting kill corridors you’ll find yourself stuck in while you wait for a last-minute exfiltration.

But it’s a bit paper-thin too, failing to do justice to the cast of veteran soldiers as they gallivant across the world to put a stop to an insidious conspiracy. Compared to the previous Modern Warfare and its 2009 namesake, Modern Warfare II is less interested in the subtle human stories that emerged from those games and instead goes for broke with widescreen action while riffing on familiar ideas from the past.

It’s a mix of original level design and nods to previous entries, with a high-caliber highlight reel that feels great but isn’t the most memorable entry in the franchise. Especially when compared to series greats such as Black Ops, WW2, and Infinite Warfare.

Where Modern Warfare II fails to really satisfy with its narrative, it makes up for the shortfall with some outstanding missions that throw a spanner into the usual formula of the franchise. The first few missions are surprisingly brief explorations of famous world locations that set up the more intensive encounters to follow, but they boast a variety that’s infinitely more memorable than the storyline. Infiltrating Amsterdam to find enemy agents is a short and picturesque stop, manning the turret of a gunship as you provide covering fire feels like superluminal advertising for the US Air Force, and the sniper mission comes close to dethroning that trip you took to Chernobyl more than a decade ago.

These are all missions that feel gritty and grounded, providing thrills a’plenty before you even squeeze the trigger. They’re also notably challenging, with enemies regularly backing you into a corner that you have to work your way out of, while adhering to the rules of engagement. It’s top-notch shooting with a tactical bend in these dangerous arenas, often alternating between tense room-clearing scenarios and all-out warfare that lives up to the game’s title. And the campaign can easily be finished in a single six-hour sitting as you hold the line.

While there’s undoubtedly a thick layer of nostalgia applied to some of these levels, that riff hard on COD’s glory days, that’s a small gripe. Especially when you realise you’re sitting eyes up and head forward on your couch as every cog in this meticulous war machine comes together to create a blockbuster experience. It feels like old times, and I’m fine with that.

It’s worth noting that while Modern Warfare II runs like a dream with its slick 60 frames-per-second visuals at 4K on console, there are a few technical hiccups to be wary of. Frequent texture pop-ups can be annoying, and unless you’re willing to devote several extra gigabytes to streaming them in while you play, get ready for some ugly textures upon closer inspection. A few players have also reported the odd save-game bug towards the end of the campaign, although that’s an issue that’ll likely be patched out in a few days.

A collection of thrilling missions, variety, and some of the most satisfying gunplay around makes for a Call of Duty campaign that’s locked and loaded. Narratively, though, it falls short of the gold standard set by some of the more legendary entries in the series.