MW2 will soon be the “standby” game for many people so it is time for me to reflect. This is probably a good time for that with BFBC2’s release and the Halo Reach beta in 2 months (woot!). Even Toy Soldiers is looming to steal some of my meager gaming time from MW2. That that any of this speaks the death of MW2. My friends’ list had 10 people on last night, 6 playing MW2—reports of MW2’s death are exaggerated.
I don’t have a lot of gaming time. Since the MW2 release I have now logged 44hours online. I have had a solid half dozen 3 hour sessions so you can see my gameplay has been outside those sessions a lot of short sessions (25hrs in 3+ months). The beginning was rough (hadn’t played a CoD since CoD4 on the PC, and that was just long enough to top out on rank). I remember being sub 1.0 KDR after my first 2000 Ks. The game places a lot of emphasis on map control so that isn’t surprising. Walmart was slow getting me my copy (about 2 weeks late) so I felt like a fish out of water at first. I also was burning through ammo quickly (I go for a lot of penetration kills so I was running out of ammo with the M4 often). It took me about 10 hours before I was chatting with Scott and remembered the basics: use the perimeter as cover, focus on flanking, keep moving in a circular direction to reduce flanking and being squeezed, don’t venture aimlessly in the center, if in a group let the noobs rushers go ahead to draw fire and reveal their location and then wipe them out as they reload, etc. Just basic stuff like knowing, “Around this corner is some stairs, a hall to the right and a window up front” and then peaking around while looking at the closing points and then gently peaking over the stairs as to use them for basic cover.” In this fashion MW2 is really a “Quake” game in MW clothing—map knowledge is king. The game is brutal (no bullet sponges here). The maps are intricate and detailed with a ton of emphasis on controlling angles. This is the exact opposite of BF (huge map with quasi real architecture). MW2 is an arena style game that is very much a skill game. If you don’t have a serviceable method for shooting in a shooter you won’t be good in MW2. This is another reason I LOVE BF: It is a team game where people of different skill sets and interests can play. My wife is solid in tanks and is great at defense and communication and always a willing medic or engineer—MW2 offers no hope for someone like her. It doesn’t make MW2 a bad game, only that it immediately penalizes people who aren’t good at shooting in shooters. The mechanics (clean, responsive, snappy controls) really reward twitchy skill.
The biggest lament I have about MW2 is that their play lists seem to have de-emphasized team modes. MW1 was slower paced with simpler maps. Maybe since I played with a clan it was different, but I remember domination being all about teamwork. Break into 2 or 3 groups and control points—actually DEFEND them. I see this some in MW2, but the “pubies" don’t seem to get the concept.
Which is too bad because, like Halo, MW2 has a lot of MP options. Yet with no custom game browser you are stuck with IW’s lists. So playing domination with 15 second spawns, no kill cam, with domination gameplay isn’t an option. Not to dismiss the game modes, which are pretty great all around, but while a couple of modes are very team oriented (S&D, Sabotage) the spawn rate and such in Domination just doesn’t seem to reward teamplay well enough.
On the other hand MW2 really is about “reinforcements.” Instead of capping flags and rewarding teams via control points MW2 rewards for kill streaks. In this regards it is totally different from Battlefield; BF rewards teams for working together in obtaining a flag. You get better map control, spawn points, often vehicles, and ticket advantage by controlling flags. In MW2 you still have to nail objectives but the dynamic is focused on the shooting (instead of jack-of-all-trades approach). Good shooters are going to carry their team. Now I have seen many, MANY games won by teams who know how to nail objectives (even seen teams with every member negative in KDR win team modes) but pulling off killstreaks in conjunction with working through objectives is the way to dominate. There are no tanks to repair, players to heal, etc. In this regards those who just cannot shoot are going to be left high and dry unless they can have fun in team modes and feel accomplished doing team objectives while dieing a lot.
The game is pretty insane in terms of unlocks, perks, and killstreaks. They are surprisingly balanced as well. Some comments. First, the default kits are FINE. I am a level 57 and I am using the FAMAS as my primary weapon. My KDR has risen to 1.50 (about 5600:3700) and I it isn’t uncommon for me to go 33-7. I went 26-0 to start a game last night. All the weapons have a role, and all are lethal. It is all about how you use them. New players are not at a weapon disadvantage—they are at a how to use them right disadvantage. Second, if you are constantly killed by air based killstreaks you are “doing it wrong.” Indoors are your friends, most air weapons cannot hit see you if you hug walls (you should do this anyhow) and launchers are surprisingly effective. I don’t get all the whiners. We had one last night—if it bothers you SHOOT IT DOWN. I always carry a launcher as a secondary, not because I need it, but because it helps my team. But it gets on my nerves, “Cheap @#$@# harrier. So lame. So cheap. @#$@#$” Shoot it down maybe? “I don’t have a launcher.” Sheeesh it comes in some of the default kits folks! Further, you have 5 slots and NO secondary weapons as launchers? If they give you fits that is inexcusable. Heck, go cold blooded if it is that bad! So of course I shoot it down for him. He could have changed kits, changed strategies, changed load outs, changed, perks, etc… all to address the issue.
And that is my big problem with the community of complainers and whiners. They don’t even know how to play the game before they kevetch!
I just used the Sentry for the first time ever last night and had fits trying to use it correctly. I still have 13 levels of unlocks and haven’t tried a ton of guns. I haven’t touched shotguns or heavy machine guns. I barely snipe (that was last weekends project… Intervention + FMJ + Stopping power with quick scoping FTW!!!) and while I love how the SMG allow fast iron sights movement I just waste too much ammo. I am sure that as I learn more of the game I will continue to get better.
I know in the last month I have gone from someone who never used Claymores to them being standard in my kit. As I don’t play with friends all the time I need something to protect my flank. It is all about adjusting your gameplay to the game and then loading out to compliment your skills. Basic awareness (e.g. a mostly indoor map: change your Predator Missile to a Sentry) rules. You just flank 3 people and take them out? MOVE to a flanking position to where you were—they will now come to get revenge and you can now take them out again!
MW2 is a really sick game. It isn’t for everyone. The game is very wide and deep. It has a little bit for every shooting fan, although if you are a team-player cycling through TDM and FFA and whining about the lack of teamplay all I can say is FAIL. Get in Domination, HQ, S&D, Sabatoge, Destruction, etc. Find some guys you like, send them Friend Invites, and play together and get good at teamplay. But make no mistake: MW2 isn’t a multi-skilled game. You cannot sit back in a tank, revive friendlies, or the like. Yes, in team lists protecting a control point works, and works well. But you have to do that with shooting. The game is very, very twitchy so less than great shooters will need to learn to use that to their advantage. For example: Go with shotguns and learn the maps to stay CQC. Use Sprint and Knifing perks and dominate CQC.
And that would be the point. Gamers interested in shooters of various styles can change how MW2 plays to accent their skills.
And that is where MW2 shines. It has some of the best core mechanics out there. Period. The perks, unlocks, and streaks are all about customizing your experience. It is RPG-lite with a “stick-and-carrot” approach to progression. Some games offer a hard cap 3 or 4 classes/styles. Others only have “classes” abstracted through what weapon you pick up from in a field (wow, this UberLaser 9000 spawned on a hill?!) MW2 is a competent Arena Shooter with a mix of team and single modes that focuses on allowing players to shape their online personality. Instead of running for the railgun, or success and failure hinging on mastering rocket jumping, or being a cog in a machine, you tailor your soldier to your style and pit it against others. Simple concept, wonderfully executed, fast and furious, sure to tick a lot of people off.
Whereas Battlefield abstracts objectives from personal metrics (die 10 times but took the flag!) MW2 will always be an arena game at heart: those going 26-0 will relish crushing the enemy, the guy 3-19 will be ready to throw his game disk out the window. For those in the later camp: Change your approach, find friends, and play the TEAM LISTS. You will never have fun in TDM / FFA. Change your load outs to help your team (tactical inserts near objectives, claymores, use the UAVs, protect objectives and flanks choke points, etc).
The biggest annoyance with MW2 is the party chat. Horrible IW. The racist foul mouths drive me crazy. In the last 2 weeks I decided to now troll them. Fastest thing to shut up a pukehead is to destroy his team going 35-5 and pointing out for all his talking he couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. I find they just like to make games miserable for others and have no patience for the game being miserable for them.
Loved SP. Only complaint is no coop—4 player coop would RULE.
Spec Ops is awesome. Needs 4 player as well though + match making.
MP could use “TrueSkill.” It would address MOST of the issues above. Hence people can play with people of their own skill. Very, very sad that this is NOT here. Custom game browser is sadly missing, as are theater tools. Some tweaks where there are more robust team games (slow down the pace, even change scoring to focus on objectives, reward team players more) would help broaden the game and mute some of the complaining.
Maybe I see games different—some definitely aren’t for me. Some great games don’t interest me. I think I liked MW1 better in many ways. But then again I try to decide these things for myself… I have a hard time taking the opinion of folks who rush into a room 3 times in a row … and NEVER toss a stun grenade in. Really? I mean… REALLY? I guess I have been playing shooters competitively since Doom (home network). “This game sucks” usually means, “I suck at this game.”
MW2 is very flexible and robust and caters to a lot of shooting styles. It isn’t for everyone and it takes a solid 10 hours to figure out what parts of MP are for you. The community is rough and I would have liked to see the game develop into other areas quasi-BF. That said it is the smoothest shooter on the consoles (60Hz or so) and is arguably the best arena game next to MW1 and Halo 3. Make no mistake, MW2 is a shooters shooter. You may find success doing niche roles in team modes as a compliment to your shooter pals, but the game isn’t for the weak of heart. Not recommended to those who dislike fast, twitchy games that reward great players with overwhelming force (instead of leveling the playing field). The carrot for the cannon fodder is an infinitely personalized feel to your player.
Hopefully other developers will marry the concept of such deep customization to a game with a more focused teamplay model (my preferred game style). Seeing IW pretty much divorced from CoD is a sad thing as I had hoped they would bring a true challenger to the BF-style format which until BC2 was best represented by Frontlines on the consoles
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