Details from GI's Modern Warfare 2 Cover Story Emerge

[DoctorFinger]

A member of the Giant Bomb forum has posted scans of the Modern Warfare 2 feature from the new Game Informer.

One of the playable characters from Modern Warfare 1, Captain "Soap" MacTavish returns as an NPC teammate. While the story mode won't include co-op, there will be a "Special Forces Mode" similar to the mid-air mission at the end of MW1 which will be co-op. Infinity Ward also says they're working to solve two one of the major complaints from MW1: the (relatively) short single player campaign, and the endlessly respawning foes.

For the complete rundown of tidbits from the article, click the "more" button.

Single player enemies will have "customized" weapons similar to the multiplayer component of COD4.

The ice mission shown to GI demonstrated the game's open-ended approach to combat, showing how stealth can be implemented if the player chooses.

While the gameplay is open-ended, the story is "on-rails".

Infinity Ward realizes that the "invisible line" where enemies will stop coming in COD4 wasn't great, so they're trying hard to eliminate that. Also, they are lengthening the single player past the 6-10 hour mark of COD4.

"Special Forces Mode" is a major part of MW2, a series of missions in the spirit of the Mile High Club from COD4. It will also have co-op in this mode. Gears-style bleed-out-and-partner-revive will be used.

Co-op apparently won't exist in Story Mode.

Riot shields will be implemented in the game.

Zakhaev's former associate, Makarov, is the "new face of global terrorism."

Snowmobiles are used as a form of escape in the demonstration. Unclear whether or not the player will drive, shoot, or both.

Players will alternate using the two triggers to climb ice-walls.

Movable turrets will be used in SF mode and Single Player, no official word on online use.

IW wants to implement an accomplishment system to online, as they want to make their players famous.

Online mode will use a "Live-Patching" system, where IW can manipulate spawn logic or certain parts of a multiplayer map without doing a full-blown patch.

Another demoed area shows an enormous desert setting where Task Force 141 drops into a wasteland and must navigate a "lengthy trek" to a fully-rendered valley with scattered caves, reminiscent of Iron Man.

IW is focusing on details for the COD4 sequel, citing iced-up tire treads in the Russian level.

The game will run in 60fps (duh).

Source - Giant Bomb forum; Joystiq.

[EDIT] - I removed a misinterpreted reference to a shorter SP campaign which isn't in the article. I apologize.

[Telefrog]

Sounds great. I can't wait.

[National Kato]

What, no gnashing and wailing about the lack of co-op?

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by National Kato

What, no gnashing and wailing about the lack of co-op?

Not at all, at least from me. I like when a developer says "We can't do it up to our standards, so we won't do it at all." Don't do something just because everyone else is doing it. Plus, co-op is good, but this game will be all about the competitive multiplayer.

[bapenguin]

I'll gnash - that's fucking lame about the lack of co-op.

[Lance Uppercut]

I don't mind too badly about the lack of story co-op, as long as the story mode kicks ass.

This got me wanting to replay through the first game now...

[Shjinta]

So the only question I have, and this may come off as a troll.. Will the MP be any difference from COD 4 / 4.5 (5) or will it be the same thing, with features like somehow holding a live grenade until you die crap?

[txshurricane]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Not at all, at least from me. I like when a developer says "We can't do it up to our standards, so we won't do it at all." Don't do something just because everyone else is doing it. Plus, co-op is good, but this game will be all about the competitive multiplayer.

Funny, it didn't seem to be a problem for Treyarch, and on the COD4 engine, no less.

[wyeast]

I'll gnash, but only in the hopes that "Special Forces Mode" is at least a fleshed out co-op experience, similar to how GRAW2 had a "co-op campaign" separate from the singleplayer. It's the least they can do.

As for the invisible line. Here's my suggestion for IW: Have two general "groups" of AI - a small, but finite group plus (a smaller than CoD4-sized group of) the infinite spawners. Having both together means you still can't just camp your way through each section, but you also don't feel like you have to wade upstream amidst the crushing infinite waves to get to the next area.

[wyeast]

Originally Posted by txshurricane

Funny, it didn't seem to be a problem for Treyarch, and on the COD4 engine, no less.

It did and it didn't. CoD4 felt like it had a more sections geared towards one-guy-alone... sections that Treyarch solved by simply omitting them from the co-op listing. IW simply likes to play the "You're my only hope" card more than Trey does.

At the same time, it may be perhaps their attempt to make the campaign more challenging to co-op that led people to believe the veteran mode in WaW is way more futile than CoD4's was.

[Wedge]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Also, they are lengthening the single player past the 6-10 hour mark of COD4.

The actual article says they are not going for a longer game.

[Kelegacy]

I'll give this a rental, as I haven't played a COD game yet that can't be beaten in a sitting or two. However, having IW focus on making the campaign longer is music to my ears (as well as finally--potentially--eliminating the COD respawning foes issue).

I'll dabble in the multiplayer, since I haven't played MP for any COD game ever. Might make me buy the game, we'll see.

[Kelegacy]

Originally Posted by Wedge

The actual article says they are not going for a longer game.

I haven't read the article...but WTF? Another 6 hour game for $60 is not cool. I'm incredibly sick of short $60 games, FPS in particular.

[AgtFox]

If this is anything like last month I should have the GI issue today or tomorrow. I was very surprised when I got the AC2 covered magazine so early (and was able to parlay stuff here that the scanners hadn't covered).

I know lots of people love co-op, but I'm still mostly a single-player game player. Co-op is a great addition, but I don't expect it from every game.

[Wilkz07]

saving my pennies now.

[GunnyMo]

Originally Posted by bapenguin

I'll gnash - that's fucking lame about the lack of co-op.

I have to agree. Another single player game where you are the superhero, gotta save everyone by yourself even though you are part of a squad? Squads are teams right? Tams cooperate, if you will. It is very disappointing to see IW drop the ball on this one. If it's all about the competitive MP then why include single player at all? Just release it as a MP game and be done.

And the endlessly spawning enemies? I guess the babies win out on that one. It's a staple of the CoD series. Sure, it's a pain in the ass but if forces you to play the game and not just sit back and snipe/grenade/bomb the enemy position until you can stroll through. Boring.

I'm sure it'll be a fun game but it's disappointing to see another great game series fall the way of Halo: all about the multiplayer with the single player and co-op falling to the wayside. Sigh.

Oh, and one other things: I really wish developers like IW and Treyarch would lose their rock hard dicks for the god like powers of knives. Christ almighty, in CoD I can put 5-10 rounds into a guy damn near point blank and he doesn't die yet he just has to brush me with a knife and it's a one hit kill? Seriously? Even in real life that's not going to happen. That has been my biggest complaint about CoD. Sneak up on a sniper and backstab him? Sure, I can see the InstaKill there. But charging a guy with an assault rifle and nicking his finger gives you the InstaKill? Moronic.

And one last thing: IW put a goddamn fatigue in there for jumping. Nothing worse than playing CoD with some Halo bitch bunny hopping around like it's Easter. Granted, it's very satisfying when you blow his legs off but, if it's about realism, then put this (and the above point) into context.

[Kielaran]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

I haven't read the article...but WTF? Another 6 hour game for $60 is not cool. I'm incredibly sick of short $60 games, FPS in particular.

A big call to the COD market is for online multiplayer. It may not be for everyone, but I played the hell out of VS mode. I think my timer reads about 26 days played, so I definitely got more than my money's worth out of it. It just dependsd on what kind of gamer you are.

[Primus]

No co-op is disappointing. Get with the times.

[GunnyMo]

Originally Posted by Kielaran

A big call to the COD market is for online multiplayer. It may not be for everyone, but I played the hell out of VS mode. I think my timer reads about 26 days played, so I definitely got more than my money's worth out of it. It just dependsd on what kind of gamer you are.

No, that's just what CoD has evolved into. While they are trying to mask it by saying the storyline is going to be awesome, it's obvious that MP is their primary focus. Which is odd because co-op is a type of MP.

[Borthcollective]

So how about infinite AI grenade spam? That's where the fun in this series comes from.