Russians have invaded U.S. soil, and the player is trapped in a plaza filled with three fast food corporate giant restaurants providing the only cover. This should be a highlight of Modern Warfare 2, with Russian paratroopers continuing to file in, jets constantly streaming overhead, shattering glass, smoke in the distance, and air raid sirens blaring.
Instead, Modern Warfare 2 shows it's fallible, for a brief moment turning an intense, violent firefight into a chore. Forcing the player to run across a parking lot and up to a roof for an RPG is fine. Taking down enemy helicopters is a satisfying achievement, even in the steroid-driven Michael Bay-inspired action this series is known for.
Then, the design is such that you have to do it twice. A building on the opposite end of the parking lot contains the other RPG for the second chopper, and as luck would have it, the commanding officer happened to catch a glimpse of both weapons during the fight. This is not a short walk, particularly given the sheer amount of firepower being slung in the player’s direction as A.I. partners are gunned down. This is not necessarily challenging, certainly less so on lesser difficulties, but frustrating in how unnecessary it is.
The area is incredibly closed, and the level offers little sense of progression. Enemies come from all angles, orders are issued to defend a direction, and you respond. The stage design is a glorified square with bushes and a few buildings.
The problem with the level is that it stops the game cold following a morally questionable run through a Russian airport. The scene exists for a number of reasons, certainly establishing the villain, Makarov, as a callous human being. His troops, the player included as an undercover U.S. agent, exit an elevator and begin firing. Direction here is spectacular, as the player cannot run, forced to walk and witness the hysteria they are either part of or simply witnessing.
This is where the story is gaining ground, and a dual helicopter assault grinds it to a halt. So yes, Modern Warfare 2 is flawed, if only for a half hour or so. Everything else about the campaign is another achievement for Infinity Ward, capturing that same fast-paced, smooth first-person shooting experience this franchise consistently produces.
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