Unquestionably the single-greatest entertainment launch of 2009, Activision and Infinity Wards Modern Warfare 2 is a lesson in breakneck spectacle, hurtling you from one astonishing set piece to the next with all the cocksureness of a developer, quite simply, head and shoulders above the competition.
While never straying too far from the formula that made Modern Warfare such a triumph, Infinity Ward spices up its original dish as it flits between character arcs with pure, unadulterated money moments - a frenetic fire fight mountain descent on a snowmobile - and a controversy-baiting mission as an undercover terrorist in a Russian airport where youre forced to observe (or partake) in the slaughter of innocents. A brave move to boot from the California based developer.
Ultimately, Modern Warfares Pièce de résistance is its multiplayer, and the key to the games titanium-coated longevity. Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Search and Destroy all make a welcome return alongside its predecessors faultless perk system, but its in the inclusion of the spectacularly addictive arcade-style Spec Ops mode that Infinity Ward not only raises the bar, but rather punts it into space with a generous helping of various objective based standalone missions that can be played solo or cooperatively. A modern masterpiece. Were you expecting anything less?