CRISP. Gaming: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Review, Xbox One

That moment.

Modern Warfare 2 introduced a single gameplay set-piece that people still discuss today.

Exploitative or explosive entertainment, few can deny that Modern Warfare 2’s campaign – and the numerous column inches typed afterward – thrust the Call of Duty franchise into the stratosphere.

Lavishly rebuilt by developer Beenox, 2009’s original took things to ludicrous levels (SPACE!) and – despite losing multiplayer and Spec Ops modes in the move – this remaster is still a fantastic addition to anyone’s virtual shelf.

Story

Picking up directly after the events of Modern Warfare, the sequel of spycraft, espionage and conflict spiderwebs out in a series of knock-on geopolitical events, replete with shocks and surprises along the way.

Chronicling the continued adventures of team Task Force 141 (the classic trio of Roach, “Soap” MacTavish and Captain Price) in this global battle, MW2 also places you into the green boots of others like Army Ranger Ramirez as they all play their part in preventing the Russian army barreling into World War III.

All-star developer Infinity Ward (the top boys who went on to found Titanfall and Apex Legends studio Respawn) pulled out all the stops to offer a popcorn action sequel, complete with globe-trotting from favelas to frost-tipped mountains and a litany of heart-in-mouth action sequences.

Then you have that moment. The gunning down of innocent civilians in a Russian airport which kickstarts the increasingly bombastic events is depicted with such conviction and realism – only heightened with revamped visuals – that it possesses a visceral impact never topped in the franchise years later.

Gameplay

The tight and tense gunplay feels reassuringly familiar in MW2, the ‘left trigger, right trigger’ aiming and firing present and correct.

Peppered with in-game action sequences that don’t take control away from the hero amidst the most insane events, the game performs admirably at placing you at the forefront of every thrilling moment.

Modern Warfare 2 introduced now-staples such as guns with multiple attachments and scopes of differing distances and emergent gameplay where blowing your cover doesn’t always mean ‘game over’.

The difficulty settings are just as memorable – dynamically chosen by demonstrating your prowess on a shooting range – anything above Regular results in foes with crack-shot accuracy and a shower of grenades on your exact location.

Stay on lower difficulties to keep the action from becoming tough to the point of frustration is our suggestion, at least for the first run through.

The game is also filled with loving references to classic movies like The Rock and Red Dawn as vengeful Russian boots descend on American soil – a bombastic and enjoyable thrill ride throughout.

A major loss however is the absence of any multiplayer modes – combative or co-operative alike.

Unlike 2016’s impressive touch-up of the original Modern Warfare, the campaign is all you get this time around…naturally impacting longevity once the credits roll.

Graphics

More than a mere port job, Modern Warfare 2 looks positively incredible with higher resolutions, completely redrawn character models and incredible particle effects making the experience even more filmic during moment-to-moment gameplay.

It easily holds its own against the latest and greatest titles, with crisp and clear detail due to displaying in 4K on the Xbox One X copy reviewed – only elevates the gameplay further.

Audio

MW2 is also a heavyweight when it came to audio, with a musical score by Lorne Balfe (Mission: Impossible Fallout) and a memorable theme by legendary Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Inception), cinematic beats beautifully punctuate throughout.

The sound design is decent with the rattle of gunfire and whips of bullet ricochets sounding awesome on a modern surround sound system, however it’s functional rather than incredible.

2009’s Modern Warfare 2 definitely flexed its muscles in terms of casting, with big names like Lance Henrikssen and Keith David convincingly barking orders as you’re infiltrating an enemy base or rumbling through insurgent territory.

Summary

Whilst some of the mission design shows its age when pitted against contemporaries like the original Modern Warfare’s sterling 2019 reboot, this remaster reminds of another reason why Call of Duty is so beloved.

Revamped with modern visuals and audio, Modern Warfare 2 becomes a must-play, putting many other lacklustre campaigns to shame – even within its own franchise.

The campaign flings you into incredible and awesome situations throughout its six-hour playtime, never letting up for air as you blow through it.

Whilst the loss of multiplayer and Spec Ops becomes keenly felt upon completion, the lower £20 price-tag is a fair compromise – also unlocking a bunch of  exclusive add-ons and a great Ghost skin for the 2019 edition.

Strap in and stay frosty for a slick remaster of one of the high-points in the Call of Duty franchise.

Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox. Review code provided by the publisher.