I wasn't so keen on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's multiplayer at launch. Most of the maps available to play at the back end of October 2019 were too big for their own good, resulting in boring play. Some of the maps were downright dirty. Piccadilly remains a blot on the Call of Duty multiplayer landscape, and I still have nightmares over sniper rifle glints peeking out from the safety of Euphrates Bridge. Add to this cluttered map design, a largely useless mini-map and upper-level windows all over the shop, and you got a camper's paradise right there.
A year later, I am craving more Modern Warfare, and I feel bitterly disappointed that the game feels like it's being left behind as Activision shifts focus to Warzone and Black Ops Cold War.
It's interesting to look back at Modern Warfare's first year of life. As new maps were added to the game, I found myself playing it more and more. I had a blast with the chaotic Shipment. I love the flow of Rust. And Shoot House is one of the best FPS maps around. Modern Warfare's close quarters maps are brilliant, and it remains my favourite 6v6 game installed on my console hard-drive. Yep, I think Modern Warfare is a better 6v6 game right now than Black Ops Cold War.
Modern Warfare's gunplay remains outstanding. The animation work on drawing and reloading weapons is world class. The detail on the weapons is impressive. And the movement, the weight of the guns and the sound and feel of firing them is all super satisfying. It is safe to say, a year later, that Infinity Ward pushed Call of Duty forward. The game feels more next-gen than Black Ops Cold War.
Modern Warfare's six seasons and battle passes added much, too. The battle pass model replaced the sale of premium maps and weapons for the series, and it was all the better for it. Eye-catching operator skins, some silly weapon skins and other entirely unrealistic effects sparked debate within the Call of Duty community, but there was always something new to chase, some new gun to get to grips with.
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| When you log in to Modern Warfare you're presented with an ad for the Black Ops Cold War and Warzone Season One battle pass. |
Activision pumps out a new Call of Duty each year, without fail. Last year it was Modern Warfare. This year it was Black Ops Cold War. 2021 I'm sure will bring a new Call of Duty game. And I suspect 2022 will be the year Infinity Ward returns with a Modern Warfare sequel. The machine cannot be stopped. But 2019's Modern Warfare is the best reason I've seen yet for why it should be stopped.
The battle royale phenomenon shows players are willing to stick with a single game for years on end if it evolves and improves significantly over time. There is no need for a Fortnite 2. I doubt PUBG 2 needs to happen any time soon. I'm not suggesting Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare is capable of lasting a decade, but surely it deserves more than just one year in the spotlight.
Here's what I'd love to see: a proper, full-blown next-gen update for Modern Warfare - complete with field of view slider - to make it sing and dance on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. A season pass that includes new stuff for the game - a few new weapons, a few new operators, some flashy skins, that sort of thing. And, most of all, I'd love to see some brand new maps.
Oh, and I'd love the permanent addition of the Shoot the Ship 24/7 playlist. If that were available at any given time, I'd probably play Modern Warfare on and off for years.
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