Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Multiplayer Review in Progress - Beta Impressions
Ah, Call of Duty – one of my favorite signs of autumn. Just as mornings are broken by the sound of Canadian geese migrating to warmer climates, the tranquility of my living room is interrupted each fall by the coming of the Call of Duty beta period. Modern Warfare II (no, the new one, you're thinking of Modern Warfare 2) is the latest arrival – the 19th mainline game, if you’re keeping score – and it brings with it a return to a modern setting after last year's… return to World War 2. Much like another fall favorite that returns each year, the pumpkin spice latte, Call of Duty is familiar, reliable, and doesn't have any real surprises in store. In other words, it's nice to have it back, but outside of the obvious visual differences between the two eras, don't expect anything much different than you enjoyed last year.
If it sounds like I'm being negative, I'm not. There's something to be said about familiarity, and Modern Warfare II, in spite of its re-re-return to present-day shooting, is recognizable and comfortable from the first second you log in to play your first round of the multiplayer beta. That being said, overall, I think Modern Warfare II feels better than last year's Vanguard did – both during its open beta and after launch. The maps are great, I really like the operators and their available skins, and everything just feels a little quicker and tighter.
In my week with Call of Duty: Vanguard’s multiplayer I've reliably had a good time, especially now that I can play with my traditional friend group. The small team-based Champion Hill is the best mode for a tight pair or trio of buddies, but you can’t go too far wrong because all the maps are fast, fun, and most of all, varied in layout and how you have to
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