Call of Duty has changed significantly since debuting in 2003. It has gone from a period-piece shooter, to an intriguing modern combat story, to a laser-accurate competitive battle royale experience, and shows no signs of stopping. There are a range of answers as to which game is best, or which game is the most influential. For some it's the original Modern Warfare, whereas others may hail Warzone as the best advancement the series has seen yet. The original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 completed a terrific campaign, and its single-player mode was remastered in 2020 to remind fans why it was so beloved.
The remaster of Modern Warfare 2 was excellent, but it overlooked one of its best components. Call of Duty has become more known for its multiplayer than its storytelling, with Black Ops 4 opting to forgo a single-player narrative entirely. Despite being rumored that the original game's multiplayer would see some kind of rerelease, as yet nothing has come to fruition. Now would be a good time to introduce it, as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer making a comeback could offer some much-needed variety.
Modern Warfare 2 is Nostalgic, but Still Offers Quality
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer is worth a lot of praise. It improved upon what 2007's Modern Warfare and 2008's World At War began, and while Modern Warfare 3 was adequate, it didn't seem to capture the same magic. Between sniper-happy maps like Highrise and Scrapyard as a more intimate setting for nimble combatants with lightning-fast reactions, the overall multiplayer offerings appealed to a lot of sensibilities. Modern Warfare 2 felt like the sweet spot that really provoked subsequent games to be better.
That quality extends to the weapon variety, environments, and sound design. Gunfire was crisp, and the vast range of weapons available meant there was more than one way to play given how different each map could be. Not only that, the environments are beautiful to explore. The woodlands of Modern Warfare 2's Estate or the harsh marshlands of Wasteland did well to add a sense of realism to the obstacles dotted around each combat arena. It holds up well, even today, and could offer something new given how much Call of Duty has changed in 14 years.
Call of Duty's Evolution isn't for Everybody
With the added verticality in Advanced Warfare or the winner-takes-all approach of Warzone that PUBG and Fortnite made famous, Call of Duty has frequently moved with the times. For all intents and purposes this is a smart idea, as it ensures the franchise caters to as many people as possible and doesn't fall too far behind its contemporaries. However, the more the Call of Duty series tinkers with new ideas, there is a higher chance that existing fans start feeling isolated.
Updating Modern Warfare 2: Remastered to include multiplayer would do well to show how much Call of Duty has changed leading up to the new Modern Warfare 2. It also gives people who want a simple, no-frills competitive experience a game that adheres to their desires, with a wealth of nostalgic content that transports seasoned fans back to a simpler time. Call of Duty will undoubtedly continue to succeed for years to come, all signs point to that success coming about through taking inspiration from modern offerings instead of reminiscing about the past. This is progressive, but to some could be disappointing. Activision should remedy this by offering the clear alternative.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
