Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's transition to a seasonal content structure has been interesting. With new maps, the addition of two new operators, and some weapons to spice up the arsenal, a decent amount of new stuff has been added in the months since launch. With Modern Warfare Season 2 on the horizon, though, there's plenty that could be added to the game. But above all else, it's time for Modern Warfare to add Simon "Ghost" Riley.
Ghost isn't just one of the most iconic Call of Duty characters out there; in a lot of ways, Modern Warfare 2's Ghost is a defining character for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation as a whole. He doesn't have quite the same reach as Captain Price or Soap, but he's the next closest thing.
Previous Modern Warfare operator leaks have already indicated that Ghost will release eventually, and while it would be cool to see him become the final addition to the game, joining the roster in Season 2 would give newer gamers a chance to familiarize themselves with the character. Before, there wasn't much of a personality behind Ghost beyond looking cool, but with a new Modern Warfare being teased at the end of the reboot, it may be high time to add some depth to the character, even if that starts out as a few voice lines and an execution.
Not to mention, Ghost is one of the fanbase's favorite characters in franchise history. Plus, the setting is perfect for the character overall. There are plenty of other intreresting looking operators in the leaks, but Ghost is a solid contender because he's already been established in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise. That familiarity would do quite a lot for a fanbase looking to relive the glory days of Call of Duty.
There are plenty of new details that Infinity Ward could release along with Ghost, too. Having a car battery as a melee weapon that players can use to shock people would be a cool nod to the character, and would definitely lead to some interesting Modern Warfare gameplay videos. Small additions like that are a good way to establish a personality for the character before they even have a place in the next game's narrative. It may seem strange, but within the confines of Call of Duty multiplayer, it's a way for Infinity Ward to start building more depth into Ghost years before they'll need it.
It will be strange to adjust to a new take on the character. Ghost's death in Modern Warfare 2 is a video game moment few will ever forget, and Infinity Ward will need to be careful with the handling of the character. The operator leaks seem to show something of a redesign for Ghost, at least as far as his mask is concerned, so there are likely some other changes on the way too. Whether that's fleshing out the character a little bit more or just a few different updates to his physical appearance remains to be seen.
If Modern Warfare really wanted to "wow" fans, it could treat Season 2 like a revamp of Modern Warfare 2. Fans have been hoping for maps like Rust to be added to Modern Warfare for some time, and treating the next few content drops like a greatest hits for the franchise would be cool to see. Dropping in Ghost along with maps like Terminal, Estate, and Favella would be a good way to bring in players looking for a little bit of MW2 nostalgia.
Modern Warfare's content drops haven't been bad, though Shipment spawns are pretty broken, but there's plenty more that could be done with the game. There are bound to be some growing pains along the way, but the addition of Ghost in Season 2 would be a wonderful place to start in terms of setting up the next Modern Warfare.Â
Modern Warfare's Season 1 end date is February 11th, so fans do still have some time to earn any of the rewards they've been battling after. There will, inevitably, be a content map for Season 2, but it's still a mystery as to what it actually holds. Infinity Ward has quite a few directions it could take things, though the addition of Ghost is certainly one that fans would appreciate the most. Time will tell how things actually shake out, but at least Modern Warfare has been an interesting ride for both new and returning fans of the franchise.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
