Modern Warfare 2 - Initial Impressions

I know many will curse me (or already am...), but I was able to score an early copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from a local store that broke the street date on Friday.  I caught up on it by looking at Craigslist, and someone had posted the news.  I called them, and sure enough, it was confirmed.  A short 10-minute diversion off my normal commute home Friday evening and I was good to go.

Short story:  it's everything that Modern Warfare was, but now on steroids.

Long story:  Graphically, the game is top notch, but you already know that from videos of the past days, weeks, and months.  However, I want to make special note to the special environmental effects I've seen.  They are supurb.  For example, there's a level in a junkyard.  Well, there's a welding machine on the fritz, and the smoke and sparks that it's throwing into the air is just awesome.  The sound is as you have come to expect as well.  Big and loud.  Playing it on a 5.1 system with a killer subwoofer is a real treat (and has already pissed my wife off multiple times).

I've only played the first section of the first act in the campaign, so can only comment on that.  However, what I've seen is right up there with the best campaigns I've seen to date - those of Uncharted, Dead Space, and Bioshock.  But wait...I've had the game since Friday night...it's now Sunday, and I've gotten through one part of one act?  Yup, that's because...

Multiplayer.

You'll feel right at home if you know Modern Warfare.  The same lobby for all intent purposes, the same custom classes, same challenge system.  But what is added raises it to a whole new level of bacon-y awesome.  The ability to choose your own killstreaks is a thing of genius.  Granted, now you are limited to only cashing in on 3, rather than having a long string.  However, for those mediocre players like me...it's a REALLY rare thing for me to see a kill streak above 5 or 6.  So anything else, wasted anyway.  Those who can get up that high, now there's choice over what you get - but to do it, you have to forego the lower ones.  There is now the new deathstreak, which helps compensate those who truly suck (yeah, I've been on my fair share of deathstreaks).  There are now emblams you can customize your screen presence with, as well as other items. 

All in all, it seems IW has made good on their promise for the next in the line of Call of Duty.  Now, if you'll excuse me, time to go rank up some more!