Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is well-received by many, but there is also quite a bit of criticism. These 7 specific changes could improve Modern Warfare.
What are these changes? After the first reviews of Modern Warfare were quite positive, over time, bad reviews from the community have accumulated as well. Players criticize:
- missing, boring, or faulty content
- a story that some fans feel was poorly executed
- gameplay issues with some weapons
- the multiplayer maps and campers
From the voices of the community and some streamers and YouTubers, we have identified 7 things that could address these points of criticism and improve Modern Warfare 2019.
1. Improved Weapon Balance
What is the problem? Since its release, many players have complained about overly dominant weapons. Specifically, the shotgun 725 and the assault rifle M4A1 are the focus of criticism. Both weapons are considered too strong at all distances.
The big problem is that they are so powerful that players feel compelled to use them. They see hardly any other option. Usually, both weapons are taken together with the “Overkill” perk.
Both weapons can even compete with submachine guns and sniper rifles at specific distances. Both also have a very low “Time To Kill” (TTK).
Here’s how it could be resolved: Two points could be addressed to better balance the weapons:
- increase spread and recoil to reduce accuracy at distance
- reduce damage to increase the TTK
At least the damage is probably appropriate for a shotgun. A middle ground that allows both weapons to be defeated by other weapons at certain distances would be advisable.
2. Claymores
What is the problem? Claymores are primary equipment that can be placed on the ground and function as proximity mines using laser sensors. They should only secure a small area.
However, the issues with claymores in Modern Warfare are that their blast radius is so immense that they can hardly be safely destroyed from behind. Especially in the hardcore versions of the multiplayer modes, they are deadly at long range.
Additionally, they can be glitched into stairs or walls, where they cannot be destroyed and often cannot even be seen. Sometimes, there’s nothing left to do but trigger them or look for detours.
Here’s how it could be resolved: Fans generally wish for a smaller radius in which claymores are deadly. They suggest, for example, that the lethal area should be cone-shaped instead of a radius around the claymore:
Other players suggest that, in the spirit of Modern Warfare’s realism claims, they should take longer to set up. In real life, it takes a few seconds to make a claymore operational, and you cannot just stick it briefly into the concrete ground.
3. Footsteps and Calls
What is the problem? In Modern Warfare, both the sound of soldiers’ boots stomping and their constant calls about seeing enemies can be heard by all players. This leads to players being better localized.
However, the volume of steps is considered too loud by many in Modern Warfare. Players can hardly sneak around and can be easily spotted even at long distances. Additionally, allies’ footsteps are as loud as those of enemies.
The cries of soldiers claiming to have spotted an enemy often reveal their own position rather than contributing to the enemy’s localization. This often leads to players wanting to act covertly, but their character suddenly loudly announces the sighting of an enemy for everyone to hear. This can quickly lead to being discovered and often results in death.
Here’s how it could be resolved: Steps should be aligned with other sound effects so they are not extremely loud or too quiet.
Effects like opening doors and steps should not drown out bomb noises but still remain noticeable, and ally footsteps should be quieter than those of enemies.
The calls of the character should only apply to the player or their team, not to enemies. Here could be an option for players to choose from three options:
- Hear your own calls and those of the team
- Only hear your own calls
- No calls at all
4. Changes to Maps and Locations
What is the problem? Modern Warfare deviates from the so-called 3-lane system and offers maps that are partially asymmetrically structured and provide many vertical and twisted positions.
The problem is that some maps are so poorly balanced that victories are either guaranteed or impossible. The map “Euphrates Bridge,” for example, almost guarantees victory to any team that can capture point B.
Additionally, the layout of many maps, along with the balance of some weapons and claymores, encourages players to simply camp rather than actively participate in the objectives.
Here’s how it could be resolved: The maps should be redesigned so that certain paths and routes are blocked or become more dangerous, making specific positions too strong. Roadblocks or closed doors could be used for this.
It would also be helpful to make certain positions on the maps more visible from multiple angles so that campers cannot easily fortify themselves.
If the volume of footsteps is also adjusted, covert players could better clear out campers.
5. Killstreaks and Pointstreaks
What is the problem? In Modern Warfare, players can use special killstreak rewards if they achieve enough kills without dying. Powerful rewards such as tanks and combat aircraft are included.
However, this system also promotes players in objective-oriented multiplayer modes like Domination or Ground War to focus more on getting kills instead of completing objectives.
Here’s how it could be resolved: Instead of killstreaks, rewards should be obtained through pointstreaks. This way, there would be rewards at a certain score without dying, rather than a certain number of kills.
Players would not progress to killstreaks any slower than through kills, but participation in objectives would be encouraged. The perk “Point Friendly” already solves this, although it takes up an extra slot. This should just become standard.
6. SpecOps and Coop Modes
What is the problem? SpecOps is the coop mode of Modern Warfare, where players team up with other human players against AI opponents.
However, SpecOps is not currently well-received due to being poorly balanced and buggy. Players can hardly complete missions as enemies appear randomly or the game simply crashes.
Here’s how it could be resolved: The solution should focus purely on the technical side. Bugs need to be fixed and the behavior of AI improved.
Additional missions could also provide players with real incentives to play more coop. Specific rewards would be desirable as well.
7. Story and Campaign
What is the problem? The campaign of Modern Warfare presents a civil war-like conflict in the fictional Urzikstan, where a rebel militia, a terrorist cell, the USA and Russia fight each other.
However, the story is told quite one-sidedly from the perspective of the USA, which has already led to a lot of criticism and issues:
- Modern Warfare was not released in Russia on the PS Store
- Players rate Modern Warfare poorly due to the story
- Streamers have discontinued their streams because of it
- Even our author Sven’s heart bleeds at the way the story is told
Here’s how it could be resolved: One way to address this would be to expand the campaign from the perspective of the Russians. At the moment, they are purely depicted as the “bad guys”.
By changing the perspective, better integrity and a more objective viewpoint of the story would be ensured, as well as a type of moral conflict for the player who must decide which side is “in the right”.
Are improvements planned?
The future holds: Yes, soon some of the most pressing issues, such as the footsteps, the claymores, or the weapon balance will be addressed – according to the developers.
Also, another frequently mentioned point – the selection of maps – is likely to be addressed soon. A recent leak revealed that Modern Warfare may soon receive new maps and even game modes:
