Call of Duty: Modern Warfare wanted to shock the world with its campaign and show how brutal war really is. But did they succeed?
Again and again, there were announcements from Infinity Ward that Modern Warfare is supposed to be brutally realistic and will not hold back.
It is supposed to show all the brutality of modern warfare and players are supposed to be put under stress. They have to make uncomfortable decisions and find their way in confusing areas.
But what is the reality like now after the release of Modern Warfare?
Modern Warfare shocks and provokes thought
Important – Spoiler warning: We will address some details from the campaign here. So if you don’t want to be spoiled, you should not continue reading.
This is how the campaign starts: Right at the beginning, it becomes clear that you cannot just casually run through Modern Warfare. You are in a base of Russian mercenaries and must find toxic substances.
It is dark and often you can only see the lights of the weapons. Large spotlights from the Russians make it difficult for you to see, and it takes a moment to get your bearings.
At the end of the mission, you are in a dark room and can only see through the light of your lamp on the weapon. You have to look around every corner if you overlook an enemy, and then you will be taken out quickly.
These images are shown to you: Throughout the campaign, you will encounter several shock elements, be put under stress, and have to make tough decisions quickly.
A terrorist attack in the middle of London, and you are right there. In front of the suicide bomber stands a petrified mother with her son. Dozens of civilian victims and screams blur your vision.
You have to decide in many situations in a split second who is running before you. Is it a civilian or a terrorist? The stress that Infinity Ward mentioned is indeed real. It is anything but easy to shoot the right people in this chaos without hitting an innocent.
In one operation, you storm an apartment building, where you encounter not only clear terrorists but also women and even a baby. But even a crying and pleading woman can grab the weapon of her husband lying on the ground at any moment and shoot at you.
Do I also shoot at the woman? Or do I give her one more second to hopefully come to reason and risk my own life? Or that of one of my comrades? Modern Warfare often places players in such decisions.
You are also in war zones and must fight alongside rebel forces against entire army units. Here, too, the horrors of war can be seen, such as mass graves or public executions.
Does Modern Warfare really shock as promised? In short: There are enough shocks and stress. The campaign captivates you extremely and is like a thrilling movie. You simply want to know what happens next. This also fits with the length of the campaign, as you are done after about 6-8 hours.
But you also see many shocking images, and there are definitely scenes that players ponder long after.
Above all, the constant change of location makes the game exciting, as there are always new places to discover, and you realize that terror can lurk everywhere. The confusion additionally makes the campaign thrilling. You think about every step and thus about each action you take. Could I have done anything differently? Or had to?
What disrupts the campaign a bit: The only point of criticism for the campaign is the all-too-familiar villain, Russia. Even in Modern Warfare, Russia is depicted as bad and cruel. There is an attempt to strike at the Russians wherever possible, and every cliché is utilized in Modern Warfare.
Nevertheless, one can say that Modern Warfare indeed manages to shock its players in certain situations and shows images that are not easily forgotten. Even for fans who only enjoy multiplayer, it might be worth taking a look at the campaign. Because it could be one of the best in the entire CoD series.
What do you think of the campaign in Modern Warfare? Did it shock you as well?
