Preview-Review - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Yes, it sold over 40 million copies the first day of its release.

Yes, there is a mission where players can choose to massacre innocent civilians in an Russian airport.

Yes, you can choose to bypass that mission with no penalty.

Finally, yes, it is likely to receive several video game honors and awards.

Just in case you haven't heard any of the pervasive hype surrounding this year's biggest video game release, I'm talking about Infinity Ward's and Activision's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" the direct sequel to 2007's "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare."

In a series first, "Modern Warfare 2" continues the story of its 2007 predecessor with the formation of a new Russian ultra-nationalist Vladimir Makarov as he rekindles the throne of the fallen Imran Zakhaev to cause more havoc and destruction in another go around.

The strange thing about the "Call of Duty" series is that the plot of any given title takes a backseat to its intensive and explosion happy gameplay although many of the games' most dramatic cinematic moments are fueled by the basics of what's happening in the story. As a result, you don't find yourself paying much attention to the finer details of the story although what's going on can have a profound emotional impact when intense, emotional heart strings are picked.

With that being said - and without my completion of the game - "Modern Warfare 2" doesn't seem to break any ground in a narrative sense even though the game has received a lot of publicity from it's risky "Russian Airport" scene.

Thankfully, the same great gameplay from the series returns.

Anyone familiar with the previous two installments of the series can literally pick up and play the game from the title screen. It's refreshing to experience a series built on consistency rather than trying to reinvent its gameplay - I'm looking at you Final Fantasy.

Veteran's of the series can expect the same great campaign and multiplayer experience with the addition of two-person "Special Op" missions. However, I don't know if it's just me, but I can't seem to figure out how play with another person online in a tactical mission without inviting someone from my friends list.

I've personally spent the majority of my time in the game's in-depth online multiplayer matches. A few added upgrades make the experience a more balanced bout with "death streaks" which allow you to even the playing field after being killed a consistent number of times. There are also new challenges, a customizable emblem tag, and new "kill streaks" to keep things interesting in the same great experience millions of "Call of Duty 4" and "World at War" fan have enjoyed.

However, it seems as though these additions may be a little too forgiving. I understand there are some real..."gifted players" that reached level 60 by the time I purchased the game last Saturday (giving them 5 days to do so), but the average level of players is in the 30s. I haven't really played the game that extensively and I am already at level 11.

You are given a wide array of bonuses from things such as taking revenge on a player that just killed you or by saving another teams mate. This yields quicker level progression and makes the acquisition of those levels feel less rewarding.

Nevertheless, "Modern Warfare 2" is more the same.

It's the same great gameplay, brilliant visuals, dramatic presentation, and rewarding multiplayer. In this case more of the same is a good thing.

However, this consistency does not move the series much further and "Modern Warfare 2" seems to ever so slightly dissatisfy its monumental hype.