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Modern Warefare 2 Spec Ops Details


Nozza
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This follows on from the Callsigns and Sidearms Thread. Details about Sepc Ops and its Levels..

 

For our latest hands-on time with Modern Warfare 2 we headed on over to Infinity Ward and sat down in one of the huge demo halls the developer uses during meetings and gameplay sessions with Modern Warfare 2. We sat down to check out not only four missions from the game's Special Ops mode (the bulk of my hands-on write-up here) but also the single-player mission that was originally leaked on YouTube. Infinity Ward made it clear that when they show levels, they want to show them in the best light possible. Rather than watching replay after replay of crappy off-screen footage, we got to see the real deal, and it was intense and action-packed. The highlight of the show, however, was Special Ops mode.

 

First off, some notes on Special Ops specifically. If you don't know what it is, Special Operations mode (or Spec Ops) is a stand-alone experience outside of both single-player and multiplayer in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The mode can be played either alone or with a friend via co-op, and is based on short-burst challenge missions instead of full-on story-driven levels. If story mode is your Silver Screen cinematic experience, Special Ops is your quick-burst arcade offering. More missions are unlocked as you play, but it pushes towards the goal of earning all three stars per level, and ultimately bragging rights among friends.

 

Infinity Ward mentioned to us that – while there's plenty of amazing content to be found in the game's single player mode – Special Ops is the new (and intense) third pillar of the Call of Duty franchise. You've got single player, multiplayer, and Special Ops. Everything in each mode is self-contained though, so those of you wondering if titles, emblems, perks, or online unlocks will be earned through any mode but competitive multiplayer, you thought wrong. Multiplayer is where perks, challenges, and all emblems and awards take place. Special Ops and single player are their own standalone package.

 

And that mindset rings true in a big, big way. Special Ops takes up one third of the games main menu. A handful of missions are unlocked from the get-go, and you can burn through all of Special Ops mode without going into single player or online at all. Infinity Ward also mentioned to us that Special Ops mode holds a special place in their hearts because, quite frankly, there's never time to get everything into story mode, or there's never a way to fit all the awesome concepts they have into the campaign itself. Special Ops, therefore, is a place where you can see all those awesome extra concepts. The airplane sequence in COD4 (Mile High Club, anyone?) was a concept they had for the main game, but with no place for it in the story, it was tacked on as an encore stage. That's what Special Ops is, but on a much bigger scale.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015000947881-000.jpg

You think single player is epic? IW says Special Ops mode is just as long, if not longer. Wow.

 

Special Ops mode is no pushover either. Rivaling the size of the single-player campaign, Special Ops has specific scenarios and set pieces built specifically for that mode. The Juggernaut, a new "heavy" unit that comes out to the sound of a beating drum much like Left 4 Dead's tank unit, is exclusive to just Spec Ops mode. In addition, a second player can jump into the game at any time, but there are also two player exclusive levels as well, which require a second player.

 

Special Operations mode is built on four levels of play – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta – with tiers similar to how Guitar Hero works. Beat the Alpha levels, and you'll unlock Bravo and so on. In addition each mission has three stars based on what difficulty level you play with, and the actual parameters change based on what difficulty you use as well. In the first mission, "O Christo Redentor," the mission changed slightly based on the difficulty level. On Normal there were 30 hostiles to eliminate, and you could only mistakenly shoot six civilians. On Hardened there were 40 hostiles, dogs, and you could only tag four civies. On Veteran though, you had 50 hostiles, dogs, and could only hit three unarmed civilians.

 

Continues..

Edited by Nozza
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Spec Ops supports local split-screen or online play, though there is no Matchmaking, meaning it's invite only. When playing with a partner a mini UAV is always up as well, showing where your buddy is looking at all times, and it's absolutely essential. The difficulty can be changed for each player individually

 

There's radar in all difficulties, with the map displaying off ammo crates where players could go and re-up bullets and grenades. While the starting guns players is pre-determined, Modern Warfare 2 does a nice job of offering slews of weaponry as well. One of the levels has a huge wall of guns, as well as a house literally filled with rifles and handguns – we're talking upwards of 30 guns in one place.

 

As for the other multiplayer specifics, friendly fire is always on, so watch out for your buddies. On Normal difficulty, the revamped Last Stand perk allows for two minutes to bleed out and crawl around once you're health is drained.

 

I had a chance to see a few weapons, and more importantly, a few attachments that will change the way people approach the game. Now IW did inform us that everything I saw is based on single-player and Spec Ops (and that things have been re-tuned for multiplayer, but that there is a difference between how a gun or sight could work in either mode within MW2) but what I saw was encouraging.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015000951459-000.jpg

This isn't from any Spec Ops we saw, but yes. Yes please.

 

First off, the thermal sight. Mounted to what looked to be any automatic weapon, the thermal actually zooms in like a sniper scope. The scope is black and white, works fine in the daytime, and has all enemies glowing white to pick them up better within the world. It works extremely well, but it also has a small amount of tracking blur; a nice touch for added realism. The holographic sight is also a really nice option for players, giving what is basically an improved red dot experience to weapons. The scope is wide, doesn't block much of your peripheral, and has a nice clear dot in the center.

 

As for the ACOG scopes; things are moving in a different direction. No longer are all scopes the same. Some have a round steel base with a thin pin pushing up the center (The L-86 is like this), some are like a hunting rifle with a full scope (still open to peripheral sight though) and black notches, and others are more like a holographic sight. Again there's less movement though, having actually no bob in the scope as you look through it, making it far more manageable. Those that play multiplayer all the time know the annoyances of both the ACOG's "diamond" reticule and the bobbing of the scope, and at least for single player and Spec Ops mode that has been completely fixed. I didn't touch ACOG's in COD4, but I can't wait to use them some more in Modern Warfare 2. Nice, nice change.

 

With all that said, let's move onto the specific missions.

 

O Christo Redentor

Based on the single-player mission "Takedown," O Christo Redentor is a terrorist elimination map specific to Spec Ops mode. You drop in with a standard loadout of M4 Grenadiers (M4 with an under-mounted M203). The entire area is based on a Rio village, similar to shantytowns or single-level, single-room houses. All of the combat takes place outside, though some enemies fire on you from behind the windows and doors of surrounding houses. A few civilians running around for good measure.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015000953209-000.jpg

You've seen lots of Rio. So instead, chopper over busted US soil.

 

During our time with the level I had a chance to try out the AA-12 (which is fast to empty, but long to reload) and practice a little street clearing as a team. On the default skill level it was fine running around on my own and just gunning down people willy nilly, but I was dropped a few times when overextending into occupied areas. I also had a chance to pick up akimbo mini-uzis as well, but ditched them quickly due to some pretty crazy recoil. Dual desert eagles were also available, and after trying them briefly (and finding out the weapon had slower shot speed overall this time around) I again ditched the weaponry for a single weapon set.

 

For my money, akimbo just isn't something that's worth the time unless you're really close. The recoil is upped, you can't look down sights, and while you can reload and fire weapons independently (good for staggering your reload) it's just not as effective. Great news for those of us worried that akimbo would break the game's balance, but bad news for all you dual-wielding freaks out there that can't wait to run around with a gun in each hand.

 

O Christo Redentor was a great kick-off level, and I had a chance to try a few tactics, but it's also a standard experience with very little to talk about. Just don't hit civilians and you're good.

 

Continues..

Edited by Nozza
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Time Trial

I didn't get a chance to play this one, but it is amazingly self-explanatory. Based on the snowmobile chase sequence demoed at E3, this level is a single- or two-player time trial race where you drive the snowmobile through a predetermined route. You start off with 15 seconds on the clock. Each group of gates you drive through awards you with four extra seconds, making the race as much about hitting slalom gates as it is about speed. You'll get a chance to catch some serious air though, and there look to be multiple routes to take as you move through the level. The entire mission took less than a minute from top-to-bottom, but it also ended with a huge jump across a chasm, which was a sweet finale to the action.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015000956224-000.jpg

Taking place on the chilling slopes of Cliffhanger, Time Trial is like the Olympics mixed with Jack Bauer and a big hill.

 

Breach and Clear

The second playable level, Breach and Clear, feels like it was ripped right out of the movie The Rock. In this reimagining of the "shower room" scene, players jump into a back room of a brick facility, have plenty of weapons to choose from, and then literally "breach and clear" through the level in a timed extraction challenge. Once both players are up against the wall they can start the actual breach charges, which explode and send the players into a cinematic bullet time sequence. As you progress through the level – which is essentially two rooms – dozens of enemies pour in, complete with lazer sights from upper levels. Since you've got the low ground you and your partner have to fight for every inch, moving slowly as you pick off snipers and go hand-to-hand or use close quarters weaponry on approaching soldiers.

 

This mission starts you off with the classic M104 shotgun, but allows you to grab an AK, AA12 shotgun, and other weapons from downed opposition. I made use of the G18 (which is a three round burst only weapon) and it rocked. The Vector SMG could also be found – another awesome weapon, with an iron sight similar to the Skorpion from COD4 – and even snagged the "Striker," which is an even more impressive auto-shotgun similar to the AA-12. Wow, it packs a serious punch.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015001001802-000.jpg

"Breach and Clear" should be re-named to "run your ass off" after going a few rounds with it.

 

The level is pretty easy overall on the default difficulty, but gaining one star is a cakewalk compared to what this challenge offers on Veteran, as there's fire coming from literally everywhere. It's a close-quarters nightmare where reloading takes a backseat to grabbing random weaponry at your feet or sticking your blade into a few enemies at a time. After pushing through a few rooms filled with complete chaos (Mile High Club was nothing), you jump through a busted hole in the ground and find your extraction point. Simple, if not for the insane opposition that stands in your way to the finish line.

 

Estate Takedown

In hands-down the most impressive of the Special Ops modes, Estate Takedown takes place in an outdoors level that has a distinct forest look. With trees lacing the high ground, small cliffs offering cover, a low ground with a small lake, and a more open area complete with barns and farm equipment, Estate Takedown is an awesome venue for another impressive terrorist hunt mission. This is where the Juggernauts come into play as well, generating at what IW says is a random iteration (though all three playthroughs had one spawning at the beginning of the mission) but capped in number. Juggernauts are enemies covered head-to-toe in armor with a boonie hat guarding their face. These guys know they're fitted with armor too, as they rush you with shotguns and M240's (the bigger brother of the SAW) and can gun you down in seconds. The mission starts you out with the Barrett .50 Cal sniper rifle, powerful enough to drop a Juggernaut with a few impressive headshots. Still, he lays the hurt on you, and when one pops up while you're fighting a half dozen baddies he's be a real pain in the ass.

 

I eventually made my way into the main house, which has weaponry littered everywhere. While the challenge itself is all about eliminating terrorists, I instead convinced Infinity Ward to show off more of the weapons in the game. The rest of Estate Takedown is expected fare, though this is one you'll want to have a friend with to take on Veteran difficulty. The amount of snipers, Juggernauts, and sheer mass of enemies is enough to push you over the edge even with a room full of goodies.

 

 

 

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/103/1035326/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-20091015000957865-000.jpg

Estate has a more "Overgrown" look to it. If Overgrown was covered with snipers and had a house filled with awesome weapons.

 

 

We'll have a whole lot more on Special Ops mode, as well as the weapons I played with as we draw nearer to 11.10.09. Until then, be sure to check out our video interview with Infinity Ward, showcasing five minutes of footage and new details on the full Modern Warfare 2 package. Keep checking back to IGN.com – there's a whole lot more on the way.

 

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Thats it .. Looks good and I cant wait!

Feel Free to Discuss..

(Sorry for the 3 posts, but didnt know if it would all fit into 1/2 pages)

Edited by Nozza
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Hope you don't mind me posting these here, but since you already made a thread dedicated to Spec-Op info, I really don't feel the need to make another thread.

 

New interview with Joel Emslie. [Lead Character Artist]

http://www.modernwarfare247.com/news/new-specops-information

http://www.modernwarfare247.com/news/new-specops-information-part-2

 

The second interview is only a day old, so I figure most people haven't got wind of this yet. Enjoy.

 

Edit:

 

Yeah, thanks for keeping people informed.:drunk

Edited by PimplyPete
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