Special Ops mode now makes for a third option for players to select at the main start screen to accompany the traditional single-player campaign and competitive multiplayer featured in Call of Duty 4. It sort of connects the other two modes by allowing you to play either alone, with a friend using split-screen, or by going online for the full two-player co-op experience. Special Ops provides a series of quick scenarios for players to shoot their way through, moving from one point to another on a modestly sized map filled with enemies. You’ll unlock new levels as you collect specific numbers of stars, with more stars awarded if you play on the higher difficulty levels.

The level we got to see was called Breach & Clear. In this scenario–played single-player by an Activision rep–the player had to use a bomb to breach the wall of a Soviet gulag and shoot through dozens of Russian militia before dropping through a hole at the other end of a large, destroyed shower room. He planted the bomb on the wall, which exploded to provide a new entrance into the room and triggered a brief but dramatic slow-motion sequence that let the player get a jump on the stunned enemies inside.

Once inside, it was that familiar brand of fast-paced Call of Duty shooting through and through. Enemies flooded into the area from the front and up on balconies on the side, keeping the action quick and exciting in much the same way fans of the series have come to expect. The game looked fantastic, running very smoothly even at the peak of the firefight. Some new visual flourishes were on display like the re-done blood splattering that covers the screen as you take damage, but the one thing that really caught our eye during the quick demo was the inclusion of riot shields. Certain enemies storm into the area equipped with these transparent, bullet-proof shields and when they die you can run over and pick up their shields. The result is you holding the shield in front of your face in the traditional-first person view when your gun isn’t drawn, but putting it away when you need to start shooting again.

After leaving an impressive wake of death and destruction, the Activision rep made his way to the end of the level and jumped through a hole in the ground to trigger the ending. Altogether, he made it through the scenario in about two and a half minutes. A screen at the end showed his finishing time and total number of kills, but he could have pulled up a timer during the actual game by hitting up on the directional pad. Otherwise, the screen remains free of clutter to let you focus on the job at hand.

It’s worth noting that Special Ops won’t support perks or customized loadouts that are the hallmark of Modern Warfare’s competitive multiplayer. There was no customization screen prior to the game and no XP totals appearing above the heads of enemies as you shoot them. It was more straightforward action like you’d find in the single-player campaign. It seems like a good decision on the part of Infinity Ward, as the Special Ops mode seems geared more toward working to improve your finishing time under identical situations rather than unlocking new and better weapons to better your odds.

It may not strike you as much of a surprise considering the astounding success of Call of Duty 4, but Modern Warfare 2 is looking great, with few if any areas to nitpick. Players can safely expect another exciting shooter when the game is released on November 10.

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It sounds awesome! They said no personalization, then what are the levels used for? New missions? I also like the idea of how the missions are short. Makes me happy I can sit down, beat it, stand up again.

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------------------------------------------PSN: Stormer77------------------------------------------
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Sounds good, pretty much what I expected...

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Did you just say Rofling?..