User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 7455 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. jimbo
    Jan 22, 2010
    3
    The game is great except for all the holes in the online play. Hacks hacks hacks, i want to resell my game because infinidy has failed to stop the hacks and cheats.
  2. DJW
    Jan 26, 2010
    3
    The score 0 is a little harsh, i thought single player was fun, even though it was short and easy. Multi player was the reason I bought this game though, and I was definately disappointed. The maps are pretty repetitive, you can't take cover behind anything that can't be shot through, and the hackers are everywhere. Aimbot galore. The aimbot hacks ruin the fun you may as well The score 0 is a little harsh, i thought single player was fun, even though it was short and easy. Multi player was the reason I bought this game though, and I was definately disappointed. The maps are pretty repetitive, you can't take cover behind anything that can't be shot through, and the hackers are everywhere. Aimbot galore. The aimbot hacks ruin the fun you may as well just leave. I like the gun attachments, but the excessive killstreak rewards are a little much. Nothing like getting shot through a roof by a helicopter over and over. COD 4 was way more fun, but I will still game out on this one. Expand
  3. PyromaticTabby
    Jan 4, 2010
    3
    Storyline is stupidly rushed with a sprinkle of major plot holes, I very much get the impression that the original script was a lot thicker and that the developers attempted to cherry pick the parts they felt needed to include into the game to avoid being branded lazy, and as such the single player story arch violently swings around like a cat 'o' nine tails making it difficult Storyline is stupidly rushed with a sprinkle of major plot holes, I very much get the impression that the original script was a lot thicker and that the developers attempted to cherry pick the parts they felt needed to include into the game to avoid being branded lazy, and as such the single player story arch violently swings around like a cat 'o' nine tails making it difficult to care for the characters whose shoes you fill and at times to know why you're even playing them, at best the story is some kind of Jekyll and Hyde creation following much the same template as MW1 while ballsing up the pacing something fierce. Ignoring the Storyline, fundamentally the game is very much a carbon copy of the original MW1 game with the bells and whistles of an expansion, But at least the original left a fair amount of control in the players hands, with IWnet it is very difficult to attain a ping of under 100, the choices as to how many other players you wish to fight with is either 6vs6 or 9vs9 and you invariably cycle through the exact same maps with very little say in the matter aside from a skip map vote which is only good for one map. MW2 is in my opinion a Massively over-rated game banking on the success of the original, and yet failing to improve upon it in any meaningful way. Expand
  4. MosesM
    Feb 10, 2010
    3
    Well this was a disappointment, this game had so much potential but is ruined by an utter disregard of realism and some of the core gameplay mechanics that have drawn me to the Call of Duty series since 2 came out. Lets start with realism. While the original MW wasn't the most realistic multi-player game, weapons of similar types did similar damage and the way the guns handled at Well this was a disappointment, this game had so much potential but is ruined by an utter disregard of realism and some of the core gameplay mechanics that have drawn me to the Call of Duty series since 2 came out. Lets start with realism. While the original MW wasn't the most realistic multi-player game, weapons of similar types did similar damage and the way the guns handled at least resembled their real life counter parts. In MW2, IW essentially spits in realism's face, weapon damage is hideously flawed and poorly balanced. PLASTIC riot shields can stop sniper bullets, and akimbo is just terrible. Running around like a retard with a Desert Eagle in each hand essentially allows you to dominate everything in your path, lazy Halo 2 style reload animations are also a bit annoyance. Another problem has got to be that terrible overlay that covers your screen when you get shot, it causes terrible tunnel vision and IMO looks plain ugly, the old CoD2/4 style overlay worked fine and didn't guarantee a death the moment you were hit. Also, blood spattering over your eyes is a illogical when getting hit in any body part other than the face. Also, plastic AKs and uber tacticool weapons felt gimmicky and unrealistic. Everything felt over the top and over done. Before in the CoD series you were always a grunt, fighting on the front lines or a member of an actual Special Ops group (SAS). MW2 turns you into the ultimate special ops soldier where instead of fighting in historical or realistic fights, you are I don't know, on top of a Burger Joint in DC fighting Russians, at least the setting in MW1 was realistic, happening in plausible areas for conflict. Multiplayer is just plain terrible. Over done perks and weapon attachments make dying/killing even easier, Camping is worse than ever, hackers roam free thanks to IWNet. Xbox style matchmaking feels lazy and frankly stupid. I liked being able to sort through a generous list of servers to find one with the map/game mode that I want with a decent ping. And then what happens when IW drops support for MW2, will multiplayer just stop working? Being a Counter-Strike Source player, I understand the importance of community created content and maps in the longevity of a title, but it seems as if IW wants us to play this game and throw it out so hopefully we will buy the next piece of shit they turn out next year. Also, Valve's Steam system isn't the reason for the loss of dedicated servers. Steam is a distribution/publishing tool. After all, Valve understands the importance of dedicated servers IE. Team Fortress 2 (Which is amazingly entertaining), Counter-Strike, even Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 use dedicated servers (and those 2 titles generally have 4-8 people playing at a time). Well that was long. Expand
  5. CasperD.
    Feb 1, 2010
    3
    The concept is good. The potential of the game is enormous. But, with the non dedicated servers and all the special attachments like heartbeat sensors and thermal scopes the game is not for the die-hard gamer. With the non-human anti-cheat system the game is crowded with cheaters, and no one to turn to. Worst of the Call of Duty series.
  6. SteveA.
    Apr 28, 2010
    3
    Pros - Great Singleplayer Gameplay, Although Short. - Great Graphics - Wide Variety of Weapons And Attatchments - Tons of Killstreak Options Cons - Lack Of Dedicated Servers Sucks - Maps Are Very Camper Friendly - Spawn System Is Awful - Cheating Everywhere - Terrible Community Support By IW - Worst Weapon Balancing I Have Ever Seen (Probably because they did not release beta) Guess its Pros - Great Singleplayer Gameplay, Although Short. - Great Graphics - Wide Variety of Weapons And Attatchments - Tons of Killstreak Options Cons - Lack Of Dedicated Servers Sucks - Maps Are Very Camper Friendly - Spawn System Is Awful - Cheating Everywhere - Terrible Community Support By IW - Worst Weapon Balancing I Have Ever Seen (Probably because they did not release beta) Guess its fun if you like teleknifing, hacking, pro piping (noob tubing), guns without recoil, camping for nukes, camping with a hertbeat sensor, sniping with a famas, or playing a game with an all around lack of requirement for skill. Expand
  7. FlorianK
    Apr 28, 2010
    3
    The Game itself is to be concidered really nice, but the absence of dedicated server support, absolutely random matchmaking, random senseless spawn systems, no ability to kick foul players, no ability to choose maps, blabla - in short: the fact that the players of this game are stripped of all of their freedoms and are being forced to play with hackers, cheaters, campers and lamers and on The Game itself is to be concidered really nice, but the absence of dedicated server support, absolutely random matchmaking, random senseless spawn systems, no ability to kick foul players, no ability to choose maps, blabla - in short: the fact that the players of this game are stripped of all of their freedoms and are being forced to play with hackers, cheaters, campers and lamers and on maps they dont like makes this game the worst i've ever played. Expand
  8. BontaK
    Nov 11, 2009
    3
    MW2 is a dowgrade of MW1. MW2 should be callde MW1, and MW1 should be called MW2. The game is nothing more than a lazy port of xbox360. The lack of dedi is such a killer, dedi's are what makes a online game a great online game. To be able to admin, mod and customize, this game lacks it all. Medicore options and lack of console command only hurts it more. It is even more medicore to MW2 is a dowgrade of MW1. MW2 should be callde MW1, and MW1 should be called MW2. The game is nothing more than a lazy port of xbox360. The lack of dedi is such a killer, dedi's are what makes a online game a great online game. To be able to admin, mod and customize, this game lacks it all. Medicore options and lack of console command only hurts it more. It is even more medicore to listen to the lame reasons IW is giving to justify spading the PC version into a console version with mouse support. For people who say that making the PC version more like console version to stem cheating, then they know nothing and are foolish. If I could return the game, I would do it in a heart beat. Expand
  9. Hauser
    Nov 11, 2009
    3
    Unlike PC COD4, PC MW2 is a shooter for casual gamers only. The game forces you to spend way too much time finding decent 4 bar games and then the host disconnects, and suddenly you're in an unplayable 2 bar mess. Buy this for XBox if you like playing shooters sitting on your couch drinking a beer with the game on in split screen while Skyping your girlfriend, but by no means for PC Unlike PC COD4, PC MW2 is a shooter for casual gamers only. The game forces you to spend way too much time finding decent 4 bar games and then the host disconnects, and suddenly you're in an unplayable 2 bar mess. Buy this for XBox if you like playing shooters sitting on your couch drinking a beer with the game on in split screen while Skyping your girlfriend, but by no means for PC if you're a hardcore online shooter fan. Expand
  10. SamM
    Nov 10, 2009
    3
    It's not that bad of a game. No really, it's not that bad if you put on goggles that make you think a piece of crap is a piece of candy. The Single Player makes no sense at all. Everything happens to fast with no explanation, it's just ridiculous. The multiplayer is flawed on the PC and the PS3, who didn't see that coming? even after that deleted post by an Infinity It's not that bad of a game. No really, it's not that bad if you put on goggles that make you think a piece of crap is a piece of candy. The Single Player makes no sense at all. Everything happens to fast with no explanation, it's just ridiculous. The multiplayer is flawed on the PC and the PS3, who didn't see that coming? even after that deleted post by an Infinity Ward developer saying the PS3 is a turd? This game was simply made to give IW and Activision big bucks so they can ruin the industry even more than it already is. Expand
  11. IWSucks
    Nov 12, 2009
    3
    I got this game for free, Dont ask. I had previously cancelled my pre order but free is free so I gave it a try. Single player is great alot of fun, visually one of the best games out there and it runs flawlessy on a one year old system. Now Multiplayer, while it is fun and you could see the potential of what this game could have been. I love team death match but come on capped at 6 vs 6 I got this game for free, Dont ask. I had previously cancelled my pre order but free is free so I gave it a try. Single player is great alot of fun, visually one of the best games out there and it runs flawlessy on a one year old system. Now Multiplayer, while it is fun and you could see the potential of what this game could have been. I love team death match but come on capped at 6 vs 6 the maps are clearly large enough to support double that. This will offer some fun but that will wain pretty quickly with no mods, no console, no servers no CONTROL over anything. I had to go to the bathroom during a match but couldnt, I am still waiting for a email from IW for permission to wipe. Another thing is that the game is already hacked, there are videos out there showing it, I have already experienced as because of the match making service I am playing with the same 20 people all the time and just have to tolerate the hacker its quite annoying. For free this is not that bad of a game, If is was my money I was spending it would have been placed on Bad Company 2. Dice still embraces the PC community. Expand
  12. Wm.K
    Nov 15, 2009
    3
    If your looking for the a Modern FPS this one maybe not for you. It appears to have been made for a very immature audience. It
  13. EH
    Nov 15, 2009
    3
    The multiplayer of this game is clearly a farce but that is not the reason I bought this game. Infinity Ward have always created powerful Single Player stories that they have told to great effect in their games but this one falls short. Sure, the voice acting is great and the plot is ballsy and well though out but the on-rails, Virtua Cop style pop-up bad guys are just laughable while the The multiplayer of this game is clearly a farce but that is not the reason I bought this game. Infinity Ward have always created powerful Single Player stories that they have told to great effect in their games but this one falls short. Sure, the voice acting is great and the plot is ballsy and well though out but the on-rails, Virtua Cop style pop-up bad guys are just laughable while the boring, ugly, repetitive and staggeringly unrealistic surroundings are pathetic. This game is well below the acceptable par for PC in every respect from length of gameplay to graphics to longevity and the fact that it is the single most highly priced game on the platform and comes with non-functioning multiplayer is just a kick in the teeth. Avoid at all costs. Expand
  14. LauraD
    Dec 17, 2009
    3
    Good games but not on multi with no dedicate server on pc!
  15. lolz@IW
    Dec 2, 2009
    3
    so many glitches in MP javelin glitch , care package infinite glitch , Care package sprint glitch. They even posted them all on youtube and linked it to IW forums and the moderators dont even delete the topics so like 1/4 games i get into someone is trying to glitch with those or get under the map... SP is alright i guess its short story is sorta wierd but its a amazing experiance first so many glitches in MP javelin glitch , care package infinite glitch , Care package sprint glitch. They even posted them all on youtube and linked it to IW forums and the moderators dont even delete the topics so like 1/4 games i get into someone is trying to glitch with those or get under the map... SP is alright i guess its short story is sorta wierd but its a amazing experiance first time threw. They need to fix MP and BALANCE it cause atm it feels like Modernwarfare beta 2.0 Expand
  16. JasonK
    Dec 20, 2009
    3
    IW supposedly 'balanced' MW2 multiplayer, but the end result was anything but balance. Tactical nukes in less than 1 minute of game play is not balanced. COD4 and COD5 are balanced for the most part and allow 48 player games. I have been playing on the PC and every time I play I see multiple 8th-10th prestige mode players in game. The only game type that has enough players is IW supposedly 'balanced' MW2 multiplayer, but the end result was anything but balance. Tactical nukes in less than 1 minute of game play is not balanced. COD4 and COD5 are balanced for the most part and allow 48 player games. I have been playing on the PC and every time I play I see multiple 8th-10th prestige mode players in game. The only game type that has enough players is Ground War. How can you release a shooter in 2009 that only allows 18 player games? Expand
  17. marine0352
    Dec 4, 2009
    3
    It's very meh. The single player was okay, nothing to write home about. Graphics looked nice I suppose. Total lack of flexibility in multiplayer, no dedicated servers, its all been said in other reviews, but still true.
  18. JamesW.
    Jan 26, 2010
    3
    I foolishly thought that I would be able to play this game online hosted on a fast dedicated server without hackers & people using (built in) speed hacks and have a decent latency whilst doing so. Nah. You've revolutionised the gaming industry by offering one product to all platforms and targeted it casual gamers and aliened your old audience. If you want to release console games do I foolishly thought that I would be able to play this game online hosted on a fast dedicated server without hackers & people using (built in) speed hacks and have a decent latency whilst doing so. Nah. You've revolutionised the gaming industry by offering one product to all platforms and targeted it casual gamers and aliened your old audience. If you want to release console games do it on a console or at least put a warning on it. Expand
  19. Kylek
    Mar 29, 2010
    3
    Infinity Ward you blow. I have always been a call of duty fan, and a gamer at heart. I loved the fact mw2 came out but then when i got it, it was shit. Every game you go into theirs a hacker aimboting with a rpd and shootin threw the whole map. Single player is to short. No DEDICATED SERVERS!? A perk that can teleport you halfway across the map with a knife? Over powered AA 12. Model 1887 Infinity Ward you blow. I have always been a call of duty fan, and a gamer at heart. I loved the fact mw2 came out but then when i got it, it was shit. Every game you go into theirs a hacker aimboting with a rpd and shootin threw the whole map. Single player is to short. No DEDICATED SERVERS!? A perk that can teleport you halfway across the map with a knife? Over powered AA 12. Model 1887 Range. NOOB TUBES WITH DANGER CLOSE? What was your idea of making this game a fun game or just a game to waste peoples money and have them buy it just to get pissed off and quit. If the single player mode is going to be so short then maybe the price should be cheaper. Expand
  20. PeterH
    Nov 11, 2009
    3
    Mediacore at best, don't bother to waste $ on this, since MP is a joke on pc and SP campaign takes 3,5h to finish. I'd rather suggest buying something that's actually worth your money.
  21. BenS
    Nov 10, 2009
    3
    What amazing settings are on the PC version that the console might not have? From IW: The PC version has stuff like mouse support, text chat, and the ability to change graphical settings. I know my mind is blown as well. Its sad to know that IW use to boast stuff like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfTR8PBrsE when the first one came out but removed almost all of this in the second one. What amazing settings are on the PC version that the console might not have? From IW: The PC version has stuff like mouse support, text chat, and the ability to change graphical settings. I know my mind is blown as well. Its sad to know that IW use to boast stuff like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfTR8PBrsE when the first one came out but removed almost all of this in the second one. Single player: I enjoyed the first games single player mainly because of the stealth sniper mission and have to say MW2 has some decent single player events again but with a lot shorter gameplay. I know this game is more about the multiplayer but the main reason i enjoyed this game in the first place was the somewhat interesting single player missions. Also its quite sad that they put autoaim in the game and make it so you NEED it in order to beat some missions because it was designed for you to need it. Honestly.. wtf IW. Multiplayer: It basically added some new guns, removed leaning, a lot of new perks, and even worse more annoying kill streak rewards. In the first game i enjoyed the gameplay, perks, and killstreak rewards but after awhile it got on my nerves(can you say martyr) and now with this updated game we have no mods, 9 v 9 only, no dedicated servers. This is basically a direct from console version even with matchmaking included. Overall: i gave this game a 3/10 because the single player was semi decent and they tried to build up on multiplayer but in the process removed a lot of parks of the game people enjoyed making it another bad sequel of a use to be decent game. Expand
  22. eoL
    Nov 10, 2009
    3
    Take a look at the at the user reviews, notice the very few positive Reviews compared to the flood of negative ones. Look at the Critics too. Of course, Critics can be bought but it's not as easy for the personal ones. This game is mostly an disappointment compared to its predecessor. The single-player narrative is overall both rationally stupid and very short. The removal of Take a look at the at the user reviews, notice the very few positive Reviews compared to the flood of negative ones. Look at the Critics too. Of course, Critics can be bought but it's not as easy for the personal ones. This game is mostly an disappointment compared to its predecessor. The single-player narrative is overall both rationally stupid and very short. The removal of dedicated server pretty much scraps the competitive gaming with the high latency p2p connections that the game uses. I'd give it a 5 for being a solid shooter, but I'm rating it even lower than that since there's no enjoyment in playing the single-player with its C-Movie plot nor rather lacking multiplayer. Expand
  23. klemensad
    Nov 12, 2009
    3
    Em.. game is not worth 60$ its a rental single player game play is boring and a grind i only played it because the story is great and the movie like scenes are awesome the ending is awesome 2 but other than that its a boring gring shooting enemies all the time and dieing a lot so rent it or but it for 20$ just to see the story but mw1 was way better in story and in gameplay so reather buy that.
  24. PhilH
    Nov 10, 2009
    3
    One night's worth of entertaining single player shooter and that's basically your lot. Probably quite good by console standards but on the PC the crippled multiplayer kills any long term entertainment value.
  25. KeithA
    Nov 10, 2009
    3
    I can barely tolerate the single player part of the game. Endless waves of respawning enemies that shoot you the instant you walk around a corner is not hard. It's annoying. All I can see half the time I'm playing the game is blood on the inside of my eyeballs apparently. I also don't think that the story could be more generic. It's your standard COD campaign. Mindless I can barely tolerate the single player part of the game. Endless waves of respawning enemies that shoot you the instant you walk around a corner is not hard. It's annoying. All I can see half the time I'm playing the game is blood on the inside of my eyeballs apparently. I also don't think that the story could be more generic. It's your standard COD campaign. Mindless plodding through checkpoints to get to some fancy mocap work. It's really unsatisfying to say the least in the latest iteration of the game. The matchmaking is horrendous. The 5 second host migration takes place after 30 seconds of searching for the new host. The other thing I've noticed is that in order to make you feel like you can hit someone with the high pings involved in a p2p situation they have made the hitboxes enormous. I was playing earlier and a kill cam showed me registering hits on a stationary player in a corner when I was shooting 5 feet to his side. They have replaced skill based gaming with spray and pray because anything close counts. It' sa clever way to disguise the terrible latencies you experience. Expand
  26. BeauS
    Dec 11, 2009
    3
    While the offline game is awesome, but shot, the online version is crap and should be trashed. The lag filled connections are a nightmare and the intermissions between matches make you want to slit your wrists. No dedicated servers is the worst possible decision they could have come up with. I hope they fix it or they be deemed Hitlers best friend.
  27. noelc
    Dec 2, 2009
    3
    Played this game a ton. Single player is awesome but way too short for $60. Online play is pretty bad. Servers lag a bunch. Can't kick people easily that I can tell. I wish I hadn't paid $60...its a bad precedent to set that developers think they can get that much for a game that takes about 6 hours to finish.
  28. AidanB
    Nov 11, 2009
    3
    Infinity I have played Call of Duty competitively since COD1 was released, and only stopped playing COD4 to complete my secondary school studies and gain entry into a good college. I was waiting for this game to re enter the competitive scene. I will surely not be buying this game until you support dedicated servers. There are many better options for my class of gamers and generally PC Infinity I have played Call of Duty competitively since COD1 was released, and only stopped playing COD4 to complete my secondary school studies and gain entry into a good college. I was waiting for this game to re enter the competitive scene. I will surely not be buying this game until you support dedicated servers. There are many better options for my class of gamers and generally PC gamers alike, and competitors will only profit from your lazy business ethics. You could have made records in the gaming Industry that rival the likes of Starcraft and World of Warcraft, which if you may actually recall from the slumbers of your minds where the pc lies... THEY ARE PC TITLES DOOCHEBAGS. Blizzard is going to laugh at you when they release Starcraft 2, laugh and then roll in there bigger piles of money, while their investors perform sexual favors in gratitude. (perhaps an exaggeration, but one needs a sense of humor when corporate entities (things that don't actually exist) wins over what 'people' actually want) Expand
  29. MelkorL
    Nov 12, 2009
    3
    I must say I am quite disappointed at the moment! The game have a few bugs that can crash in the mist of intense fights (MP). The single player is intense and fun, but way too short. The story is original, but somewhat awkward (and totally unrealistic, unlike COD4 which was kind of believable). The lack of DS support is also irritating. That being said MP is as cool as ever when I must say I am quite disappointed at the moment! The game have a few bugs that can crash in the mist of intense fights (MP). The single player is intense and fun, but way too short. The story is original, but somewhat awkward (and totally unrealistic, unlike COD4 which was kind of believable). The lack of DS support is also irritating. That being said MP is as cool as ever when everything works. Generally this feel more like an expansion package for COD4 than a whole new stand alone game. Expand
  30. JakeLord
    Nov 23, 2009
    3
    The game was fun for a while but then i realized well since theres no modding the single player was realeased on pc with many errors some still not fixed the game was exciting in single player and then about 12 matches of multi now i find myself playing l4d2, garrys mod , and even older games before i play modern warfare 2 the lack of moding and dedicated servers ruins the pc experience The game was fun for a while but then i realized well since theres no modding the single player was realeased on pc with many errors some still not fixed the game was exciting in single player and then about 12 matches of multi now i find myself playing l4d2, garrys mod , and even older games before i play modern warfare 2 the lack of moding and dedicated servers ruins the pc experience so maybe IW needs to take some hints from Valve Expand
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. 91
    The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 is identical to the console versions in almost every way, and that's actually the problem. PC gamers have a certain expectation for online shooters. Removing dedicated server and user mod support from a game that's already $10 more than its predecessor seriously hinders the long term appeal for me.
  2. Modern Warfare 2 will leave you breathless.
  3. It looks better, it plays better, the story is more intense and the multiplayer is more inviting. And with the inclusion of SpecOps, the longevity of this game is sure to have increased as well.