Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – release date, price, multiplayer hands-on
THE new Call of Duty is out this month, promising a return to the realistic, modern-day combat that made the series so popular.
I got a chance to try out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's multiplayer mode this week and thought it was a barrel of laughs - but is it worth your hard-earned cash?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - what is it?
Like previous Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare is a first person shooter in which you take the role of various military grunts.
This year's entry is a reboot of the whole Modern Warfare strand of the franchise, which confusingly kicked off in 2007 with a game also titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
The new version's being developed by Infinity Ward, who made the first two Call of Duty games as well as the first Modern Warfare and its direct sequels.
It focuses on a brutal civil war in a fictitious Middle Eastern country named Urzikstan.
For parts of the game, you play as a British specs ops team under the leadership of familiar face Captain Price, who appeared in the first Modern Warfare.
You'll be fighting in a number of iconic European cities, including London.
The game will also see you play as two characters waging a brutal war in Urzikstan: A CIA agent and a freedom fighter trying to save her country from oppressive rule.
Rated 18+, the shooter looks likely to spark controversy, with terror raids, insurgent uprisings and chemical weapons all featuring in the campaign.
It means Activision is following the scandal-laden footsteps it trod while making 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
The game achieved infamy for a mission in which players took part in a terrorist massacre in Russia, mowing down dozens of innocent people in an airport.
Activision provided a graphic warning before the mission began.
It also allowed players to skip it entirely if they didn't want to take part.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - multiplayer hands-on
I spent a good hour with the new game's multiplayer mode at a sneak preview event in London this week.
The game felt great to play, and the weapons had a real punch compared to previous CoDs.
It means that when I shot something like a shotgun or a heavy pistol, I felt it as much as I heard it.
And that's saying a lot, as previous games have at times felt like you're firing peashooters at your opponents.
The sound was one of the things that impressed me most.
I was wearing a fancy pair of headphones to play, and genuinely felt the need to hit the deck when a bomber soared overhead.
Rifles sounded off with a real crack, and explosions made a noise like someone's just had a go with Thor's hammer.
In terms of game modes, I mostly played the CoD staple Team Deathmatch, but had a go at a new mode too.
Called Gunfight, the 2v2 games saw me thrown onto a small map with a pal and asked to eliminate the other team.
I had to have my wits about me, as each round threw me in with a different weapon to kill my foes – be it a pistol, shotgun or submachine gun.
I enjoyed it, but I must admit I can't see myself spending too long on it when the game's released.
I'll save that time for the more tried and tested game modes with bigger teams, where Call of Duty games really shine.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game and am looking forward to the release. Expect a full review closer to the time.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - release date, price, availability
The new Call of Duty is out this month, on October 25.
You can play it on PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC.
The game is shipping for around £49.99.
It'll be available on nearly all major online stores and high street shops.
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Will you be buying Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019? Let us know in the comments!
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