As of two weeks ago I was going to get a four point zero, I was going to get into a decent college, and I had a social life. But this has all changed. A more important cause has driven me to my basement and imprisoned me. Modern Warfare 2, the sixth installment in the Call of Duty franchise, made its debut on November 10 and is my jailor. If first-person shooters are of any interest to you and you own a current generation console, $60 is your ticket to heaven. The game consists of three separate components, which together make up one of the greatest video games I have ever played.

Campaign

Less of a video game and more of a Michael Bay action movie, the campaign boasts as the greatest of the series to date. Filled with cinematic moments, the story delivers punch after unexpected punch, keeping you on your toes for the duration. Unfortunately, one flaw is that this duration is only about 6.5 hours on the harder difficulties, and even less on the easier ones, leaving the gamer a little unfulfilled. Luckily the other two modes will eat up much more of your time.

The story picks up where the original Modern Warfare leaves off, with a new nemesis, Makarov, taking up the reigns of the ultra-nationalist Zakhaev in his plot to elevate Russia to the top of the food chain by destroying the United States. The gamer plays as Gary “Roach” Sanderson for a majority of the game, in an elite unit known as Task Force 141. Led by the previous game’s protagonist “Soap” MacTavish, a player’s goal is to stop Makarov and save the day.

I do not want to give anything away, but the ending of this game will BLOW YOUR MIND. The graphics are significantly better than Modern Warfare and the level of detail is stunning. However, they are not a complete revolution in terms of capability. The story might not be the most articulate and is quite short, but overall, the campaign is sweet and will leave the video game competitor begging for more.

Multiplayer

Modern Warfare set the bar for first person multiplayer shooters. Modern Warfare 2 takes its predecessors system and expands it — not drastically, but enough to create a whole new feel. 15 brand new maps are released with the game and many game variants create enough combinations to keep each online game fresh.

The leveling system returns with the cap at level 70 this time, meaning much more opportunity for unlockables. As with the last game, customizable classes are a must. With hundreds of weapon combinations, new attachments, the ability to upgrade perks, customizable killstreak options, new titles and emblems, and deathstreak options, a gamer’s online avatar truly becomes their own. Countless hours await those that wish to unlock all that there is, and good times will be had by all that join this gigantic network of killing.

Spec Ops

A new mode to the Call of Duty franchise, Spec Ops offers 23 separate scenarios, ranging from defending a position to snowmobile races. Each level has a possibility of earning one to three stars, corresponding to the three difficulty ratings. To unlock all 23 missions, the competitor must attain a sufficient number of stars for the precursor missions. Going at it alone can be fun, but the intent of the developers is that one joins up with a friend, either online or on a couch, to complete each scenario.

Some missions require the co-op component. For example, in one operation, one team member is on the ground trekking across a farm to a check point, while the other is offering support from a gunship above. On the harder levels, some missions are near impossible individually and require extreme tactical teamwork with a friend, making for games within the levels themselves. With the promise of new downloadable missions for Spec Ops in the near future, this mode has already become a fan favorite and will surely become a pivotal part of the Call of Duty series.