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Within the first 24 hours since launch, Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 had sold 4.7 million copies in North America and the UK alone.  Its success was ensured by the popularity of its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, a game that also marked a departure from the overused World War II setting.

The release of Modern Warfare 2 set global records, outdoing even Hollywood in terms of launch revenue.  Even gamers previously unfamiliar with the Call of Duty games took notice, given how much hype MW2 has received.  Expectations were set incredibly high, which often results in great disappointment.  Really though, does the game live up to all this excitement?  Short answer is "yes."  The newest Call of Duty is armed with a riveting campaign that picks up where Modern Warfare left off, and the introduction of SpecOps adds another dimension to the revamped multiplayer.

The opening credits are accompanied by brief clips from the first Modern Warfare, and the player is eventually greeted with a "5 Years Later" line.  If you played the first game, you'll notice its sequel moves at a considerably faster pace.  Following the shortest tutorial in the history of mankind, players are plopped right in the middle of an ongoing conflict.

Single-player campaign will have the player hopping from one character to another, and by the end of the game, you've gone through it as four different individuals -- both new and old.  The improved visuals are obvious from the start, thanks to the IW 4.0 engine.  The environments are riddled with destructable objects, cool weather effects, and general shininess, while your allies and foes sport beautifully rendered faces with a new level of detail.  Another key improvement is the elimination of respawns; instead, a smarter A.I. directs enemies, allowing them to act independently and react appropriately to the player.  Incidentally, this forces the player to react as well, thereby creating an overall more dynamic experience that really keeps the blood pumping.  Blood spray is also your new best friend in MW2, as the red haze indicates how much damage you've taken; ducking out of combat will give the haze some time to clear up.  There are moments when the screen is so cluttered by smoke, debris and explosions (an occasional flashbang) that the player can become lost in the chaos, creating a more realistic and disorienting feel.

You'll be exchanging fire in a wide variety of environments, from the slums of Rio de Janeiro (famous Jesus statue in the background) to the Russian tundra, the deserts of Afghanistan to urban locales closer to home.  Of course each environment will require a different tactic to go with its varying objectives.  Whether your job is defending a person or object, engaging in a chase sequence, or simply fighting from one end of the map to another, the gameplay requires players to do more than just spray 'n' pray. 

The combat is plenty intense, while allowing players to move at their own pace.  Without respawns, you can clear an area and actually stay there without being harassed too much, though enemies aware of your presence may come seek you out.  Now and then, the game tosses a wild card, and you'll get a break from the usual running-and-gunning.  A wide arsenal makes your job easier no matter what sort of mission IW sends your way, and the expansive selection ensures players will always find something they like, be it sniping from cover or raining terror from the skies with the Predator UAV.

The story, being carried over directly from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, does require some prior knowledge.  If you're jumping straight into Modern Warfare 2, a little wiki browsing might be in order just to figure out who's who, as the sequel does include a few familiar faces.  A couple in-game moments will pass over clueless newcomers but overall, the bulk of MW2's plot stands alone and shouldn't give newbies too much trouble.  You'll likely have a harder time with the online multiplayer though, having to put up with unwelcoming veterans and the usual crap we've come to expect from online gaming. 

With the campaign stretching just a few hours despite a stellar plot, the real meat can be found in multiplayer, as with all CoD games.  And the multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2 has received numerous improvements over the original, with new Perk upgrades and customizable Killstreaks.  The rewards are exceptionally juicy, especially the Predator missiles.  These also factor into your customizable online persona, which allow players to choose secondary weapons, equipment, "Bling", Perks and Streaks in creating a personalized character.  Even the losing team can have their chance at unlocking rewards with "Deathstreaks," a new feature intended for Call of Duty newbies.  There has been some resistance to this, though it's arguably better than Martyrdom.  Even with the newb-friendly streaks, however, the online multiplayer can be an unforgiving (and frustrating) trial by fire for less seasoned players.  Newcomers will likely need to take some time catching up with CoD vets.