Everywhere you look right now (behind you!), someone is writing about the controversial airport scene "No Russian" in Modern Warfare 2. This post however, will only slightly touch on the airport scene. See, for me personally, there was another level that was more disturbing than the airport. After the not-so-surprising finale to the airport, you're transported to a place that is eerily familiar, but instead is coated in a lovely new hellish reality.

Both of these details had been spoiled in the weeks before the game, with a war-torn Washington, D.C. even appearing in the trailer. However, the airport scene has been talked about non-stop since it slipped through the cracks and spread like a wildfire through the internet. I was pretty much prepared for what would happen in that level, though I wasn't sure how I'd deal with it when the time came, as I have trouble just selecting the evil choices in Bioware games (How could Shepard say such hurtful things?). But when the time came, I felt oddly detached. Maybe because of the rampant coverage, I was taken right out of the game. I was fully engaged in the previous levels, but there was something about knowing that it was coming, and then realizing that this is it, and then... yeah, that was it. I felt a little strange walking through the level, but no where near how I thought I'd feel. I even tested myself partway through the level and shot a civilian, and while I can say I didn't enjoy it, it certainly didn't make me feel sick to my stomach like I'd though I would. In a scene that was trying to make a poignant statement that was lost due to the leak. Anyway, I said this was not a post about the airport level, so I'll get to the point of all this.



The Virginia/Washinton D.C. levels were what did it for me. We have never seen modern warfare on our own shores, our own land. You basically play the part of a first responder, right after all hell has broken loose. You find yourself walking through a neighborhood that could have been anyone's, with fires raging and paratroops dropping in the background. The sights just gave me fucking chills man. I mean this could be anywhere! You're walking down Anytown, USA, and witnessing houses blown to shit that makes you think about the random family that might have been sitting there watching House or reading some C-Blogs on their laptop and then BAM; done. Suddenly, the game has become very real and using a Burger (King) Town to hole up in for cover didn't seem that far fetched. I was ACTUALLY fighting for the people, fighting to protect them from an actual threat. It's certainly a very frightening thought, and this is where Infinity Ward got the job done and pulled me right back in.

I have to commend Infinity Ward on their ability to create these amazing set pieces, they know how to craft a fantastic game. Now, I think I've got an hour or so left in the game, and then it's on to some LIVE and Spec Ops!