Originally fom PixelHunter

-GameSpot

I finished the single-player campaign in Modern Warfare 2 last night, and while I want to get some time in playing Special Ops and Multiplayer before I review the game, I just have to get some of this out before my head 'splodes.

Back in the day, the first-person shooter was a pretty generic experience. Run around levels killing everything that moved and you might have to find color-coded keys to open doors. The original Half-Life changed all that with the introduction of a decent story and the excellent use of set pieces and scripted events. The bar had been set, and all shooters made after HL had to meet it or be trashed by the critics.

Well, a new bar has been set.

Sure, Modern Warfare 2 may not be a perfect game. But it certainly has made advancements to the genre that any future games need to match lest they be relegated to "just another shooter" status. MW2 blends the non-stop cinematic action of a Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer film with the military depth, espionage and globetrotting of a Tom Clancy novel. There is never a dull moment in the game, and you are always doing something engaging.

I think the mix of mission types and locations, as well as the various vehicle segments makes for a fun and adrenalin packed experience. Yet at the same time, I wish there was a little more. The campaign is completed quickly, and you wish it was longer. However, I can understand why it may be short; to drag it out over a longer period of time may become repetitive and tedious, losing the rollercoaster thrill it achieves with its short length. Multiple times through my play through, I sat jaw dropped and controller slack in my hand at my astonishment of what was happening. Other times I was slapping myself in the "Home Alone" expression when I was stunned at what I had gone through. That very, very rarely happens in any games I play. And I love the fact that MW2 is capable of pulling off those brain-melting events and twists that just catch you off guard.

The entire game is played from the perspective of one of several characters, with not a single cut scene. Unfortunately, this makes the telling of the story more difficult, because you can only see and know what that character you are playing sees and knows. We've all seen just how good Infinity Ward can do with cinematic cut scenes based on all the trailers leading up to the game release, and it's a shame some are not included to help with the story. I guess that would be my biggest gripe with the campaign… not having the story fleshed out as well as it could have been. I'm sure I'm not the only one confused with the progression of events, or the motivation of some key players. And it should be no surprise that the ending of the game might as well have a big "To Be Continued" sign posted.

Playing Modern Warfare has been an interesting personal experience. When I played COD4, I was deeply moved by the consequences of war, just as much as I enjoyed the game. I actually had to stop playing after some missions in the original MW to reflect upon what happened, and on just how much war and the loss of soldiers' lives sucks. MW2 is no different. From the controversial airport mission to various other experiences throughout the game, any player with a conscious should be reflecting upon the consequences of war. But this is a benefit to the game, not a detriment. Too many games today don't do anything to wake up your brain or make you think about what you are doing.

Am I in the minority here? Do most gamers today just want mindless thrills and brainless action? Have most players skipped the story campaign to play the excellent multiplayer instead? What are your thoughts on Modern Warfare 2 and how it makes you think about games, war, and cinematic experiences?

I am looking forward to (the inevitable) Modern Warfare 3 with great anticipation. I only hope it is already in development, and the wait won't be too long.

NOTE: Originally, this blog was intended to be short and only to those following me. However, it morphed into what you see here and I decided to "Soapbox it". Also, some people have responded that games such as Metal Gear Solid and Uncharted 2 have also "set the bar" or even set a higher bar for an experience like this. That may very well be the case, but since I haven't played those games, I can only write this blog based on my personal experiences. Just keep that in mind when responding, and also keep in mind that my questions posed to you are about the emotional impact of games like MW2, and not which game is better.

NOTE: Some clips may be graphic (but I've made sure to include the least graphic ones as humanly possible) and I couldn't find a video that was appropriate enough for some.

12. Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, 360)

Boy, the recession's taken a toll! *ba-dum, psh*

Though not intended to entirely be a horror game, there are plenty of instances in the Vault Dweller's adventures that involve plenty of unwanted close-ups with feral ghouls in the dank underground caverns, abandoned buildings, sewers, and like locations. In fact, almost any enemy in those claustrophobic areas will make players jump more times than they imagine.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ipOMNQA8Ho

11. Dead Space (PS3, 360)

Survival Tip #1: Wear armor. Always.

Released by EA fairly recently, Dead Space is a combination of The Thing and Alien but set in space and the main character isn't much of a military man to begin with. Walking through the dark, empty, foreboding corridors of the tattered USG Ishimura is made all the more unnerving when the distant wails of enemies taunt your every step and, at times, jump from out of absolutely nowhere for a cIassic jump scare.

Taste of fear: http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/deadspace/video/6191260/dead-space-official-trailer-2?tag=videos;title;1

In my opinion, there are few games that pull of atmosphere so well nowadays.

10. The Suffering (Xbox, PS2, PC)

Edward Scissorhands gone very, very wrong

A game from Midway that came and went, The Suffering mixes up action and atmosphere by having short periods of atmospheric horror between the dominant run-and-gun gameplay sections. Running through the island of Carnate with little enemies around is creepy at the very least. However, even these brief, quiet moments get interrupted by sudden images flashing across the screen.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py8OY-YBHjY

9. Killer 7 (GC, PS2)

"Smile!"

A strange game by any standard, Killer 7 provides one of the most confusing, convoluted stories ever to be told in a single interactive installment (although there are various other ways of following the full story) and also some of the creepiest characters this side of cell shading. Invisible to the naked eye, the Heaven Smile need to be "scanned" in order to be seen. The little snickers they let out to make you aware of your presence are unsettling in the worst way possible.

Taste of fear: Yeah, the least graphic clip would be way too graphic to post.

8. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PS, N64, DC, PC)

Something tells me the road construction won't get finished.

A modest entry of the storied horror series, Resident Evil 3 implements multiple choice scenarios in which, usually in a state of panic, the player is forced to choose quickly. Adding this level of involvement aided in making Nemesis a title that didn't feel like a re-hash of the second installment. Also, the scares to be had in RE3 were all very effective.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpuv9AZG66g

7. Cold Fear (Xbox, PS2, PC)

"Hello, Mr. K...Oh wait a minute."

Overlooked in favor of the much more popular Resident Evil 4, Cold Fear utilized the same control system as its more famous counterpart and, in my opinion, did a much better job at making the controls fluent. Instead of the zombie-slaughtering officer-turned-agent Leon S. Kennedy, Cold Fear presents us with a Coast Guard member named Tom Hansen. Instead of a Spanish island, the game takes place on a Russian whaler ship lost out at sea. The creaking and tilting of the camera associated with the ship's current situation in a massive storm can be nauseating at times, making the sudden scares from enemies lurking in the dark that much more terrifying.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LPRyR41QxM

6. Doom 3 (Xbox, PC)

Hide and seek with demons is not a good idea.

Undoubtedly one of the most recognizable First Person Shooters in gaming history, Doom 3 provided a level of fear that was unchallenged in its genre at the time. From subtle atmospheric lighting to more abrupt jump scares, Doom 3 wears the player down to terrified frustration until the very end. Also, it should be noted that its the only game I've played that is still scary with God Mode turned on.

Taste of fear: Once again, the clips are far too bloody to post on this site.

5. Silent Hill 3 (PS2)

"Come to Silent Hill, we have great hospitals!"

In which the first installment mixed atmosphere and scares and the second further pushed the boundaries of storytelling and atmosphere, Silent Hill 3 was the more abruptly terrifying title. From the ear-hemorrhaging distorted wails of foes to the surrealistic visual design, no detail was spared in making the third installment something gamers would never forget.

Taste of fear: http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/silenthill3/video/6030259/silent-hill-3-trailer-4?tag=videos;title;3

4. Condemned: Criminal Origins (360)

I'm gonna go all Gordon Freeman on your face!!!

Quite possibly the most passive-aggressive game of this generation, Condemned brought the largely ignored idea of indirect action to build tension and ran with it. Every level consists of enemies scampering across the screen, taunting you for the entire level and sometimes not even bothering to show up. All the emotion that builds up to nearly every fight is headache-inducing, making the player wish that the enemy would simply show his face. However, Condemned rarely grants such comfort.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQRT2jfT4QE

3. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (GC)

Try to find the 5 monsters hidden in this picture!

Boasting a degree of mindplay that has yet to be matched, Eternal Darkness is a criminally overlooked game that any fan of the horror genre should pick up. Scaring the player through unconventional means (e.g. illusions), the game made players think a wealth of different things were buggy in the game when, in reality, it was all part of the plan. By far the most sinister illusion was tricking you into thinking the game was deleting all the data off your memory units.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9wSR6uInZ0

2. Clock Tower (PS)

Uh...oh...

A little bit forgotten nowadays, Clock Tower is a game that will make you nearly have a heart attack every time you see that shady man with the giant scissors. Running and hiding is the wisest option, which makes it supremely terrifying whenever Scissor Man walks into the same room as you, sometimes taking the time to search around for possible hiding spots so he can shear you in two.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXPgKxHTFp0

1. Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly (PS2, Xbox)

Ghosts are not photogenic.

Ugh, this one gives me the chills just thinking about it. Crimson Butterfly is an interesting little piece of sheer terror that uses a camera as the main weapon against a horde of ghosts haunting a Japanese village. Honestly, almost everything this game has to offer is compelling in every sense of the word. An excellent story, perfectly creepy atmosphere, and pants-wetting scares make Fatal Frame deserving of being the most terrifying game of all time.

Taste of fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9czbIFtje3o