Streamers and influencers have been playing and broadcasting live Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer gameplay for hours on the lead up to the official embargo lift for reviews on 2019's installment in the COD series. Carefully selected reviewers had the opportunity to play the game's single-player campaign, co-op Spec Ops mode, and competitive multiplayer offerings pre-release and now those reviews are here.
Note: Screen Rant, while participating in beta and the multiplayer reveal event - and being quoted in commercials for the game - has not been hands-on with the final version of the game. Below are a collection of Modern Warfare reviews from other outlets who Activision chose to review.
Below are a collection of the first reviews from major outlets which generally rate the game as pretty good overall, but not amazing or groundbreaking as promised. Each mode seems to have pros and cons and it doesn't live up to its potential or surpass the original Modern Warfare. Several reviews are waiting to test multiplayer on live servers before offering or finalizing a score.
Gamespot - 7/10 "Review in Progress"
The Good: Campaign missions vary from large-scale gunfights to incredibly contained, careful operations, with Captain Price's being especially memorable. Each of the main characters is likable and draws you further into the missions and story. Realism mode is an excellent balance between Core and Hardcore, challenging your skill level but with a slightly higher time to kill. Gunfight and NVG are refreshing additions to the multiplayer slate.
The Bad: The story raises difficult questions but fails to interrogate them further in favor of playing it safe in the end. Playing as Farah mostly involves reliving her trauma. The inclusion of white phosphorus in multiplayer goes against everything the campaign stands for. Spec Ops is nonsensically difficult and doesn't reward trying new strategies.
PC Gamer - 8/10
I love Modern Warfare for the big swings it does take. It sets the bar high for first-person gun feel. Gunfight is a standout mode that proves to me Call of Duty can slow down and the sky won’t fall. I hope to see even bigger risks with its post-launch support. Modern Warfare is a promising platform for new ideas, but the sentiment will carry little weight if Activision shoves this game aside and we’re talking about Black Ops 5 in 2020. For now, it’s the Call of Duty to beat.
VentureBeat - "Review in Progress"
I’ve played through the game, and it was an intense and memorable experience. The story had moving parts and characters who had very different reactions when put into the crucible of unjust warfare. I think it is very well done, but probably could have left some parts out.
Yet I can’t fault the creators for their intentions in waking us up to the horrors that are around us in our world of constant warfare. This game is so thoughtful that it would be a shame if players skipped the single-player campaign and headed straight for multiplayer, which is a great experience as usual.
Ultimately, I think it is a good game because it might very well be the only way a new generation of players learns about modern warfare.
Daily Star - 8/10
In general, Call of Duty Modern Warfare is a tight shooter that hits most of the parts you expect from a AAA shooter, while throwing heaps of new ideas into the mix.
However, the few areas that I'm cold on: Ground War, Spec Ops and the few moments of the campaign when common sense gave way to a desire to shock needlessly… they're a bitter aftertaste to one of the best shooters I've played all year.
COG Connected - 82/100
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare does everything fans of the franchise could ever want. You get the triumphant return of the single-player campaign; crossplay that actually works; maps and weapons available to everyone; and a robust multiplayer experience packed with over 25 maps (including Spec Ops maps) out of the box. Modern Warfare isn’t the best Call of Duty game in the franchise as the single-player and Spec Ops modes fall a little short. Yet, at the very least it pushes the series back in the right direction and fans should be plenty satisfied with what Infinity Ward has brought to the table this year.
Screen Rant's review will be live sometime next week. Our initial impressions of the multiplayer were positive on the visuals, controls, and feel of the game, but the ground war mode felt aimless and the killstreaks ruin the flow and balance. We've not yet seen or played the campaign or Spec Ops mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) releases on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 25, 2019.