Feature: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Signature Strategy Guide (PS3)

Firstly we’re not regular guide users at Gamestyle. Yes, on occasion we’ve invested in strategy guide to help us find all those hidden items in Grand Theft Auto or experience every offshoot of Mass Effect, and who can forget Zelda? While many players may scoff at the mere mention of using such a tool, others feel it’s a warranted investment to harness the full potential of their £40 or thereabouts purchase. The guides themselves are always colourful, informative, lavishly put together and Modern Warfare 2 is certainly one of the most worthwhile examples.

For Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward has included three separate modes that place different demands on the player. Whether you’re new to the series or an experienced trooper this guide aims to assist you without taking you by the hand and spoiling any of the drama that unfolds. Thankfully BradyGames has sought to avoid any spoilers in their coverage and looking back on completed chapters, they’ve certainly succeeded in achieving this.

The guide opens by summarising the new elements Infinity Ward has introduced for this release, including tools, weapons and modes before jumping into the main campaign. The writers show their experience by restraining from covering each and every encounter or throwing too much detail at the reader. Engagements are simply boxed on a page should you wish to refer to them on the best approach to succeeding. This allows the often-overlooked artwork room to breath rather than being swamped by lines of text.

A hugely enjoyable addition is the Special Ops missions that allow you to tackle unique challenges with a friend or solo. Taking their inspiration from the classic Goldeneye timed events or more recently Metal Gear Solid; these offer a viable diversion to the unstoppable online multiplayer mode. The default difficulty setting is Regular, with Hardened available before you tackle Veteran. Such is the demands of Veteran that BradyGames have wisely included specific tips for you to overcome the horrendous odds on each op.

About halfway into the guide, it turns its attention to the multiplayer mode, which for many is the true Modern Warfare experience. In fact Gamestyle is aware of players who simply ignore the offline offerings and instead only play online. While this is a debatable stance it does confirm the power and longevity of playing online. Many seem to have an overwhelming desire to graduate through the rankings as quickly as possible. The need to get up to speed promptly is certainly assisted by spending time with the guide and on this score its worthwhile if you feel you need such input.

Arguably it is amongst these multiplayer pages that many will find the guide most useful as it covers the various modes, settings, killstreak awards and perks. Everything possible is included within this section including Intel charts for every weapon, categorising accuracy, damage, range, fire rate and mobility, while every scrap of challenge data is also captured. Only by reading through this guide do you appreciate not only the effort and skill from BradyGames but also Infinity Ward to develop such a mode. Towards the end the useful multiplayer maps are displayed in detail, including building plans and suggested tactics for each mode.

The only disappointing aspect of Modern Warfare 2 was the accompanying inbox manual that barely goes beyond the controls or mode basics. For those seeking to improve their knowledge, uncover every award or gain some assistance then this guide is an essential purchase.

We’ve teamed up with BradyGames for a fantastic competition where four copies of this guide are up for grabs, including the much sought after limited edition version. For more details please click here.

Words by Jason Julier