How Linear is Modern Warfare 2?

[Soviet Heavy]

How linear is it? I've been replaying COD4 and I've been impressed with the open endedness of the levels. You can go in a lot of different directions, all leading towards the goal. I especially like this in the Middle East levels, where you have to find your way through the urban sprawls.

But what is it like with MW2? I've played Black Ops, and it was appallingly linear, but I haven't played MW2? Is it closer to BLOPS or to COD4 in terms of gameplay linearity?

 

[Zabriskie Point]

It's extremely linear. It's still pretty fun, though.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

You are here. |------------------------------------------------------| Where you need to be.

There are about two levels in the entire campaign that allow you to get to where you need to be of your own accord, and those are the stealth ones.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

You are here. |------------------------------------------------------| Where you need to be.

There are about two levels in the entire campaign that allow you to get to where you need to be of your own accord, and those are the stealth ones.

Sooo, not even in the same ballpark as COD4 then?

 

[TheKramers]

CoD 4 was the god of first person shooters, I honestly don't think I'll ever enjoy another game as much as I enjoyed that one. However, I'm not talking about singleplayer, I think that's pointless, Multiplayer everything.

Although I did beat CoD 4's campaign on veteran, I didn't even feel like getting past the second level of BLOPS.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

About as linear as y = mx + c

 

[pauseandeffect]

MW2 is about the same. The stealth aspect is the only thing that let's you have some freedom. It's all very linear though.

 

[Terminate421]

About the same. The only real "Freedom" comes in at "Enemy of my Enemy" and thats only because you can take any path you please to get east.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

MW2 is pretty linear... although, admittedly, I found CoD4 to be pretty much the very definition of linear as well.

Not that I really have a problem with linear games, as long as the gameplay and story are good enough.

My main issue with MW2 wasn't how linear it was. My issue was how short it was. One of my roommates bought it the morning it came out. He beat the entire game, then I beat the entire game, then our other roommate beat the game - all of us playing on the second highest difficulty - all three of us finished before dinner time. And none of us are really awesome or anything at the game. If you're going to get MW2, you get it for the multiplayer, and even then, only if you actually like killstreaks. If you don't like killstreak rewards, stick with CoD4.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

It's all the linear.
The MOST linear.

If you're looking for options in completing your objectives, MW2 is not the game for you.

 

[No_Remainders]

About as linear as y = mx + c

You are my favourite person here.

 

[redisforever]

About as linear as y = mx + c

Nice one.

Although, I learned it as y=mx+b, not c.

I did like CoD 4, but MW2 was just a linear mess, yeah.

 

[Juk3n]

It's very linear, but it's supposed to be so you can't hold that against the series.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Okay, my definition of linear is apparently different from everyone because all the Call of Duty games, and most FPS games in general, are linear. You go from point A to point B. Sure, in between the points you may be able to fight from the first floor of a blown out building, or go up to the second floor, but you're still fighting from a blown out building, you still round the SAME corner, and you still get on the chopper. That's linear in my book.
Non-linear would be a sandbox type game (Red Dead and Borderlands from what I understand), and everyone knows Call of Duty is nothing like that.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Okay, my definition of linear is apparently different from everyone because all the Call of Duty games, and most FPS games in general, are linear. You go from point A to point B. Sure, in between the points you may be able to fight from the first floor of a blown out building, or go up to the second floor, but you're still fighting from a blown out building, you still round the SAME corner, and you still get on the chopper. That's linear in my book.
Non-linear would be a sandbox type game (Red Dead and Borderlands from what I understand), and everyone knows Call of Duty is nothing like that.

Sounds like yout hink every game is linear then, cause you're moving towrads the objective. thats not to say there arent linear levels, but htere were also levels that let you go any way you wanted as long as you moved towards the objective.

 

[Timzilla]

It depends what you meen by linear.

Story-wise:
There are acouple times when you can snipe a few guys or let them move on. That desn't really effect anything at all.(to my knowlege)

Gameplay-wise:
Some levels have some branching paths, but they're all next to each other and they all lead to the same place. There arn't any "You go this way and I'll go that way" missions. They are all mostly one linear path with some diffrent hallways in one building or another, if that makes sense.

If your playing it for the story, I would reccomend renting though, it is extremly short.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Okay, my definition of linear is apparently different from everyone because all the Call of Duty games, and most FPS games in general, are linear. You go from point A to point B. Sure, in between the points you may be able to fight from the first floor of a blown out building, or go up to the second floor, but you're still fighting from a blown out building, you still round the SAME corner, and you still get on the chopper. That's linear in my book.
Non-linear would be a sandbox type game (Red Dead and Borderlands from what I understand), and everyone knows Call of Duty is nothing like that.

This topic's definition of linear seems to be more at the end of the Sliding Scale of Openness Versus Linearity, which is the difference between being completely on rails and being able to explore a few side rooms.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Okay, my definition of linear is apparently different from everyone because all the Call of Duty games, and most FPS games in general, are linear. You go from point A to point B. Sure, in between the points you may be able to fight from the first floor of a blown out building, or go up to the second floor, but you're still fighting from a blown out building, you still round the SAME corner, and you still get on the chopper. That's linear in my book.
Non-linear would be a sandbox type game (Red Dead and Borderlands from what I understand), and everyone knows Call of Duty is nothing like that.

Sounds like yout hink every game is linear then, cause you're moving towrads the objective. thats not to say there arent linear levels, but htere were also levels that let you go any way you wanted as long as you moved towards the objective.

Most shooters, yes I do. Being able to choose "Should I go down the right passage in the missile base, or the left one?" doesn't count as linear because there's nothing different about either. Giving me the option between sneaking through the vents, creating a distraction, or going in guns blazing is something I would call non-linear.

 

[Geo88]

Okay, my definition of linear is apparently different from everyone because all the Call of Duty games, and most FPS games in general, are linear. You go from point A to point B. Sure, in between the points you may be able to fight from the first floor of a blown out building, or go up to the second floor, but you're still fighting from a blown out building, you still round the SAME corner, and you still get on the chopper. That's linear in my book.
Non-linear would be a sandbox type game (Red Dead and Borderlands from what I understand), and everyone knows Call of Duty is nothing like that.

Yeah, I think I'm missing something.

The only options I remember in MW1 came in All Ghillied Up. I was able to choose whether I got a grenade to the face hiding in the ticket counter or I got shot up hiding in a building alcove off to the side of the map. Seriously, I hated that level on Veteran. Felt good beating it, though. Regardless, I haven't played that game in a long time, so maybe I forgot something.

Both games are super linear, but that's because they're supposed to be. I mean, you can pick a few different vantage points to shoot people from in both games, maybe moreso in MW1 than 2, but I wouldn't call either one non-linear by a longshot. Then again, I don't think linear equals bad for these types of games. I'd personally rather know where I'm going in a modern FPS rather than screwing around trying to find gaps in razor wire fences I can breach to make things a little easier. Though, maybe I'm just lazy when it comes to FPS's.