Modern Warfare 2 did make a showing at Gamescom 2009, but Activision kept it behind closed doors. That didn’t stop some cameramen from getting footage that reveals a few new details on the game.
The footage shows the same level that Activision demonstrated at E32009, but many changes to the game since Call of Duty 4 and even since E32009 are visible here. These are mostly small changes to the interface, but you may also notice some small changes to characters and weapons.
The video starts right as “Soap” MacTarvish – the British commanding officer, has been caught by enemy soldiers and the previously stealthy scene level into a full shootout.
The first noticeable thing is that Infinity Ward re-recorded all the voices since E3. MacTarvish now has a Scottish accent (he now sounds similar to the character Corporal McMillan from COD4). Even the character Major Petrov’s voice is new.
The way the interface points out objectives is also different from E3 footage. When an objective is off-screen, an arrow at the edge of the screen now points to it. When the objective is on screen, words like “cover” or “follow” now appear indicating what the player is supposed to do. When the player switches from their gun to the C4 detonator, it’s also apparent that the crosshair for that weapon has been changed since E3.
The video also further confirms other changes since Call of Duty 4 that could be briefly seen at E3.
The first, more stealthy part of the level shown seems to give players more flexibility in how they proceed through it, but every player seems to have played the later action part in roughly the same way. Blood splatter on the screen is more realistic than in Call of Duty 4. One new weapon the name to which can clearly be seen is the FAMAS.
Although Modern Warfare 2 is set for release on November 10th, this is the only level that Activision has shown at length.
