An Order of Modern Warfare 2, Hold the Co-op

According to the latest Game Informer, the next iteration of the Call of Duty series will not have cooperative play in the campaign.

At first glance, this may seem like a curious step backward for the series, and a grave mistake for acclaimed developer Infinity Ward. After all, Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War had a very robust cooperative experience, right? Up to four players online even.

I, however, contend that this is really not a bad thing. And if you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Infinity Ward's Call of Duty has always been about scripted events and epic experiences... seamless transitions. A game that takes a more cutscene-oriented approach to storytelling has the luxury of halting the game for all players in cooperative mode and forcing them to watch an event (unless they unanimously skip the scene). Call of Duty rarely has this luxury.


On the whole, a carefully crafted setpiece can be ruined by fruitless chatter, player killing, and improper pacing. When I play a story for the first time, I want to relish things at my own pace and soak in the atmosphere, all while not having to wait for someone lagging behind. Similarly, I don't want to miss the next powerful, adrenaline-pumping scene because my teammate runs forward to initiate the next encounter without me. I also don't want a random 12 year old shouting in my ear that they want the sniper rifle that I just picked up.

Co-op is a buzzword for this generation. It went from being a convenient addition to a newfound expectation that now has the ability to make or break a title. This expectation is an unfortunate one, often leading developers to force a cooperative mode in campaign where it really isn't warranted. It's gotten to the point where co-op is tacked onto games, sloppily mishandled. If it's not done right, it shouldn't be in the game at all. Cooperative mode alters the game in both subtle and obvious ways. Unless the other player is incorporated into the story, co-op is simply a distraction and, ultimately, a detraction. I can't even imagine some of the chapters in Call of Duty 4 with another player. It would have completely changed things... and not for the better.

I suppose one can argue that co-op should still have been an option because it will appeal to those who desire it, while leaving purists like myself to enjoy the campaign all my lonesome. Even so, I'm convinced that gamers rarely know what they want, and they rarely know what they'll enjoy playing until they're actually playing it. Infinity Ward wants you to experience things as they've orchestrated them, and I'm fine with that.

I enjoy co-op play when it's done well. I think it can definitely add something special to a story, especially if you're playing it the second time around. Otherwise? I'll pass. And if it means I'll be getting a copy of Modern Warfare 2 earlier because they didn't have to slap together a poorly conceived cooperative campaign, then even better.

It should be noted that another feature of Modern Warfare 2 will be the Special Forces Mode, a series of missions not unlike the Mile High Club bonus stage in Call of Duty 4. Special Forces missions allegedly do contain co-op, which lends itself more naturally to that type of play. Keep potentially stupid multiplayer antics and distractions to a separate, disjointed, but combatively fulfilling game mode.