Modern missions: Best of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare

A still from 'All ghillied up'

For many belonging to a certain generation, Call of Duty was never about Warzone or its acclaimed multiplayer maps. For them, the Call of Duty realms were limited to the likes of Captain Price, Soap or Makarov, and the stories that unfolded through these iconic characters. Back in the day, online multiplayer was not as accessible in Bangladesh like it is today, and the campaign missions and storyline were what the fuss was all about. 

With the release of Modern Warfare 3 last week, the revamp of the legendary trilogy came to an end but not on a good note, to say the least. You may never want to replay a mission from the last instalment of MW games, but there was a reason Infinity Ward decided to reboot the series as a Hail Mary in the first place. 

That's because even to this day, gamers keep going back to the classics of MW.

As the curtain falls on COD's most beloved series, here's a walk down memory lane to the best missions that Modern Warfare had to offer - missions that set the benchmark for FPS storytelling for years to come.

Clean House

Arguably the best campaign mission in the entire Modern Warfare revamp trilogy and arguably the most realistic mission in all of COD history, 2019's 'Clean House' masterfully blended cinematic storytelling with unprecedented NPC teamwork, creating an emotionally charged and psychologically gripping experience. Controversy included.

The mission unfolds in a townhouse in North London where the Al-Qatala cell responsible for the Piccadilly attack was in hiding. Players assume control of Kyle Garrick, a British SAS operative with the objective of 'cleaning' up the entire 'house.'

As the townhouse serves as a safe house, players must methodically navigate room by room, floor by floor, making split-second decisions on potential threats. The environment is meticulously crafted, with each detail contributing to the palpable tension. The sensation of breaching each room, uncertain of what lies beyond, is a testament to the game's commitment to suspenseful storytelling.

The mission's main aspect of controversy lay in players being able to execute civilians, even an infant, during their pursuit of Al-Qatala militants. 

A pivotal moment unfolds as players enter a room with a distressed mother and her crying baby. She rushes to protect her child - leading players to think that she was reaching for a weapon. Players are able to shoot the mother but a message, "Children are non-combatants" pops up while aiming for the baby. If they keep shooting the baby, another message pops up and reads, "Are you serious?"

The narrative impact of 'Clean House' extends beyond its gripping gameplay. The mission addresses the collateral damage of war and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers. The blurred lines between right and wrong force players to question the morality of their actions.

All Ghillied Up

The name speaks for itself, right? Regarded as one of the best sniper missions in video gaming history, for this one we'll go back in time to the original Modern Warfare. Certain moments from it are forever crystallised in gamers' memories.

'All Ghillied Up' places players in the boots of a younger Lieutenant Price, taking on the role of a sniper alongside Captain MacMillan. Set in the eerie, desolate landscape of Pripyat, Ukraine, the mission unfolds as a flashback, providing a gripping narrative layer to the gameplay.

What sets 'All Ghillied Up' apart is its meticulous attention to detail, both in terms of visual design and gameplay mechanics. The mission epitomises the essence of a 'ghillie suited up'  stealth operation, immersing players in the tension of 'covert infiltration' as they sneak around Russian Ultranationalist soldiers, with the objective of assassinating their leader, Imran Zakhaev.

Pripyat's hauntingly abandoned streets and dilapidated buildings, in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, create an atmosphere of palpable suspense - setting the stage perfectly for a mission that demands patience, strategy and precision.

Visuals aside, the beauty of this mission lies in its narrative significance as well. As players crawl through the hazardous Chernobyl wrecks, they are acquainted with pivotal moments in Captain Price's backstory, unravelling events that somewhat shaped the iconic character. The prolonged silence of the opening, followed by the chaos of the climax, amplifies the emotional weight of the mission, offering a stark contrast to the high-octane action of the MW series.

The gameplay mechanics in 'All Ghillied Up' are a masterclass in pacing. The slow crawl through the ruins builds tension, while the strategic decision-making makes the player think twice before engaging.

The sniper mechanics are finely tuned, requiring players to factor in wind speed and distance, which was one of the first instances of applying this technique to sniper gameplay. It was the eventual miscalculation of wind speed and bullet drop which led to Zakhaev getting his arm 'sniped' off, instead of his big bald head.

One cannot discuss the greatness of 'All Ghillied Up' without acknowledging the unforgettable camaraderie and banter between MacMillan and Price. It not only provides moments of levity but also deepens the players' connection to the narrative. It's a rare instance where a single mission elevates the emotional resonance of an entire game. 'All Ghillied Up' is not just a mission; it's an experience. 

No Russian 

"Remember, no Russian,"- the events that succeeded at Zakhaev International Airport after this infamous line in the elevator sparked the biggest controversy in COD history and polarised the gaming fraternity like nothing else.

"What I wanted was to make something memorable, not controversial," is what game designer Mohammad Alavy had to say to IGN when discussing this iconic Modern Warfare 2's mission.

Players assume the role of Private Joseph Allen, an undercover CIA operative tasked with infiltrating a Russian ultranationalist terrorist organisation under the leadership of Vladimir Makarov.

The mission's primary objective? Allen must participate in a mass shooting at Moscow airport to gain the trust of Makarvov.

The mission unfolds dramatically, opening with Allen and Makarov sharing an elevator with three gunmen, all equipped with M4s - classic American assault rifles. Upon exiting the elevator, mayhem ensues as Makarov and his gunmen mercilessly open fire on a crowd of civilians at an airport security checkpoint. This shocking act sets the tone for the unnerving mission ahead.

As the player progresses, they find themselves in the unsettling role of an accomplice, accompanying Makarov's group through the airport's corridors, targeting both those attempting to flee and those who surrender in terror. The mission's intensity lies not only in its gameplay but in its narrative boldness, challenging players to draw the line between heroism and terrorism.

In the final cutscene, Makarov kills Allen and discloses that he knew of Allen's true identity. His goal was to frame the United States in the terror attack so that Russia could declare war on the United States in retaliation.

"It will cost you a piece of yourself," is what General Shepherd had told Allen before he set sail for Moscow. It did.