Been seeing this dude on my 360 dashboard for several days now…
After about a month or so of R&R away from Modern Warfare 2, I jumped back into the game this past weekend and haven’t stopped playing it since. I had been playing Bayonetta, Brutal Legend, Band Hero, BioShock 2 (that’s a lot of B’s!), and GTA IV: The Lost and the Damned. After spending some time with BioShock 2′s multiplayer, it sort of jolted me back into wanting to play Modern Warfare 2′s multiplayer. After all, why play BioShock 2′s multiplayer when I could be playing something else far superior? Here is a recount of me getting back into the game, consisting of my thoughts on how it feels to be back, and whether I have what it takes to keep up with the “kids” these days…
The Jump to Ground War
Prior to going my Modern Warfare 2 vacation, I started playing the mode Ground War, which is the mode for 9 on 9 players on a variety of maps that switch between Team Deathmatch and Domination. My friends and I started playing it just because it allowed for parties and party chat (to this day I still don’t understand why Ground War allows parties and Team Deathmatch does not). I was pretty shaken up over this mode for a while, as it was crazy and I was so used to Team Deathmatch with 5v5 or 6v6. Now I can’t put it down. I’ve converted over to Ground War, and even when I play the game solo it’s the primary mode I always choose to play. I’ve since “graduated” past Team Deathmatch and prefer Domination now, but unfortunately, there isn’t a mode that is 9v9 Domination only. Ah well.
How Does It Feel to Be Back?
My first game after the hiatus I was really timid, playing very conservatively and trying to figure out how to use my weapons. I even forgot how to swing my knife! I think I ended up going 2-2 that first match, a laughable kill/death score in a round with 17 other players. I found myself running and hiding in a corner more often than wanting to engage. But as I got back into it and continued to play more rounds, it was all coming back and I was jumping back into the game.
What’s most interesting is that in a way, I think I benefited from the time away from the game. I remember my last couple of weeks playing Modern Warfare 2 before I took the break that I was having a hard time keeping up with my opponents. I would keep changing weapons, trying to figure out what I should be using on what level and why. It may sound weird, but I felt like I lost my Modern Warfare 2 identity. I was struggling to stay among the top contributors of my team, and I honestly took the break because I had grown slightly frustrated that I hit a roadblock.
Upon returning to the game, I found myself re-analyzing the way I play the game, or really, learning new things for the first time. I was no longer in the mindset of the past and shackled down by what I had already thought I should be doing. Now I started using different tactics, and started embracing different weapons. Can you believe that prior to my break, I had never killed anyone with a Semtex grenade? I’ve come back fresh, and am willing to try new stuff.
The one primary negative behind going away for a month is that all the players I’ve encountered nowadays are some level of Prestige so they’re far more experienced than I am. In a way, while I’ve started learning new things since my return, my scores have been very erratic. But, I’ve decided to start grouping the maps into which ones I do well on, which ones I am ok on, and which ones I don’t do well on. Hopefully, this will allow me to figure out some insight on how to play better.
The Maps – My Personal Breakdown
This is a list of maps that I’m analyzing from a Ground War perspective. If you think that maybe you’re also struggling on certain maps as well, feel free to post your maps too, as this may be a good learning experience for everyone. If people are wondering what my loadouts are, I have an M-16 assault rifle loadout, an Aug LMG loadout, and a Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle loadout. I also have an SMG and a stealth loadout, but I have stopped using those for Ground War as they don’t do as well due to the large number of players.
Maps I Don’t Do Well On
Afghan – this is one of my worst maps. I still have not found a good groove to be in for this map, since I tend to have a hard time finding enemies (even on Ground War!). They always seem to be on the opposite side of the map that I’m on, and with everything being sandy, it’s quite tough to make out opponents at times. I think what makes this map more challenging to me than any of the other maps is that this one tends to have the most vertical differences in terrain. Meaning, almost always on the map, no one is ever going to be aligned at the same level as you – they’ll either be higher or lower on rocks, ledges, bunkers, stairs, etc.
Derail – I’m actually ok on this map for Domination, but Team Deathmatch I just don’t know what to do. It’s such a long map that I not only have a hard time trying to figure out which areas to occupy, but I also have a hard time finding opponents.
Skidrow – I did well on this map on regular Team Deathmatch, but with Ground War, it’s a different story. I’m not a close quarters type of player, yet in Domination, Flag B sits right in the middle of the apartment hallway and it is the craziest area of the entire map. Perhaps the map is just too small for my liking with 18 players, but in any case, I’d still prefer this map over Afghan or Derail.
Scrapyard – same issue as Skidrow. I do fine on this map with fewer people, but on Ground War, it’s just too small of a map to have any sort of tactics besides run and gun. Practically nowhere is safe, and I’m more of a medium to long range player, so this map gives me some trouble.
Maps I Break Even On
Favela – I used to have some trouble on this map, but I’ve since gotten better since it seems like several players enjoy climbing onto the tops of the roofs. I just check those roofs every once in a while and I do all right.
Terminal – The middle section of the map that you can climb up a ladder to is an ideal killing spot, as you have cover, and you can kill people that try to move through the main hall with all the windows. Get a turret up there and watch the kill count come pouring in.
Karachi – I used to dislike this map a lot, but I tend to get Domination almost every time on this map so it’s grown on me. If there’s ever a map to use an LMG on, it’s this one.
Quarry – this map is sort of in-between my don’t do well on and do decent list, as I think it’s a little too big for me. But, it seems that many players like gathering in the corner section of the map where all the warehouses are, so that seems to be a good hotzone to prepare at.
Invasion – I used to love this map on regular Team Deathmatch, but on Ground War, it’s perhaps a little too crazy for me. One game I may do well on, and then the next I’ll just get destroyed. Then again, it seems like all of the maps I tend to “break even” on follow that.
Highrise – this map is nuts with 18 people, but I tend to do all right. There’s always sniping opportunities between the two buildings, but also, if I just feel like usin an assault rifle, I tend to hang out in the area around the helicopter since you’re not really exposed to sniper fire there.
Maps I Excel On
Estate – Any map with open fields I tend to excel on, since I favor the mid to long range game. Often times I’ll set up at the small shack in the field, or even by the main mansion and just pick off opponents that try to push their way towards the house (which always happens).
Sub Base – this map is a little chaotic for Ground War, but for some reason or another, I generally do well on it. Most likely it’s because there are so many people running around the area where Flag A would be as well as the middle section where Flag B would be, so all you have to do is wait for them to come to you.
Rundown – I enjoyed this map on Team Deathmatch, and enjoy it even more on Ground War. This is perhaps the perfect map for 18 players, as it’s a small town with chokepoints across several bridges and plenty of windows that both sides can take advantage of. Being a fan of both the assault rifle and the sniper rifle, I certainly can get my fair share of kills on this map.
Underpass – I used to be ok on this map, but I do a lot better now that I’ve switched to practically using only the sniper rifle on this map. The long section on the east side of the map where Flag B would be for Domination is a good sniping area, whether you’re on the north or south side of the map. And then there’s the main windowed building in the southern central section of the map. If you’re in the building, you can snipe from the windows, and if you’re not in the building, you can try to snipe players that are in those windows.
Wasteland – another map I enjoy and excel in on Ground War. This is basically a sniper’s map, since it consists of such a large field. With a Thermal Scope, things get fun. Call in some aircraft, and watch that killcount fly.
The Future
Bad Company 2 has already come out, and part of me does want to jump into that game, but ever since my return to Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, I think Bad Company 2 can wait. I think I jumped from level 49 to 55 over the span of this past week, so I’ve certainly been enjoying myself and do want to continue playing it to Prestige. Of course, Final Fantasy XIII comes out next week, and I hear that’s a 100 hour game. Plus, my hunt for a PS3 continues, so who knows how my Modern Warfare 2 playtime will look after this weekend. But one thing is for certain: as of now, I’m back to Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer and will continue to play it as my primary multiplayer game – unless I get into the Starcraft 2 beta. I just need to figure out how to get better on the maps I’m struggling with!
Great article! I wouldn’t really bother with Bad Company 2 if you’ve already got that much to play now. I mean, it’s good, but nowhere near as good as Modern Warfare 2. It’s also got a lot of bugs and tweaks to be made before it’s worth playing instead of other games. From what I’ve played of BC2′s campaign, though, it’s excellent.
I’ve had a string of hardware failures that are hampering my ability to play. Failing headset, broken speaker system, everything running out of batteries, etc etc… It’s been weird.