“No Russian” in Modern Warfare 2 Is The Most Controversial Video Game Level Ever Created

vgPWN:

"The No Russian mission in Modern Warfare 2 is a really disturbing level that is going to make you question your humanity while you are playing. You are also going to wonder who would think up such a thing for a video game."

[annoyedgamer]

I think it highlights the high point of gaming where anything went. Now, if something like that was made it would be censored.

cough Favela islamic verses cough

Its no wonder some of the best iterations of some of the greatest series of all time released during that 3 year stretch. MW1,2 UC2, Gears 3, Halo 3, BC2

[Grap]

Nope

[scottypops]

They tried to emulate the Nuke from Modern Warfare 1, but we didn't have the connection with that guy so it just ended up being odd and disjointed. As if the whole level was put in there to spark controversy.

[Erik7357]

It definitely was a shock to me when I first played it.

Set a very serious tone

[TwoForce]

Same with me. I was shocked about it when i played the campaign.

[3kj53hh]

Very interesting piece. :)

[Summons75]

Well yeah, they knew very well how offensive and insensitive monsters they were being when they decided "let's make an objective of a level to kill as many innocent civilians as possible". Honestly, they shouldn't have gotten the slap on the wrist that they did.

[Blastoise]

You don't have to kill a single person though

[Nivekki]

The whole point of it was to show how evil it was to kill innocent people like that, and how evil the people were who were doing it. Prepared to slaughter innocents to create a war.

You don't have to kill a single person in it yourself as Blastoise said.

It's supposed to make you extremely uncomfortably and show the horror of it. I thought they did a superb job.

[zombiewombie]

Quite similar to how you don't have to keep bashing Zeus' face in at the end of God of War 3. It's up to the player to see how far they will go.

[yarbie1000]

I think the game Hatred was more controversial

[Bathyj]

Sorry but if movies, tv, books and even music can take on uncomfortable subject matter, things that make you squirm or even look away in disgust, then why can't games? Was it shocking? Yes. That was kind of the point wasn't it? Didn't it motivate you to take it the bad guys in the game? Clearly it was the elicit a reaction. In that sense the scene worked remarkably.

I still remember the first time I watched pulp fiction when the spider caught a couple of flies. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I wasn't alone. The whole cinema I think was in shock. Maybe some people walked out. I don't know. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

I still remember The Viper and The Mountain in Game of Thrones. The credits had finished rolling before I realised my mouth had been open the whole time. My jaw had literally dropped.

These examples are not the same thing as no Russian, but they were made for wow factor. If a scene like this has stuck with you for this long, then it's job well done. It's been decades since games became entertainment for adults and not just kids. Get over this notion that games are not allowed to do things that all other media does.

[Scrivlar]

Spider catching flies in pulp fiction? Was that only in the cinema or something?

[NukaCola]

He is referring to when Butch and Marcellus were captured in the pawn shop, when they raped M. This movie came out in limited theaters in 1994. How old are you? I was 9 back then..

[Bathyj]

I'm 42 in 3 weeks. It was honestly stunning seeing that in the cinema. No one was expecting that.

[Scrivlar]

Ah right yeah I wondered if it was just a metaphor but I wouldn't have put it past Tarantino to literally put a scene like that in for symbolism. I'm 24 so I didn't watch it until about 2004 I think.

[chrisx]

I loved this stage personally, shot d hell out of those pixels >:)

[theshredded]

Fantastic game, one of my favorite FPS of all time. I wish the latter CODs would be a smidgen as good.

[ape007]

the original Infinity ward were crazy talented

[hiawa23]

Not really shocking I thought. You did not have to shoot anyone, and I never forget that I am playing a video game which in itself is make believe.

[WellyUK]

It really wasn't that bad especially compared to GTA where you can just mow down hundreds of civilians while running and driving around...

[EazyC]

Missing the point entirely. The motives and callous disregard of these psychopaths mowing down civilians with guns, to perpetuate a "cause" was horrifying and emotionally affecting to watch. Just watching them calmly wait in an elevator before unleashing such horror in a depraved act. It illuminates the selfish and twisted state of humanity.

[EazyC]

I'm no wordsmith, but this article was very poorly written. I think the author completely failed to convey any valid talking points or thoughtful input, it reads like a summary made by a 13 year old, and not a journalist.

[assdan]

I'm going to be honest, this level had no impact on me when I played it. The level was heavily talked about before the game's release, and was clearly there to try and spark controversy. The level wasn't trying to make a statement, it was trying to look like it was trying to make a statement. The plot of that game was so incredibly weak and incoherent that nothing from it has any impact.

[Artemidorus]

Certainly suprised me tearing bullets into a place full of people but being a game you quickly know it's not real.

[The_Truth_24_7]

Nothing controversial to me. I loved mowing down all those people. Best board ever created.