GameInformer: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Review

After seeing this Wii port of the original Modern Warfare up and running on our giant television in the conference room, several editors independently dubbed it "Modern Warfare: Gag Reflex." Many gamers shared a similar sentiment when the project was announced, complaining that the Wii's processing power simply couldn't handle a title as graphically intensive as this legendary FPS. While they aren't wrong, they are missing a much bigger and more crippling problem: the Wii Remote.

[RememberThe357]

Oh Treyarch, you can do no good...

[Gr81]

I find it hilarious that they try to act as though the Wii-Mote isn't superior to dual analogue for fps games. They are in so much denial it ain't even funny.

I honestly don't know how ppl play FPS on HD consoles. It's just so stiff and in all fairness, lame.

I've said it once I'll say it again, HD consoles are wanabe PC's you want to experience the HD games the way they were meant to be played get a gaming PC, seriously. I'm not even a PC gamer but I've dabbed enough in it to know this truth.

Give me the Wii mote/chuck over dual analogue fps control any day of the week.

[TheBand1t]

I plan on investing in a little something something this christmas just for me. :)

http://www.splitfish.com/?u...

[EvilTwin]

I have no idea how you get disagrees on this one. Saying IR/pointer is superior to dual analog is NOT controversial. It's FACT. The same way that a mouse/keyboard is superior to dual analog is a fact, and the same way that the remote/nunchuck doesn't one-up a mouse/keyboard setup. And yes, the same way that a PS3 or 360 have better graphics than Wii. Those things go past subjectivity; facts are facts.

OTOH, I can see how people prefer the high def consoles for FPS. They like the better graphics, and it's a bargain to get those graphics on a console compared to what a really powerful gaming PC costs.

But I prefer better controls. And I don't have the budget to own a nice gaming PC. I do for the Wii, and while the remote/nunchuck doesn't better a mouse/keyboard SU, it's getting closer and closer.

If the reviewer can't hack it, that's on him. The same way if he couldn't customize PC controls to his liking, it wouldn't be the game's fault.

And y'know, GI had no problems with Metroid Prime 3 (which controls in the same manner) when they reviewed it. But I'll get to that in a sec...

[ape007]

look the wii has prove itself with amazing fps controles like metroid prime 3,it control great but I don't want ALL games with it,most games feels so annoying with wii controls

PLUS in my opinion,360\ps3 control is better,it feels more focused

[EvilTwin]

ape007 -- You're right, I shouldn't have been so broad in my statement.

I prefer the remote/nunchuck for console FPS. The remote w/M+ makes TW10 the best golf sim yet created.

But a traditional game pad works better for certain other games. Racing games suck with tilt controls, IMO. I like playing Madden with a traditional controller (although the "Call Your Shot" feature is a good idea). Motion controls are not necessary for fighting games (even Smash Bros).

There are some games where the Wii remote shines, and some where it doesn't. I think console FPS is a good example of a strong point. It's as close as you can get to PC-levels of precision; dual analog just doesn't come close in that respect.

[asdr3wsfas]

@thebandit

The fragfx is a very light and flimsy mouse. While it is good any pc gamer spoiled on their mouse of choice will not like it as much. That said Mag with it will rule and we have no choice there. Also know that people in COD call mouse players cheaters because they're goddamn n00bs.

@ape

The analog stick only takes input from velocity. The mouse takes input as position and speed in changing position. By definition dual analog is less accurate - yuo can prove this.

[hatchimatchi]

i'll take dual analog anyday over ir pointing. GI summed it up perfectly,

"...Second, using the Wii Remote as a pointer for first-person shooters sucks. When playing an FPS with a traditional controller, the majority of the time your aiming stick is at rest – you make minor corrections via minute taps to control where you are looking. Conversely, the Wii Remote requires you to constantly aim at the center of the screen, lest your POV sways around like a drunkard falling off of a barstool."

Saying IR is better is not FACT, it's an opinion. Yes it's technically more accurate but it's not nearly as comfortable or user friendly. If fps controls are only done properly on the wii (as so many wii fanboys claim) then why do all the wii fps games play so horribly. The only good one imo is MP3: Corruption.

[ChickeyCantor]

The bandit is gonna cheat ?

Evil!!

Playing against analog is kinda a cheat if you use mouse xD

@Hatch
" the Wii Remote requires you to constantly aim at the center of the screen"

ITS CALLED A BOUNDING BOX. When you dont move with the analog your thumb is resting, when you dont aim with the Wii-mote your hand is resting, how is this any different?
( O, unless you actually hold your arms in the air...LOL)

[EvilTwin]

Hatch -- You said yourself "technically more accurate." If something is more accurate and faster, how is it not better in a genre that is dependent on accuracy and speed? And as Sidar said, the reviewer saying you have to point in the middle of the screen the whole time is a complete lie. You CAN do that if you want, but you'll have to shrink your bounding box the entire way. In MWR, I certainly don't.

Corruption, Conduit and COD4 all have good control schemes. In essence, they're the same. You can customize the last two to play like Corruption if you'd like. If you don't find the setup "comfortable," change it.

How the heck are some people playing Wii FPS? I play with my hands where I put a normal controller: on my lap, knee, or an arm rest. Pivot to aim from the wrist. Comfort isn't even an issue for me. And the accuracy is a lot better.

Only in fanboy wars can a faster more accurate setup that can be totally customized be referred to as "worse" than clunky dual analog.

[And this isn't a slam against dual analog for all purposes. It has simply ALWAYS been the inferior choice for FPS. It works fine for other genres.]

[Brasi82]

That once and for all the only thing reviewers care about is awsome graphics. He fail to mention that they took the lead from High Voltage Software and made there control scheme 100% customizable. Its not Treyarch's fault that the person the reviewed this game is a complete bumbling idiot who cant even find buttons on the Wii-mote. I refuse to even accept the FREE magazine I get from Gamestop just because GameInformer are a group of the most moronic reviews out there next to EDGE.

[Gr81]

yeah it is funny that gamestop has to give this magazine away for FREE..And even being free it's still a tough sell Lol.

[EvilTwin]

I honestly gave up on GI because of their review for NMH. Up until that point, I had trusted GI's reviews. Although I started disagreeing with them more and more, I thought they were still fair and objective. So I read their NMH review and didn't buy the game.

Huge, huge, huge mistake.

They were so wrong (and inconsistent, they singled out violence in this game while celebrating it in games like GoW) that it was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

NMH score from GI = 60
MWR score from GI = 65

So basically add 20 to GI, and you get the right score.

[Kisama]

Mouse+WADS > Wiimote+Numchuck > garbage > Dual Analog Stick. True story.

[kaz-hirai]

Are these 360 screens shots ?

[SKUD]

ROFL!.

[ambientFLIER]

That honestly wasn't very funny.

[EvilTwin]

Y'know, GI gave Metroid Prime 3 a great review, and gave big ups to the controls.

They did again when the Trilogy was reviewed...but with one caveat. Look at the second opinion.
http://gameinformer.com/gam...

Didn't have the balls to give a first-party title a bad grade overall, because they'd have gotten called on their ignorance about the control scheme. But they put in the snide second take from someone who has probably never played a shooter on a PC to see how much clunkier dual analog feels by comparison.

Conduit and MWR have now gotten blasted by GI for having the EXACT SAME SCHEME as Metroid, only with full customization available. What do they have in common? Third-party titles without big marketing pushes. Make MWR a big Nintendo release, and I'd bet money this game wouldn't have gotten lower than a B-grade.

I'm sorry, but I'm REALLY tired of people who became gamers last gen, and who think the best shooters ever made are Halo or Killzone. Go play Unreal Tournament, or COD, or Quake, or Half Life on a PC. Then tell me how much better dual analog works for FPS.

[Gr81]

I've given up on gaming media. It's just so out of touch with the mainstream, it's quite sad. I take all reviews now (from the major outlets IGN,GS, and the like) with a grain of salt. In other words, I don't give two $hits about these pricks' opinion. Honestly, if the game appeals to me I look into it, if I know someone who owns it I ask their opinion of it and decide if I will pick it up or not. Also, I'll read user reviews more than anything else.

It is so apparent that these companies are paying $$ for favorable reviews. How many stories have there been about some publishers bribing these game 'journalists'? Where there's smoke, there's fire.

I'll be completely honest here, I was a gamer since the Atari 2600 had blurry memories of things preceeding that (caleco vision, intelevision lol) and I was going to sit this generation out. I wasn't even sold on the Wii until months later. I played Twilight Princess for Cube and thought "great game, great swan song, but been there done that". I didn't get a Wii until August 2007 for Metroid Prime 3, and the rest was history from there. Had some friends who had 360's quite a few of them because apparently the hardware wasn't quite reliable, I don't know if you heard? ;) I was never really a fan of Sony's Playstation systems, though it had a monopoly on quality third party support though their first party had no appeal at all to me, but that changed this gen. Third parties aren't in Sony's pocket anymore but their first party offerings still don't interest me.

My cousin actually builds PC's so I was looking at HD graphics back in the 90's so that "oooh and ahhh" feeling has long past been gone for me. The thing I love most though? Is the talk about innovation; Nintendo get's points docked all the time for "staying true to their roots not taking enough risks" Look at NSBM review from IGN yet MW2 which I feel does not surpass its predecessor is praised for being more of the same. I don't know if you read a blog by a Mr. Sean Malstrom, but I'd recommend you look into him if you haven't already.

Very interesting read.

[EvilTwin]

Yeah, the gaming media is just completely unreliable this gen. I have no idea what happened. It's like the Twilight Zone. Fanboyism has permeated editorial teams like a disease.

Heck, I'm in LOVE with Twilight Princess, but even I know that game probably shouldn't have gotten so many perfect scores.

If it's a first-party game, or it's a marquee third-party title with a huge marketing push, good reviews are easy to come by.

Otherwise, you're on your own and editors could care less about assigning your game to someone who isn't predisposed to hating it. I don't want to make it sound like editors should censor their writers. But, for instance, if you just don't like RTS games, you shouldn't review them. You won't be fair. I know I wouldn't be, as I just don't like RTS that much. If I don't enjoy the genre and the games within it, I'm not going to give good reviews.
[This all assumes a game isn't being reviewed by a raving fanboy, of course, who will never be objective.]

Yet look at GI. They obviously have writers who know how to play with the Wii's control scheme. I'd bet these same people have played PC shooters. And they understand the shortcomings of dual analog for the FPS genre. It has ALWAYS been an imperfect set up. Always.

I'll have to look up Mr. Malstrom. Sounds like he'll be up my alley.

[hatchimatchi]

nintendo fanboys are amazing. Nintendo has been robbing you of gaming this gen (save for 3 games, galaxy,tp,ssbb) and 3rd parties dump mini game fests on the wii but you guys still manage to blame everyone else.

I own a wii, the system is 90% garbage.

I wised up and bought another system and now i don't have to rely only on the wii for games.

go buy a 360 or a ps3, you'll be glad you did.

[Voice_of_Reason]

I lost my Wii in the divorce and won a 360 a few weeks back. It just sits there collecting dust. I tried so many of those "superior" games and after 20 minutes I get bored and quit.

I find it amusing that its obvious GI are Wii haters, if you cant see that then you are a Wii hater yourself. And showing up and claiming you own one doesnt mean anything. Lots of people on N4G claim to have one but they all make themselves look like casual gamers in the end.

See you named off Wiis mainstream titles as the only option. That must mean you are nothing but a mainstream gamer playing the latest "it" game
Go ahead and enjoy your mainstream games, I'll be enjoying Redsteel 2, NMH1 and 2, SIn and Punishment, FFCC, Muramassa, Rune Factory,NSMBw, galaxies 2, and so many other great games once I trade in that POS 360 for a real next gen console.

[EvilTwin]

I was a huge Sony fan last gen, Hatch. I don't know how it qualifies me as a "fanboy" because I find good games on Wii. VoR just ticked off more than three games that are very good. I'd add TW10, Punch Out, Zack and Wicki, LKS, Fire Emblem, Paper Mario, both Boom Bloxes, both Pro Evos, both Trauma Centers, Kart, Extraction, de Blob, MadWorld, Conduit, HotD, Warioland, both Excite racers, Batallion Wars 2, etc. etc. etc.

If you've only found three games worth playing on Wii, you aren't looking.

[Fade_Walker]

I think they should have taken some more time with Reflex and included Wii Motion Plus.

As for the graphics, they still look good for the Wii and I don’t really think they could have done much more.

[Shnazzyone]

Modern warfare 2 is a more expensive! More expensive = More money for Gamestop = Good review from GI. Reflex fails that at 50 bucks instead of 60. Also.. got it today if anyone wants to go.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Wow that games downright fugly...I'm reminded of Goldeneye haha

[Voice_of_Reason]

If it reminds you of Goldeneye you have some serious issues and really should just go back to gaming on a 2600. You wont even notice the difference. You do know you pretty much insulted yourself just to troll?

[PS360PCROCKS]

To troll? I'm sorry are you going to tell me this game has good graphics? and a 2600? Wtf does that have to do with anything? This game is fugly and the downright ugly low res textures, blocky arms and legs remind me of Goldeneye. Don't tell me what to think.

[Product]

What has paid media come to when you let a person who dislikes fps controls on Wii review a fps on Wii.

That is like an employee of PETA testing hunting rifles. Of course their bias will get in the way of providing a great review for the product.