Modern Warfare (not to be confused with the remaster from a couple of years ago) is easily one of the biggest games of the year, and it has sold millions of copies so far - but there is still one group of people that have yet to join in on the action. This group is colloquially known as the “Christmas Noobs”.
Most of these gamers are on the younger side and rely on their parents to purchase their games. Let's just say Timmy wants the new Call of Duty, and his Mom comes through just in time for Christmas. What Mom doesn’t know is that she just signed Timmy's life over to a game he's months behind on, and there is an entire community of day one players waiting to pounce as soon as he loads into a game.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way! Here is a primer on the basics of Modern Warfare to help keep the Christmas Noobs alive...slightly longer.
GUNS
Call of Duty Modern Warfare is the king of the FPS (first-person shooter) genre. When playing the game, selecting the right gun and setup can be the difference between going on a killstreak or a deathstreak. At level one, you haven’t unlocked the ability to make your own class yet, so you are stuck using the pre-made classes Infinity Ward has set up for you. Don't fret, it’s not as bad as it sounds, these classes are filled with gear and perks that you can’t use until you're a much higher level.
The Assault Class comes with a strong mid-range rifle, which can be helpful holding down a window as you watch an enemy area. This class sets you up for some easy kills with the Shrapnel perk, allowing you carry 2 grenades; tossing those in the direction of the enemy will usually net you some free kills every time you respawn.
Next is the Ghost Class, and its focus is giving you a tactical edge. It comes with the Ghost perk and a silenced SMG, keeping you off the radar and silent to enemies while firing. Toss a smoke on an objective when you are trying to take it or defend it, and the enemy will have a lot of trouble keeping track of your location (consider going prone or moving frantically even while inside smoke as lucky blind fire kills can come easy.)
Heavy Support comes with a belt-fed LMG that can send sustained fire in the enemy's direction for prolonged periods, easily keeping them pinned down. With a riot shield on your back, you are covered in case of a flank. When you *hopefully* start to get the hang of the game, the Demolition Class is the one to go with. This equips you with one of the most powerful weapons in the game: the AK-47. The Hardline perk, designed to get you killstreaks faster, will also be a huge help.
Finally, there is the Sniper Class, which is pretty self-explanatory. Only choose this class if you have the patience to line up good shots. It comes with a shotgun secondary if you get frustrated trying to blast people at range, and just want to attack enemies at point-blank range.
GAMEPLAY
Guns are all well and good, but how do you actually play? Modern Warfare is, at it’s core, pretty straightforward. You shoot the enemies until you win. However, just running out into the middle of the map guns blazing is the perfect way to end up back at the respawn screen -- especially for a Christmas Noob.
Modern Warfare is a game best played methodically believe it or not. It doesn’t take much to kill you, and maps are filled to the brim with sneaky lines of sight from which enemies can take you out with impunity. Even the most veteran players have had to slow down and take their time in these expansive and porous playgrounds.
Most modes and maps are designed to keep your head on a swivel, you need to be checking corners and windows, staying behind cover whenever possible. Sprinting across an open area might be the quickest way to your destination, but taking a long way around will save your life and possibly net you a flank kill or two.
Footsteps are louder in this game than previous entries, the sound has been tuned down slightly since release. But running up to unsuspecting enemies camped up in a window is still risky business. Take your time and crouch before you get to someone you are trying to flank, this tactic will partially mask your footsteps and let you get the jump on someone looking the other way. To make matters worse, hip firing is significantly weaker in this game compared to other shooters, so don’t use it as a crutch and always aim down sights when you are firing your weapon; unless you are right on top of your enemy, hip fire won’t keep you alive.
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MODES
There is a moderately good amount of modes in Modern Warfare, and each demands a different strategy. For modes like Team Deathmatch or Free For All, sticking to the outskirts of the map is usually the best strategy. These modes have no objectives for people to spawn near, so it can be difficult sometimes to judge where people are coming from, and you’ll 100% end up getting shot in the back. Staying to the outer edges of the map and picking people off keeps your flank protected.
Domination, on the other hand, is a mode that sometimes even veterans seem to not know how to play. Of the three flags available, keep two on lockdown for your team. That way, the enemy will continue to spawn near their flag, and keeping them contained in one area is the best way to win.
Keeping these things in mind is the best way to flip the script on the vultures waiting to prey on Christmas Noobs this year. Don't get frustrated, you'll catch up to everyone else soon enough, maybe next year you get the game on time, huh?